St. George, USA - Prosecutors want jurors to hear a revelation described by polygamous sect leader Warren S. Jeffs about a "secret combination" in place to stop "so-called underage" marriages.
The state argues the statement goes to the heart of its case involving the marriage and advice Jeffs gave a woman known as Jane Doe in 2001, when he told her she had a religious duty to proceed with an unwanted arranged marriage.
Jeffs made the statement, which was recorded, to a group of men, some years ago, according to a court document. The timing of the statement isn't clear.
"The Lord revealed to me that in 2003, a secret combination was in place between the apostates everywhere, many of them, and the government officials, and also traitors and half-hearted men, false brethren among the Priesthood people," Jeffs is alleged to have said.
"And that conspiracy involved the passing of these laws, to call us criminal by performing marriages, so-called 'under-age marriages. . .," he continued.
Prosecutors say the statement is evidence of Jeffs' state of mind regarding the performance of such marriages and his response to Jane Doe's requests to cancel, postpone or release her from her marriage.
The statement also shows the power and authority Jeffs held within his sect, the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, prosecutors said.
A second, longer excerpt reads:
"The Lord showed me they were going to take away our lands and houses. He showed me that it was the intention of our enemies to pull me and many people into court and turn traitor by bearing witness in court of my father's doings and my doings, concerning the Celestial Law of Marriage, the judging of the people, bringing God into question and what He does among His Priesthood people and on His Priesthood lands in his Celestial Law.
"And I say to you brethren, no person, no court, no government, no people on the face of the whole earth has the right or authority to bring God into question what He has His Prophets do in the Celestial Law among his Priesthood people on his consecrated lands."
Fifth District Judge James L. Shumate, who is involved in juror interviews, has not yet ruled on the state's motion. Defense attorneys oppose its use at trial.