From Deseret News archives:
Videotape reveals Jeffs' mannerisms
4-hour record provided to News may help in search for the FLDS leader
- Page:
- < Previous
- 1
- 2
- 3
- Next >
"I want you young ones to be sure to be quiet. Don't talk out. Listen," he tells a room full of young children. "We always begin programs with prayer. Even in our fun, we remember Heavenly Father. That's what we want you to have today."
The little children shift excitedly in their chairs, looking around the room.
Jeffs chastises some children in the back of the room for climbing on an organ.
"I will say the prayer to begin with," Jeffs says. "Please close your eyes, fold your arms."
After the curtain parts, teenage girls dressed in pioneer-style flower print dresses, their hair in long braids and boys in checkered shirts and dark colored denim pants stand and sing. The children are entertained by skits about eating too much, Cinderella, the Three Bears and musical numbers by their fellow students playing the violin, trumpet and clarinet.
Before each skit, Jeffs introduces the next number. Midway through the children's program, he pops out, wearing a Groucho Marx nose and eyebrows over his thick glasses. A ballcap on his head is tilted slightly.
With that, the man who would become prophet uses a toy violin to lead the children in a rendition of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."
"Sing it! Louder! Louder!" he shouts to the kids as he leads them through "Mary Had a Little Lamb" and "Frere Jacques." The children applaud excitedly. Jeffs did not repeat that number when the skits were performed for adults later that afternoon. In that portion of the tape, men can be seen sitting in the audience with their wives. Like any other elementary school production, parents stand to take photos of their kids.
Sitting behind Jeffs as he conducts a choir of teenagers is an older man who appears to be Rulon Jeffs, who led the FLDS Church until his death in 2002 at age 92. A polygamist rumored to have as many as 75 wives and dozens of children, Rulon Jeffs was succeeded by his son, Warren.
Now, Warren Jeffs remains a fugitive on the run. He faces rape-as-an-accomplice charges in Washington County, for allegedly forcing a teenage girl into a "spiritual" marriage with an older man. In 2005, Jeffs was charged in Mohave County, Ariz., with sexual misconduct related to arranging child bride marriages.
- Page:
- < Previous
- 1
- 2
- 3
- Next >
Comments
- Teen girl killed in Kaysville crash 1:22 a.m.
- 1A All-state honorable mention 1:19 a.m.
- 2A All-state honorable mention 1:12 a.m.
- 3A All-state honorable mention 1:10 a.m.
- 4A All-state honorable mention 1:02 a.m.
- 5A All-state honorable mention 12:59 a.m.
- HIV study asks BYU biologist to help 12:57 a.m.
- Orem pair getting a rep for crime 12:56 a.m.
- McCoy to resign from Utah Senate 12:55 a.m.
- USU vs. BYU this decade 12:54 a.m.
- 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
- BYU says Hall incident resolved
- Max Hall: a fixture in rivalry lore
- Witness: Mitchell wanted attention
- 'Grandfamilies' a growing trend
- Mitchell called intelligent, controlling
- MWC '09 season in review
- Jazz win 6th in 7 games
- Jazz ready to be without Harpring
- Daughter: Mitchell fed me my pet
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
906 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
483 - Hall reprimanded by MWC
404 - Max Hall issues apology
387 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
349 - Utes won't respond to Hall
276 - BYU says Hall incident resolved
238 - 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
161 - BYU is champion of the state
143 - Religion in politics is tiresome
129
My husband was teaching his 6th-grade class in Salt Lake last year when...
so sorry to hear this terrible news..much sincer condolences to the her family.
Time for him to go. PAST time for him to go.
After reading many comments posted on several stories since the incident...
Hey, I was at that Pres. Holland devotional, too. It was the year after the...
Sometimes when we loose we win, but not in this case. Want a future?...
First Meeting Utah, 12—4 (1896) Last Meeting BYU,...
Max Hall's only mistake was hating the sinner instead of the sin. He...
Kind of refreshing isn't it, Lee.
I voted for Morgan for Vice Chair, and I think he would still be worth voting...


You can be the first to comment on this story.