WORLDCOM INC /GA/
S-8, 1998-01-28
TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS (NO RADIOTELEPHONE)
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<PAGE>   1


    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 28, 1998
                                                     Registration No. 333-______

                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           WASHINGTON D.C.  20549

                         --------------------------

                                  FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                      UNDER  THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                         --------------------------

                               WORLDCOM, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

          GEORGIA                                          58-1521612
 (State or other jurisdiction of                        (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)                         Identification No.)

                             515 EAST AMITE STREET
                        JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI 39201-2702
                         (Address, including zip code,
                  of registrant's principal executive offices)



                  WORLDCOM/BROOKS FIBER 1993 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                WORLDCOM/BROOKS FIBER 1997 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          (Full title of the plan(s))

                            P. BRUCE BORGHARDT, ESQ.
                                 WORLDCOM, INC.
                      10777 SUNSET OFFICE DRIVE, SUITE 330
                           ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI 63127
                                 (314) 909-4100
           (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Proposed maximum         Proposed maximum
   Title of securities        Amount to be         offering price per       aggregate offering          Amount of
    to be registered           registered                share(1)                price(1)           registration fee
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  <S>                           <C>                    <C>                     <C>                      <C>
  Common stock, $0.01
  par value, and                4,308,568              $12.1136                $52,192,118              $15,397
  associated preferred          shares (3)
  stock purchase
  rights (2)                         
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

- ----------------------------------

(1)      Computed pursuant to Rule 457(c) and Rule 457(h) solely for the
         purpose of determining the registration fee.  Proposed maximum
         offering price represents (i) the weighted average price per share
         based on the exercise price of stock options already granted and (ii)
         the average high and low reported market prices of the Registrant's
         Common Stock reported on the Nasdaq National Market on January 21,
         1998 with respect to securities for which options have not been
         granted.

(2)      Each share of Common Stock also represents one preferred stock
         purchase right.  Preferred stock purchase rights cannot trade
         separately from the underlying common stock and, therefore, do not
         carry a separate price or necessitate an additional filing fee.

(3)      This Registration Statement also covers such additional shares of
         Common Stock as may be issuable pursuant to antidilution provisions.
<PAGE>   2

                                    PART II

                          INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

         The following documents filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission by WorldCom, Inc. ("WorldCom" or the "Company") (formerly Resurgens
Communications Group, Inc.) under File No. 0-11258 (formerly File No. 1-10415)
pursuant to the Exchange Act are incorporated herein by reference:

         (a) (1) WorldCom's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
                 ended December 31, 1996 (the "WorldCom 1996 Form 10-K");

             (2) WorldCom's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
                 ended March 31, 1997; June 30, 1997 and September 30, 1997;

             (3) WorldCom's Current Reports on Form 8-K dated August 25,
                 1996 (filed August 26, 1996 and as amended on Form 8-K/A filed
                 November 4, 1996 and November 20, 1996 and December 19, 1997),
                 December 31, 1996 (filed January 15, 1997), March 18, 1997
                 (filed March 24, 1997), March 26, 1997 (filed April 2, 1997)
                 May 22, 1997 (filed June 6, 1997), June 30, 1997 (filed July
                 7, 1997), August 5, 1997 (filed August 5, 1997),   August 8,
                 1997 (filed August 11, 1997), August 22, 1997 (filed August
                 25, 1997), August 28, 1997 (filed September 10, 1997),
                 September 7, 1997 (filed September 17, 1997), October 1, 1997
                 (filed October 2, 1997), October 3, 1997 (filed October 3,
                 1997), October 9, 1997 (filed October 10, 1997), October 10,
                 1997 (filed October 14, 1997), October 14, 1997 (filed October
                 14, 1997), October 15, 1997 (filed October 16, 1997), October
                 16, 1997 (filed October 17, 1997), October 23, 1997 (filed
                 October 23, 1997), October 31, 1997 (filed November 3, 1997)
                 and November 9, 1997 (filed November 12, 1997 and as amended
                 on Form 8-K/A-1 filed January 27, 1998 and Form 8-K/A-2 
                 January 28, 1998);

             (4) the description of WorldCom's (formerly Resurgens')
                 Common Stock as contained in Item 1 of Resurgens' Registration
                 Statement on Form 8-A dated December 12, 1989, as updated by
                 the descriptions contained in WorldCom's Registration
                 Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-16015), as declared
                 effective by the Commission on November 14, 1996, which
                 includes the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus dated November
                 14, 1996 with respect to WorldCom's Special Meeting of
                 Shareholders held on December 20, 1996, under the following
                 captions:  "Description of WorldCom Capital Stock" and
                 "Comparative Rights of Shareholders";

             (5) the description of WorldCom's Preferred Stock Purchase
                 Rights contained in WorldCom's Registration Statement on Form
                 8-A dated August 26, 1996, as updated by WorldCom's Current
                 Report on Form 8-K dated May 22, 1997 (filed June 6, 1997);
                 and

             (6) the descriptions of the WorldCom Series A 8% Cumulative
                 Convertible Preferred Stock ("WorldCom Series A Preferred
                 Stock"), the WorldCom Series B Convertible Preferred Stock
                 ("WorldCom Series B Preferred Stock") and the WorldCom
                 Depositary Shares ("WorldCom Depositary Shares") contained in
                 WorldCom's Registration Statements on Form 8-A dated November
                 13, 1996.

         All documents filed by WorldCom with the Commission pursuant to
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date
hereof and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates
that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities
then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into
this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of
such documents.  Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed
to be incorporated herein by reference, shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a
statement contained herein or in any other

                                      2
<PAGE>   3
subsequently filed document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference, which statement is also incorporated herein by reference, modifies
or supersedes such statement.  Any such statement so modified or superseded
shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part
of this Registration Statement.

ITEM 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

         Not applicable.

ITEM 5.  INTEREST OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

         Not applicable.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

         Section  14-2-202(b)(4) of the Georgia Business Corporation Code (the
"Georgia Code") provides that a corporation's articles of incorporation may
include a provision that eliminates or limits the personal liability of
directors for monetary damages to the corporation or its shareholders for any
action taken, or any failure to take any action, as a director, provided,
however, that the Section does not permit a corporation to eliminate or limit
the liability of a director for appropriating, in violation of his or her
duties, any business opportunity of the corporation, for acts or omissions
including intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, receiving from
any transaction an improper personal benefit, or voting for or assenting to an
unlawful distribution (whether as a dividend, stock repurchase or redemption,
or otherwise) as provided in Section 14-2-832 of the Georgia Code.  Section
14-2- 202(b)(4) also does not eliminate or limit the rights of WorldCom or any
shareholder to seek an injunction or other nonmonetary relief in the event of a
breach of a director's duty to the corporation and its shareholders.
Additionally, Section 14-2-202(b)(4) applies only to claims against a director
arising out of his or her role as a director, and does not relieve a director
from liability arising from his or her role as an officer or in any other
capacity.

         The provisions of Article Ten of WorldCom's Second Amended and
Restated Articles of Incorporation are similar in all substantive respects to
those contained in Section 14-2-202(b)(4) of the Georgia Code as outlined
above.  Article Ten further provides that the liability of directors of
WorldCom shall be limited to the fullest extent permitted by amendments to
Georgia law.

         Sections 14-2-850 to 14-2-859, inclusive, of the Georgia Code govern
the indemnification of directors, officers, employees, and agents.  Section
14-2-851 of the Georgia Code permits indemnification of a director of WorldCom
for liability incurred by him or her in connection with any threatened, pending
or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative (including, subject to certain limitations,
civil actions brought as derivative actions by or in the right of WorldCom) in
which he or she is made a party by reason of being a director of WorldCom and
of directors who, at the request of WorldCom, act as directors, officers,
partners, trustees, employees or agents of another foreign or domestic
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other
enterprise.  The Section  permits indemnification if the director acted in good
faith and reasonably believed (a) in the case of conduct in his or her official
capacity, that such conduct was in the best interests of the corporation, (b)
in all other cases other than a criminal proceeding, that such conduct was at
least not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and (c) in the case
of a criminal proceeding, that he or she had no reasonable cause to believe his
or her conduct was unlawful.  If the required standard of conduct is met,
indemnification may include judgments, settlements, penalties, fines or
reasonable expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred with respect to a
proceeding.

         A Georgia corporation may not indemnify a director under Section
14-2-851 (i) in connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the
corporation, except for reasonable expenses incurred by such director in
connection with the proceeding provided it is determined that such director met
the relevant standard of conduct set forth above, or (ii) in connection with
any proceeding with respect to conduct for which such director was adjudged
liable on the basis that he or she received an improper personal benefit.

                                      3
<PAGE>   4

         Prior to indemnifying a director under Section 14-2-851 of the Georgia
Code, a determination must be made that the director has met the relevant
standard of conduct.  Such determination must be made by:  (i) a majority vote
of a quorum consisting of directors not at that time parties to the suit; (ii)
a duly designated committee of directors; (iii) duly selected special legal
counsel; or (iv) a vote of the shareholders, excluding shares owned by or voted
under the control of directors who are at the time parties to the suit.

         A Georgia corporation may, before final disposition of a proceeding,
advance funds to pay for or reimburse the reasonable expenses incurred by a
director who is a party to a proceeding because he or she is a director,
provided that such director delivers to the corporation a written affirmation
of his or her good faith belief that he or she met the relevant standard of
conduct described in Section 14-2-851 of the Georgia Code, or that the
proceeding involves conduct for which such director's liability has been
properly eliminated by action of the corporation, and a written undertaking by
the director to repay any funds advanced if it is ultimately determined that
such director was not entitled to such indemnification.  Section 14-2-852 of
the Georgia Code provides that directors who are successful with respect to any
claim brought against them, which claim is brought because they are or were
directors of WorldCom, are entitled to mandatory indemnification against
reasonable expenses incurred in connection therewith.

         The Georgia Code also allows a Georgia corporation to indemnify
directors made a party to a proceeding without regard to the above-referenced
limitations, if authorized by the articles of incorporation or a bylaw,
contract, or resolution duly adopted by a vote of the shareholders of the
corporation by a majority of votes entitled to be cast, excluding shares owned
or voted under the control of the director or directors who are not
disinterested, and to advance funds to pay for or reimburse reasonable expenses
incurred in the defense thereof, subject to restrictions similar to the
restrictions described in the preceding paragraph; provided, however, that the
corporation may not indemnify a director adjudged liable (1) for any
appropriation, in violation of his or her duties, of any business opportunity
of WorldCom, (2) for acts or omissions which involve intentional misconduct or
a knowing violation of law, (3) for unlawful distributions under Section
14-2-832 of the Georgia Code, or (4) for any transaction in which the director
obtained an improper personal benefit.

         Section 14-2-857 of the Georgia Code provides that an officer of
WorldCom (but not an employee or agent generally) who is not a director has the
mandatory right of indemnification granted to directors under Section 14-2-852,
as described above.  In addition, WorldCom may, as provided by WorldCom's
Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, WorldCom's Bylaws,
general or specific actions by its board of directors or contract, indemnify
and advance expenses to an officer, employee or agent who is not a director to
the extent that such indemnification is consistent with public policy.

         The indemnification provisions of Article X of WorldCom's Bylaws and
Article Eleven of WorldCom's Second Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation are consistent with the foregoing provisions of the Georgia Code.
However, WorldCom's Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation
prohibit indemnification of a director who did not believe in good faith that
his or her actions were in, or not contrary to, WorldCom's best interests.
WorldCom's Bylaws extend the indemnification available to officers under the
Georgia Code to employees and agents.

         Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons
controlling the Company pursuant to such provisions, the Company has been
informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in such Act and is
therefore unenforceable.

ITEM 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

         Not applicable.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.

         Reference is made to the Exhibit Index.

ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS.

         (a)     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

                                      4
<PAGE>   5
                 (1)      To file, during any period in which offers or sales
                          are being made, a post-effective amendment to this
                          registration statement:

                          (i)     To include any prospectus required by Section
                                  10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

                          (ii)    To reflect in the prospectus any facts or
                                  events arising after the effective date of
                                  the registration statement (or the most
                                  recent post-effective amendment thereof)
                                  which, individually or in the aggregate,
                                  represent a fundamental change in the
                                  information set forth in the registration
                                  statement; notwithstanding the foregoing, any
                                  increase or decrease in volume of securities
                                  offered (if the total dollar value of
                                  securities offered would not exceed that
                                  which was registered) and any deviation from
                                  the low or high end of the estimated maximum
                                  offering range may be reflected in the form
                                  of prospectus filed with the Commission
                                  pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate,
                                  the changes in volume and price represent no
                                  more than a 20 percent change in the maximum
                                  aggregate offering price set forth in the
                                  "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in
                                  the effective registration statement;

                          (iii)   To include any material information with
                                  respect to the plan of distribution not
                                  previously disclosed in the registration
                                  statement or any material change to such
                                  information in the registration statement;

                                  provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i)
                                  and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the
                                  registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form
                                  S-8, and the information required to be
                                  included in a post-effective amendment by
                                  those paragraphs is contained in periodic
                                  reports filed with or furnished to the
                                  Commission by the registrant pursuant to
                                  Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities
                                  Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by
                                  reference in the registration statement.

                 (2)      That, for the purpose of determining any liability
                          under the Securities Act of 1933, each such
                          post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
                          registration statement relating to the securities
                          offered therein, and the offering of such securities
                          at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
                          fide offering thereof.

                 (3)      To remove from registration by means of a
                          post-effective amendment any of the securities being
                          registered which remain unsold at the termination of
                          the offering.

         (b)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes
of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of
the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in this
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

         (c)  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers, and controlling
persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than payment by the registrant
or expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer, or controlling person of
the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit, or proceeding) is
asserted by such director, officer, or controlling person in connection with
the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of
its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a
court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by
it isagainst public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the
final adjudication of such issue.

                                      5
<PAGE>   6
                                   SIGNATURES

                 Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
the registrant certifies that it is has reasonable grounds to believe that it
meets all the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Jackson, State of Mississippi on January 27,
1998.

                                              WORLDCOM, INC.



                                              By:   /s/ Scott D. Sullivan 
                                                  ----------------------------
                                                    Scott D. Sullivan
                                                    Chief Financial Officer

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

          Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and
appoints Bernard J. Ebbers, John W. Sidgmore, Scott D. Sullivan, and Charles T.
Cannada, and each of them (with full power to each of them to act alone), his
true and lawful attorneys in fact and agents for him and on his behalf and in
his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign any and all
amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration
Statement, and to file the same, with exhibits and any and all other documents
filed with respect thereto, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any
other governmental or regulatory authority), granting unto said attorneys, and
each of them, full power and authority to do and to perform each and every act
and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises in order
to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and purposes as he himself might
or could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming all that
said attorneys in fact and agents, or any of them, may lawfully do or cause to
be done by virtue hereof.

                 Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
           Name                                             Title                                  Date
           ----                                             -----                                  ----

<S>                                                        <C>                                 <C> 
/s/ Carl J. Aycock                                         Director                            January 27, 1998
- -------------------------------------------                                                            
            Carl J. Aycock



/s/ Max E. Bobbitt                                         Director                           January 27, 1998
- -------------------------------------------                                                           
            Max E. Bobbitt



/s/ Bernard J. Ebbers                                      Director, President and            January 27, 1998
- -------------------------------------------                Chief Executive Officer                      
            Bernard J. Ebbers                             (Principal Executive Officer)
                                                                                                

/s/ Francesco Galesi                                       Director                           January 27, 1998
- -------------------------------------------                                                                     
            Francesco Galesi
</TABLE>


                                      6
<PAGE>   7


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                 Name                                  Title                                 Date
                 ----                                  -----                                 ----
<S>                                                 <C>                                <C>
/s/ Richard R. Jaros                                Director                           January 27, 1998
- ------------------------------------------                                                                     
               Richard R. Jaros



/s/ Stiles A. Kellett, Jr.                          Director                           January 27, 1998
- -----------------------------------------
               Stiles A. Kellett, Jr.



/s/ David C. McCourt                                Director                           January 27, 1998
- -----------------------------------------
               David C. McCourt



/s/ John A. Porter                                  Director                           January 27, 1998
- -----------------------------------------
               John A. Porter



/s/ John W. Sidgmore                                Director                           January 27, 1998
- -----------------------------------------
              John W. Sidgmore



/s/ Scott D. Sullivan                               Director and Chief Financial       January 27, 1998
- -----------------------------------------           Officer (Principal Financial
               Scott D. Sullivan                    Officer and Principal              
                                                    Accounting Officer)                
                                                                                            

/s/ Lawrence C. Tucker                              Director                           January 27, 1998
- -----------------------------------------
               Lawrence C. Tucker
</TABLE>


                                      7
<PAGE>   8
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER                            DESCRIPTION
- -------                           -----------
<S>                      <C>
  4.1                    Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of WorldCom (including
                         preferred stock designations) as of December 31, 1996 (incorporated herein by
                         reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of WorldCom (File No.
                         0-11258) dated December 31, 1996 (filed January 15, 1997))
  
  4.2                    Restated Bylaws of WorldCom (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to
                         the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by WorldCom (File No. 0-11258) for the fiscal
                         year ended December 31, 1996)
  
  4.3                    Form of Deposit Agreement between WorldCom, The Bank of New York and the holders
                         from time to time of the Depositary Shares representing 1/100 of a share of
                         WorldCom Series A Preferred Stock (the "WorldCom Depositary Shares") (incorporated
                         herein by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to Registrant Statement on Form S-4 filed by
                         WorldCom (Registration No. 333-16015))
  
  4.4                    Form of certificate representing WorldCom Depositary Shares (incorporated herein
                         by reference to Exhibit A to the Deposit Agreement filed as Exhibit 4.5 to
                         Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by WorldCom (Registration No. 333-16015))

  4.5                    Rights Agreement dated as of August 25, 1996 between the Company and The Bank of
                         New York, which includes the form of Certificate of Designations, setting forth
                         the terms of the Series 3 Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per
                         share, as Exhibit A, the form of Rights Certificate as Exhibit B and the Summary
                         of Preferred Stock Purchase Rights as Exhibit C (incorporated herein by reference
                         to Exhibit 4 to the Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 26, 1996 (as amended
                         on Form 8 K/A filed August 31, 1996) filed by the Company with the Securities and
                         Exchange Commission on August 26, 1996 (as amended on Form 8 K/A filed on August
                         31, 1996) File No. 0-11258))

  4.6                    Amendment No. 1 to Rights Agreement dated as of May 22, 1997 by and between
                         WorldCom, Inc. and The Bank of New York, as Rights Agreement (incorporated herein
                         by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of WorldCom's Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 22,
                         1997 (filed June 5, 1997))

  5.1                    Opinion of William E. Anderson as to the legality of the Securities to be issued

 23.1                    Consent of Arthur Anderson LLP

 23.2                    Consent of Coopers & Lybrand LLP

 23.3                    Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP

 23.4                    Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP

 23.5                    Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP

 23.6                    Consent of William E. Anderson, Esq. (included in Exhibit 5.1)

 24.1                    Power of Attorney (included in Signature Pages)
</TABLE>




<PAGE>   1



                                                                     Exhibit 5.1

                                January 28, 1998


Board of Directors of
WorldCom, Inc.
 515 East Amite Street
Jackson, Mississippi 39201

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         I am General Counsel of WorldCom, Inc., a Georgia corporation (the
"Company"), and have acted as counsel in connection with a Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") to be filed by the Company
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), with respect to 4,308,568
shares (the "Shares") of Common Stock, par value $.01, of the Company ("Common
Stock") which are to be issued upon exercise of options granted under the
WorldCom/ANS Stock Plan (the "Plan").

         In connection herewith, I have examined and relied without
investigation as to matters of fact upon the Registration Statement, the Second
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws of the Company,
certificates of public officials, certificates and statements of officers of
the Company, and such other corporate records, documents, certificates and
instruments as I have deemed necessary or appropriate to enable me to render
the opinions expressed herein.  I have assumed the genuineness of all
signatures on all documents examined by me, the authenticity of all documents
submitted to me as originals, and the conformity to authentic originals of all
documents submitted to me as certified or photostatic copies.  I have also
assumed the due authorization, execution and delivery of all documents.

         Based upon the foregoing, and in reliance thereon and subject to the
qualifications and limitations stated herein, I am of the opinion that when the
Registration Statement, including any amendments thereto, shall have become
effective under the Act, and the Shares have been issued in accordance with the
terms of the Plans then the Shares will be legally issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.

         I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the
aforesaid Registration Statement on Form S-8.  I also consent to your filing
copies of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement with
agencies of such states as you deem necessary in the course of complying with
the laws of such states regarding the offering and sale of the Shares.  In
giving this consent, I do not admit that I am in the category of persons whose
consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of
the Commission.

                                                   Very truly yours,
                                                          
                                                   /s/ William E. Anderson

                                                   William E. Anderson
                                                   General Counsel
                                                   WorldCom, Inc.

<PAGE>   1




                                                                    Exhibit 23.1


                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation by
reference in this registration statement on Form S-8, to be filed on or around
January 26, 1998, of our report dated February 26, 1997 included in WorldCom,
Inc.'s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996 and to all references to
our Firm included in this registration statement.



                                               ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP


Jackson, Mississippi,
January 26, 1998

<PAGE>   1




                                                                    Exhibit 23.2



                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation by
reference in this Form S-8 to Registration Statement No. 333-_____ of WorldCom,
Inc. of our report dated February 14, 1996, on our audits of the consolidated
financial statements of MFS Communications Company, Inc. as of December 31,
1995 and 1994 and for each of the three and two years in the period ended
December 31, 1995, which reports are included in WorldCom, Inc.'s Current
Report on Form 8-K/A dated August 25, 1996 (as amended in November 4, 1996 and
December 19, 1997).



Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
Omaha, Nebraska
January 26, 1998

<PAGE>   1



                                                                    Exhibit 23.3


                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

         As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the
incorporation by reference in this registration statement on Form S-8, to be
filed on or around January 26, 1998, of our reports dated February 20, 1997, on
the Consolidated Financial Statements of MFS Communications Company, Inc.
included in WorldCom, Inc's Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 25, 1996,
as amended by Form 8-K/A filed on December 19, 1997, and to all references to
our Firm included in this registration statement.



                                                  ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP


Omaha, Nebraska,
January 26, 1998

<PAGE>   1




                                                                    Exhibit 23.4




                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation by
reference in this registration statement on Form S-8, to be filed on or around
January 26, 1998, of our report dated January 31, 1996, on the Consolidated
Financial Statements of UUNET Technologies, Inc. included in WorldCom, Inc.'s
Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 25, 1996, as amended by Form 8-K/A
filed on November 4, 1996, and to all references to our Firm included in this
registration statement.


                                                             ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP


Washington, D.C.
January 26, 1998

<PAGE>   1


                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.5

                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration
Statement on Form S-8 of WorldCom, Inc. of our report dated January 27, 1997
relating to the consolidated financial statements of MCI Communications
Corporation for the year ended December 31, 1996, which report appears in
WorldCom, Inc.'s Current Report on Form 8K/A-2 dated November 9, 1997 (as
amended on January 28, 1998).


Price Waterhouse LLP
January 28, 1998
Washington, D.C.


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