The law firm's association with the church goes back nearly 20 years. (The FLDS Church does not have any lawyers among its members. Doctors, nurses and lots of EMTs but no lawyers, Parker said.)

When Parker returned from Washington, D.C., in the early 1990s, he was asked to write a brief for an FLDS case. The primary attorney for the church later took another job and the work fell to Parker.

His perception of polygamists back then was based on infamous characters of the 1980s like John Singer, Ervil LeBaron and Alex Joseph.

"I guess I looked at it through those eyes, like everybody else did. I did not think too much about it," he said.

Since then Parker and his family have become well acquainted with the sect based in the twin towns of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz. Lynn Parker, a nurse, visited the midwifery complex and has quilted with some of the women. The Parker children have participated in the polygamist group's harvest festival.

"I feel like I know so much more about what their church believes than what my church believes," Parker said.

The law firm promises to be a client's advocate, adviser and voice. "We will act as your negotiator, mediator, partner and protector," according to its Web site.

Those are roles Parker has deftly played for the FLDS Church.

"Rod is very much a constitutional lawyer. He does not judge people. He looks at their legal rights regardless of who they are," Lynn Parker said.

Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff is a frequent adversary of Parker, both in court and on the podium in a couple of polygamy debates.

Shurtleff initially declined to talk about Parker, citing the old adage, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."

But on second thought, he said, "I will say something nice about him. He's been primarily motivated to look out for the rank and file members of the FLDS Church."

Nevertheless, Shurtleff says Parker is guided too much by church leaders. "He's almost a paid lobbyist or lackey for them, so he only repeats their line," the attorney general said.

Parker doesn't appreciate what he says have become personal attacks on him, calling it a "juvenile" thing. "I try to stick to the issues," he said.

Truth be told, both have sniped at each other. Parker saying Shurtleff only goes after polygamists for political gain, and Shurtleff retorting Parker is in it only for monetary gain.

Speaking of money, word is Parker has made a fortune as the FLDS attorney. The Parkers say it isn't true.

"We're all wondering where the fortune is," Lynn Parker said. "We're not seeing it."