Unsealed court documents say Jeffs tried to kill himself

"A message from the Lord, God of Heaven, through his former servant, who is not his servant, that the messages I gave yesterday are true, except for the part about being the most wicked, the wickedest man on the face of the Earth since Adam's time. That part is from the powers of The Evil One that were trying to influence me," Jeffs said.

A few minutes later, the conversation resumes.

"OK, just a minute," Jeffs said. "I am not the prophet. I never was the prophet, and I have been deceived by the powers of evil and Brother William E. Jessop has been the prophet since Father's passing, since the passing of my father.

"And I have been the most wicked man in this dispensation, in the eyes of God."

Jeffs urges his brother, Nephi, to write the message down, saying that God had visited him in jail and gave him the opportunity to "undo what I have done."

"And I ask for everyone's forgiveness and say farewell forever you who are worthy (for) Zion, for I will not be there," he said.

"Yes you will. This is just a test," Nephi replied.

"Give this to all the priesthood people, this message to you, all right?" Jeffs said.

"OK."

"Let everyone see the video who wants to. The Lord wants me to (crying) that he finally shed a tear for, the Lord, his God, who has redeemed his son. He whispers that you, Nephi, need to get a copy of this video before you leave, if you can or order it. You can tell he's still dictating me to tell you, Nephi, before he leaves me to my punishment. To Nephi, you can tell anybody who wants to read this message, or see the video, that they can see it, even apostates and gentiles. That they may know that I have been a liar and the truth is not in me."

Nephi Jeffs told his brother he loved him and said: "This is a test. You are the prophet."

The Deseret Morning News broke the story about the stunning jailhouse conversation in a story in March, and in other stories detailed how Jeffs held "church" from the jail.

In court documents, defense attorneys took note of Jeffs' mental health and medical problems. They also said Jeffs recanted his renouncement, saying it was merely a test.

On Feb. 10, Jeffs made a series of phone calls announcing that he was tested and remained committed to the priesthood of the FLDS Church. Defense attorney Richard Wright recounted one conversation.

"It's been a whole week of attack beyond what you can imagine," Jeffs said. "Finally, this morning I showed the Lord that I was for him and I wasn't going to give in, so be assured I'm for God and the priesthood. ... Though I said what I said, and felt unworthy of it all, I did not deny God and priesthood, I uphold them."

Wright detailed how, in other phone conversations, Jeffs continued to act as FLDS prophet, praying with his members, taking their testimonies and giving spiritual instructions.

Jeffs faces up to life in prison when he is sentenced on Nov. 20. The FLDS leader is also facing charges in Arizona, accusing him of performing more child bride marriages. A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City also has indicted him on unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, stemming from his time on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list.

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E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com