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	Live from the Courthouse: Jeffs Calls Witness By Matthew Waller San Angelo Standard-Times August 3, 2011 http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2011/aug/03/live-from-the-courthouse-state-rests-case/ Warren Jeffs called JD Roundy, a member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, as the first witness for his defense. Roundy read passages from Mormon scripture under Jeffs' questioning. Three books were entered into evidence: ""Doctrine and Covenants," "Pearl of Great Price" and the "Book of Mormon." The verses that Roundy read concerned the account of Joseph Smith, the Mormon prophet, receiving his first revelation. Before calling his witness, Jeffs made a half-hour opening statement to the jury, telling a brief history of religion, American history and church history. "Through the history of the Earth, religion has been all important in the way of life, of nature and people believing in a creator and seeking salvation," he said. At one point Jeffs compared the plight of the FLDS church to that of the American Civil Rights Movement. "There has been a persecuting zeal against a religion seeking religious freedom," he said. Jeffs said he wants there to be understanding of his religion before judgment comes. ----- The state has rested its case against Warren Jeffs, concluding with a recording that the state alleges is of Jeffs in the act of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl. The garbled tape was dominated by heavy breathing for its 20-minute duration. "You will be able to come into the heavenly session ... and see heavenly visions, the angels, this shall make to come to know God in his power and feel his presence," the male voice on the tape said, breaking in and out in the poor quality of the recording. Documents show earlier said that a child of the alleged 15-year-old victim was conceived in a "heavenly session." The jury was provided transcripts to be read along with the recording, made by Texas Ranger Nick Hanna, who said he listened to the tape for four or five hours to make the transcript. "Feeling your spirit and witness of peace, burning peace," one part of the recording said after some heavy breathing. "Do you feel ... your servant ... fill them with the Holy Ghost ... deliver these ladies," and other fragments were barely audible. The occasional high-pitched voice broke in, and several high voices said "Amen" after the male voice said "We offer this prayer in Jesus Christ's name, amen," at the end of the tape. The state believes that three women were present at the time of the recording. Jeffs, the leader of the polygamy sanctioning Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints will have the opportunity to present his own witnesses this afternoon. The 55-year-old "prophet" of the sect fought against having the transcript admitted on grounds that it would be prejudicial to the jury, but the judge allowed it to become a court record, to be taken away from the jury after the audio recording was played. Several documents led up to the playing of the tape. The prosecution put up evidence this morning including blueprints and gathering records in the Warren Jeffs case to show that the alleged victims of sexual assault were at the FLDS Yearning for Zion Ranch at the time of alleged sexual assaults. Jeffs is on trial for two counts of child sexual assault against two girls, ages 12 and 15. He has objected repeatedly, claiming violations of religious freedom. He also objected on grounds of relevance. "The very word 'priesthood' by the prosecution shows a religion in need of protection by the Constitution," Jeffs said about the admission of a priesthood record taken from the YFZ Ranch in the 2008 raid. According to records introduced this morning, Jeffs said that his followers were to "whip the devil off the land," among other instructions. State District Judge Barbara Walther overruled the objection and has ordered him to not disrupt court proceedings. "Be quiet, Mr. Jeffs," Walther said. The court resumed from Tuesday night when the jury returned to the courtroom at 8 p.m. to hear more testimony for about an hour, and it heard another audio recording, of Jeffs speaking to a group of 12 females, the prosecution said, at the YFZ Ranch. In it, Jeffs is heard giving religious instruction, with one of the alleged victims among them, the prosecution contends. That was the third segment of audio recordings played to the jury. In one, Jeffs appears to give religious instruction in a car, and in the other he is heard telling a group of women to disrobe and giving instructions about how to be sexual with him.
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