Jeffs’ grip on polygamous church likely to remain

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Updated: August 10, 2011 8:36AM

SALT LAKE CITY — His followers believe he is a prophet who speaks with God. That he is now sentenced to life in prison on child sex assault charges isn’t likely to change the leadership that Warren Jeffs exerts over his polygamous sect.

The vast majority of Jeffs’ followers are just not going to leave, said polygamy historian Ken Driggs.

Former members of Jeffs’ Utah-based Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints say his followers are likely to still revere him, even though evidence presented in the Texas case shows he had sex with girls from the sect as young as 12. Jeffs was sentenced to life in prison by a Texas jury Tuesday.

Jeff’s legal grip on the church also remains strong, thanks to a recent Utah Department of Commerce ruling.