By Scott Sherman
Salt Lake Tribune
August 12, 2011
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/sports/52370086-78/jeffs-wives-tells-audio.html.csp
[with audio]
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| Authorities inside the FLDS temple at the Yearning for Zion Ranch in Eldorado collect evidence following a 2008 raid. Shown are temple beds. This photo was entered as evidence in the Warren Jeffs trial. Prosecutors alleged Jeffs had sex with underage child brides inside the temple and ordered construction of a table that could be transformed into a bed with a plastic-covered mattress. Courtesy Image |
Warren Jeffs describes why he can have multiple women with him at once. (48 sec.)
Jeffs reads a revelation about why his wives must be loyal to him. He ends with an "amen," to which the women quietly respond, "amen." (6:10 min.)
Jeffs describes the "atonement sessions" and how his "ladies" must bring him back from the brink of death through their touch. He also tells them they must "assist each other" during sex. (7:43 min.)
Jeffs describes the grooming he requires of his wives, but that they may not discuss it with others. (2:52 min.)
Jeffs says he does not need to be near death for his wives to have sex with him. (54 sec.)
Jeffs tells the women "You ladies just don’t know how men out in the world are." A female voice replies, "We’re so glad we don’t know." (7 sec.)
Note: It may take a few moments for the audio player to load the clips.
Audio recordings of polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs giving sexual training to underage plural wives helped convince a Texas jury to convict Jeffs of child rape last week.
For juror Mary Harris, hearing the voices of the girls on several recordings played by prosecutors was the most striking piece of evidence.
"They sounded like they were 5 or 6," she said.
The recordings were among boxes of evidence prosecutors submitted at trial, much of which is now being released since jurors ordered the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints prophet to serve life in prison Tuesday. The Salt Lake Tribuneis releasing selected audio portions online which do not include any sexual assault in progress.
During three-hours of training, about half of which was played for jurors, Jeffs makes biblical references to what he calls the "Law of Sarah" and the taking of multiple wives. He tells the wives their duties as plural wives are a commandment of God and a requirement of the everlasting covenant with the Lord, saying if they reject this that they will be banished from heaven.
He tells them the Lord has told him he must have "quorums of wives" and that they may be with him sexually more than one at a time.
The wives can be heard undressing and putting on white robes as Jeffs began to speak in a December 2004 recording, Texas Ranger Nick Hanna testified.
Jurors convicted the 55-year-old Jeffs of sexual assault for fathering a child with one of the wives on the audio recording, who was then 14. Jurors also found him guilty of aggravated sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl he took as a wife.
Jeffs reads a revelation in which he tells the girls God says the wives of the prophet are in good standing with the Lord so long as they remain "humble, submissive, pure and loyal" to God and Jeffs. He ends the reading with an "amen," to which a chorus of faint female voices responds "amen."
A few minutes later, the sound of zippers is heard as Jeffs tells the females with him to change into the white robes. He also gives instructions to keep their briefs on if they are menstruating and how to tie the robes.
According to Jeffs, God was ready to strike his people, but ordered Jeffs to atone for their sins. These "atonement sessions," he said, "bring me right close to death." But rather than bringing in medical personnel who "would destroy me," Jeffs’ wives are told they have the power of the holy spirit to "revive" him with their touch.
"You have to know how to be excited sexually and to be excited to administer that comfort and strength," Jeffs is heard on the recording. "And you have to be able to assist each other. No one sits around, everyone assists each other."
Later in the recording, Jeffs says not all sex will happen during the atonement sessions. "The Lord showed me I don’t always have to be that close to death for my ladies to be with me," he says.
As they leave the three-hour session, he tells the group: "You don’t know how the men are out there in the world," A female voice answers: "We’re so glad we don’t know."
The recording, and another prosecutors said was of Jeffs having sex with the 12-year-old, was one of several played during the guilt phase of the trial. Several more recordings were played during the sentencing phase, including what prosecutors have said is Jeffs having sex in the baptismal font in the temple at the FLDS Yearning For Zion Ranch in Eldorado, Texas.
Prosecutors also showed evidence that Jeffs has 78 plural wives, including 12 girls married at age 16 and another 12 who were 15 or younger.
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