WWJD?

Last week it was announced Warren Jeffs, leader of a polygynous group known as the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, made some interesting statements while in jail which were kept out of his September trial and now are being released.

Jeffs was convicted as an accomplice on two counts of rape for his role in the marriage of a 14-year-old follower and her 19-year-old cousin. Jeffs lead the fundamentalist sect since 2002, when he took over for his father. Jeffs and the FLDS group were highlighted in the 2003 book, Under the Banner of Heaven, written by John Krakauer, bringing national media attention to the quiet town of Colorado City where the church was located. A member of the FBI’s 10 most wanted list, Jeffs eluded police for 18 months before his arrest in 2006.

It seems the statements made by Jeffs were an attempt to use spin to affect the outcome of his trial. Jeffs said he “had been immoral with a sister and daughter” years before,   the Lord had “revealed to him he was a wicked man,” and renounced his position as head of his church several times.  It is interesting these statements were made during his time awaiting trial, and did not reveal themselves to Jeffs before he had been arrested and charged with two counts of such a heinous crime. Could it be Jeffs was looking for the jurors in his trial to accept his repentance in the place of a conviction? Even now, the release of the statements is suspect as Jeffs is currently in prison awaiting his sentencing.

For someone who claims to be a prophet and communicate directly with God, I thought he would have known the difference between right and wrong before running from the FBI, being arrested, charged with a crime, and sitting in jail awaiting trial.

It would be nice to hear about all the good things associated with religion for a change.  — Morgan Smith