Teen Bride: Salvation Depended On Marriage

Former Member Of Polygamist Sect Said She Married Her Cousin At Age 14 To Save Her Soul

(CBS/AP)  A former follower of a polygamous sect leader claims she was acting to preserve her eternal salvation when she obeyed his command and married her cousin at age 14.

Now 21, the woman was married in a 2001 religious ceremony to her 19-year-old cousin, then followed the counsel of Warren Jeffs to submit to her husband "mind, body and soul."

Jeffs, 51, leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, went on trial Thursday on two counts of rape as an accomplice for using his church authority to coerce the marriage.

The bride was the first witness in the trial and was expected to return to the stand Friday.

On Thursday, she testified that Jeffs has long been an authority figure in her life. In 2001, he was a high-ranking church counselor and had been the girl's teacher and principal at an FLDS-run school, teaching children principles of the faith.

In 2002, Jeffs became church president, or "prophet," succeeding his father.

"The prophet was as God to us. He was God on Earth and his counselors were pretty much the same, so they had jurisdiction over us," she said.

The Associated Press generally does not name people alleging sexual abuse.

Prosecutors played a tape of a marriage lesson recorded by Jeffs in 1997 to emphasize the point that obedience by women of the faith was expected.

"Give yourself to him, that means full obedience to righteous principles. No half way, no holding back," Jeffs said on the tape.

The girl first had sex with her cousin about two months after a ceremony in a Nevada motel, according to previous testimony in the case.

On the stand during the preliminary hearing, the alleged victim's sister said she tried to reason with Jeffs, and was chastised for being rebellious, reported CBS News Correspondent Bill Whitaker.

"It was just, shocking and horrific. She was only 14!" said the alleged victim's older sister, Rebecca.

The defense is looking to Jeffs' own words to illustrate for jurors that forced sex is not condoned in FLDS culture.

During a 1999 sermon, defense attorney Tara Isaacson said, Jeffs told followers that a "man should only have marital relations with a wife if she invites it."

The girl may not have liked being married to her cousin, but "being unhappy is different from being raped," Isaacson said.

Jeffs, 51, was a fugitive for nearly two years and was on the FBI's Most Wanted list when he was arrested during a traffic stop outside Las Vegas in August 2006. If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.

Jeffs has led the FLDS church since 2002. The sect also has a presence in the West Texas town of Eldorado. Followers see him as a prophet who communicates with God and holds dominion over their salvation; ex-church members say he reigns with an iron fist, demanding perfect obedience from followers.

He is not charged with being a polygamist, and the marriage between the cousins was monogamous. Still, polygamy casts a long shadow over the case.

Polygamy advocates have long contended that the freedom to practice plural marriage as part of their religion is a civil rights matter. Members of FLDS, which broke away from the Mormon church, believe polygamy brings exaltation in heaven.

The practice is banned in the Utah Constitution, though, and it is considered a felony offense. The Mormon church disavowed polygamy in 1890 and excommunicates members found to still be practicing plural marriage.

The trial is expected to last through next week.

[glb1969]

This is just another reason why we need to ban all religion and help and cure all who have been brainwashed by it. Only with logic and rational thought can we as humans evolove and stop the brutality and murders committed in the name of all religions.

[michellem99-2009]

Salvation depend on marriage is wrong if done illegally..She and teens need to be protecped..There are cults that the girls teeth are pulled out. They can''t eat. Religion and abuse. Wake up America..

[michellem99-2009]

You said it best..What you don''t know is persons go missing. Maybe you do. I was in total shcok the smome stack on the roof, fence around the temple..Do they kill people in there. Why have they not be shut down..have not faith in church..thanks to the mormons. phil in fin..sorry I take yer side..

[phil-in-fin]

chiefarr at 03:22 PM said,

"We do tend to stick together but this is because we find it uncompfortable to be around people that do not share our higher moral standards."

Thanks for the good laugh ... higher moral standards, indeed.

The greatest personal hurt I had ever received had come from my former church, where almost everyone believed that they had higher moral standards and so only answered to God. How they back-stabbed each other and called non-believers the most horrible of things, and how they believed that God was the only one that had to apologize to.

I will never again trust anyone who belongs to a religious sect, and here is my proof (from the above story):
"Polygamy advocates have long contended that the freedom to practice plural marriage as part of their religion is a civil rights matter. Members of FLDS, which broke away from the Mormon church, believe polygamy brings exaltation in heaven."

[michellem99-2009]

Keithle1, I have asked that same thing since I walked away from them..I am glad we are talking about this..The reason the 2 mormons in the race for the white house..we hate the mormons and that awful book of mormon.I was told that I had to attend their meetings as a foster child. I tryed to get out of going,I was a minor..They are racists even tho there are blacks in it..The white male is better so they say. They have programmes that trap their istersents.. There are given 8 lessons then baptaised. Food storage, family home evening, all different meetings for each age and genger..I feel they are very ood. And stay away. We slam the door in their face. I know that is rude but they wont listen..We are not any better but we have learnt that we have a brain and will think for ourselves. I feel for the kids..

[keithle1]

Why do people fall for Latter Day Saints/Mormon stuff? I have seen the young men in white shirts& black ties cycling around spreading the precious "Book of Mormon" to all the suckers.
Good thing about living in a high rise you don''t
have to worry about any Jesus freaks knocking on
your door. Jehova''s Witnesses. The whole crew.

In India & Africa you have girls getting married very young. Women don''t usually have rights in the rest of the world. No one cares about women.

I guess we''re a little better than that but I can''t relate to polygamy. Why would a "NORMAL" woman want to be part of this?

"You have *** with THE ALMIGHTY HUSBAND/PATRIARCH on Mon. I have *** with him on Tues. Esther you have *** with him on Wed. Ruth has Thurs. Mary is Fri. Bobby Sue is Sat. We all sleep with him on Sun. No further business."

[michellem99-2009]

As adult I can''t understand why the adults would allow children to marry in America..She is too young and she should get an education in school. Not be forced into adult lifestyle. It is jail bate...paws off..I don''t care if a church or what...That behaviour is wrong..Allow a cult to hurt children/women..It is time to deal with this issue. IT IS CHILD ABUSE..wake up...

[kevzgrl]

The "missionaries" used to visit our neighborhood and knock on our door quite regularly, until one day I got sick of it and met them at the door with a Pepsi in one hand and a cigarette in the other, and invited them in for a drink. They left in a real hurry, I can tell ya! I don''t try to impose my religious beliefs on anyone else, and do not appreciate anyone trying to impose theirs on me. That is the beauty of this country, that we are all free to believe what we want (although we may be ridiculed by some who don''t believe the same way) - however, when some sick B-A-S-T-A-R-D pedeophile wants to cop a legal feel on a young girl, so he forces her into marriage with him and his 3-4-5 other "wives", that''s when I draw the line. This isn''t "religion", it''s sickness, plain and simple, and needs to be done away with. Lock him up with some big, hairy adult men and let him be a "young wife" for a while - see how he likes being forced against his will.

[michellem99-2009]

Just_mee Dear,I knew they would never leave me in peace IF I didn''t demand out. They did. I would not remain a mormon as they belittle ya.Demand that Bishop''s trial as that is the step to freedom. The bishop''s trial is what gets yer excommated. Yer have to demand it and if yer mind is made up , don''t let them talk ye out of it. After it is over and yer walk out. yer know what peace is.

[Krazcarl]

just_me Question if you know it''s not true been abused why do you hang in there that''s why it still functions.

[kansas1946]

It is really great when a pedophile can claim devine inspiration, and the sheeple just sacrifice their children.

[keithle1]

Polygamy is not just for the benefit of men. Oh no.
Women get a lot out of it too...

Ah, religion. You gotta love it.

NOT.

[michellem99-2009]

crzmeat Dear..Being a foster child at the time I was forced by a social worker cause the foster mother as she be mormon. I dutifully went all the while they were brain washing me..I was so messed up and that caused behavioral problems with the school and me and the mormons..I couldn''t think..It more than hog wash. They love bomb..I have also seen a nasty side. Pres Woodrow Wilson told mormons they will have 1 wife. They had to abide by that. A 14 yr old kid making up gold plates that I believe are not here and never been. With our tech..They be seen..displayed..All lies..

[michellem99-2009]

9909My friend told me horror of growing up in SLC. HA was not mormon..hell. I was told by my social worker when I went to new foster home..I was told I had to attend the mormons. I did not want to but forced by that home. They are evil..Been to UT. Got out with a one bag of clothes by the ''HOUND. I love my cup of tea and playing solitaire. They are close to muslims.
They hate outsiders..anauhs9909..Yep..I feel the same way. I would never push it on others. I had to get out. It is a cult. I did not know that. They use the name Jesus Christ to get members..Their meetings are weird..I alway felt uncomfortable there as a legally blind lady. They barred me from asking about things and told me is so many words..shut up..that is when I stopped paying my weekly money to the bishop..he asked for it..Sorry..the bucks stops..Then got out.

[hypnotoad72]

That dude looks scary. And, no, I don''t see polygamy as a civil right. Besides, the laws in place right now are complex enough as it is. A polygamous divorce would really... wait, that''d have even a rookie lawyer being able to retire for 500 years without having to look for another job... never mind. Unions and marriages for all, they''ll all divorce anyway because nobody understands the meaning OF a union anymore (to build a life, with someone, for life)...

[just_mee-2009]

I was raised in a differet fundamentalist group and found that the women in this group also have no say in what is done. Men are superior and women should do what they want without question. If they make a mistake (the men) the woman will still reach heaven because she followed her husband. I found this was not for me since I do have a brain. I have also found many of the LDS people in Utah are very judgemental. My opinion is that they behave this way because they do not know what they believe and being mormon in utah is somewhat of a social club. Because of my past (being a polygamous wife) I found that I was ostracized. While I choose to remain Mormon, I live in a different state.

[susanhelit]

This is quite the scary cult - their compounds look more than a little like Waco - and they''ve got the same type of apocalyptic mindset. They kick out most the young boys so the old men can have multiple wives, make children marry old men, commit welfare fraud (in their areas, the welfare rate is often more than 50% of the town!), etc. It''s so much more than just the forced marriages and statutory rape - but it''s hard to bring charges on the rest of it - being an insane cult just isn''t against the law. At least this one girl got free enough to testify and hopefully put the leader away for awhile.

[anauhs9909]

I am from a small town in Utah with nothing but MORMONS!!! ugggghhhh...for starters they are all crazy!! They do believe they are better than everyone else, and I will be damned if they try to change my mind...I HATE MORMONS! They go around door to door trying to get you to think your better than everyone else, please dont fall for it! No matter what your religion its NOT right to sleep with your sister, cousin, aunt, mom, grandma...whatever its just gross. They need to come back down to the real world and they would understand how nasty it really is! Mormons make me sick! You cant drive through Utah without seeing an LDS church on every *** corner and being stopped by some stupid missionary on his bike!! STAY AWAY FROM UTAH!!!!!!!

[Krazcarl]

Chiefarr Higher Moral Standards that''s a great excuse to look down your nose. Trading off your children to keep the precher happy, putting indians up to masacre a wagon train of settlers then awarding wives to the instagators that''s higher moral ground. I guess you got what you wanted out of it so that makes it nice.

[michellem99-2009]

Yes sah. mormons are crazy as they are brain washed. I know what they believe as I demanded out. One of my foster mothers was a mormon..I was treated like dirt as a blind and handicapped lady..The white male ia the favoured skin colour and gendar. They hurt me in many ways..*Sister M please leave that white cane home*.I would not. I was ward greeter and a visiting teacher..I know that the mormon church is not the true chunch..nope..I got ont and got a friend out as well. I am much happier. The mormons are so pashy . That rudeness tho sweet is phony..I don''t believe in it. This is my right..