San Angelo, Texas » Jurors heard more from a former member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on Monday in the trial of Allan Keate, who faces charges of sexually assaulting a child.
Rebecca Musser explained why she moved away from her FLDS community.
Having been married to FLDS prophet Rulon Jeffs in her late teens, she was pressured along with younger wives to marry the new prophet, Rulon Jeffs' son Warren Jeffs, and she refused, Musser said.
Musser said Warren Jeffs told her, "I will break you. I will make you a good wife. You have one week." Musser said she left to live with her brother shortly after that.
"I couldn't say goodbye to anyone," Musser said. "They would not have let me go."
Lead defense attorney Randy Wilson asked Musser if she had ever had problems with Warren Jeffs before.
Musser said she had been reprimanded for refusing sexual advances of Rulon Jeffs.
"I didn't have any problem getting along, except when I wasn't perfectly obedient to him."
Musser has testified as an expert witness regarding documents recovered during the April 2008 raid on the FLDS Yearning For Zion Ranch, such as birth records, FLDS marriage records and priesthood records that record significant events for the FLDS community.
The attorneys also delved into the theology and religious practice of the FLDS.
Musser reaffirmed the importance of keeping records of significant events.
"If it is not recorded on Earth, it is not recorded in heaven ... which would be to burn in hell," Musser said.
Wilson asked Musser where in religious writings used by the FLDS was such doctrine supported.
Lead prosecutor Eric Nichols later came to Musser's aid with passages from the religious text Doctrines and Covenants that say a person will be "cut asunder" if records are not kept.
Musser also discussed women's spiritual condition and connection, saying that they could only have a relationship with God through their "priesthood hear," usually the husband or father.
Wilson tested the extent of men's authority over women.
"Can FLDS men beat women?" Wilson asked.
"No," Musser said.
Wilson asked whether men were placed with women as women were placed with men.
Musser said the prophet determines the marriage in any case, although men had been known to request marriages.
Wilson also asked Musser to explain the levels of heaven and hell that FLDS believe in.
Musser said she knew of three levels of heaven, the top level being a state in which the man becomes a god and goes with his wives to "create their own worlds." She said she did not know of levels of hell.
Wilson read from Mormon writings about being benevolent, chaste and having other virtues and about acting in love, and he asked Musser if she was taught such things among other "life lessons."
"All of those things were part of our religious training," Musser said.
The state rested its case Monday.

