SAN ANGELO, Texas | 
 
 SAN ANGELO, Texas (Reuters) - Prosecutors finished presenting their sexual assault case against polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs on Wednesday by playing a recording of his alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl for jurors. 
 
 In response, Jeffs -- who is representing himself in his own defense -- entered the entire Book of Mormon into evidence and read parts of it into the record. 
 
 Jeffs has repeatedly said that his freedom of religion protects his right to practice polygamy, which has been condemned by the Mormon church. 
 
 Jeffs, 55, is charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child, for his relationship with the 12-year-old, and aggravated sexual assault for his relationship with a 14-year-old girl. Authorities allege that Jeffs had "spiritual" marriages with both the girls, and fathered a child with the older girl. 
 
 The self-proclaimed "prophet" and leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a banned offshoot of the Mormons which says men have to have three wives to be admitted into heaven, faces 119 years in prison if convicted on both charges. 
 
 Prosecutors on Wednesday presented what were called "priestly records," items seized during an April 2008 raid on the Yearning for Zion polygamist compound in rural West Texas. The records detail Jeffs' relationships with the girls, and were shown to jurors Wednesday on a large projection screen as Texas Ranger Nick Hanna read them out loud. 
 
 "She is full of faith and sweetness," Hanna read in a notation allegedly written by Jeffs. "Keep sweet" in the FLDS church is a common phrase referring to a member's willingness to follow the principles of the religion and avoid provocation to anger or other negativity. 
 
 Hanna said the rape of the 12-year-old girl took place in the temple, a large white structure that towers over the other buildings on the sprawling ranch, which Jeffs built in the rural cattle country starting in 2003. 
 
 "She experienced the heavenly session and obtained a greater testament," Hanna quoted Jeffs as writing about his sexual encounter with the girl. "She felt the all consuming fire of heaven." 
 
 The jury then listened to an audio recording that Jeffs secretly made of the incident, in which the voices of both Jeffs and the girl can be heard. 
 
 At the end of the recording, both the girl and Jeffs say "Amen." 
 
 As he has throughout the trial, Jeffs sat alone at his table and objected to the items being admitted as evidence against him. 
 
 "I expect to seek Constitutional protection from federal intervention," he told Judge Barbara Walther. 
 
 As she has throughout the trial, Walther rejected all of Jeffs' objections. 
 
 On Wednesday afternoon, Jeffs read from the section of the Book of Mormon called "Doctrines and Covenants." 
 
 Devout Mormons believe the Doctrines and Covenants are the messages that church founder Joseph Smith received directly from God, and are for many the foundation stone of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. 
 
 To help the jury "interpret" the Mormon holy book, Jeffs called J.D. Roundy, who described himself as a teacher from Utah and a sect member. 
 
 "Have you ever seen happiness in this religion," Jeffs asked Roundy. 
 
 "Yes," Roundy replied. 
 
 Jeffs' opening statement never mentioned his guilt or innocence on the charges he is facing, but was a rambling claim that the sect is being persecuted. 
 
 "The need for religious protection has been on this protection for years," Jeffs told the court. "This religion is not brought up by the whims of man. I ask you to be open, and remember freedom of religion." 
 
 Testimony was expected to resume Thursday. 
 
 (Editing by Karen Brooks and Greg McCune) ||||| Jurors in tears as court hears graphic 'sex tape' Warren Jeffs made with his three wives - including his 12-year-old 'bride' 
 
 
 
 Jurors cover their mouths and cry as graphic 'sex tape' played in court 
 
 'Rhythmic panting' can be heard 
 
 
 
 Jeffs begins defence with 30-minute-long opening statement about religion 
 
 Questions one of his followers for four hours about Mormon history and scripture 
 
 Alleged victim referred to by name by polygamist leader during tape 
 
 
 
 Earlier court was played recordings of instructions to young wives including showering before going near him and maintaining body hair 
 
 
 
 Pictures show head of Mormon sect with the young redhead he is accused of raping 
 
 He told his young wives they were 'honourable vessels' and journalised about how they were 'willing to obey' 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 The prosecution rested their case yesterday by playing a shocking 'sex tape' to jurors, which left some of them in tears before Warren Jeffs opened his defence with a lecture on religion and history. 
 
 The explosive end contrasted sharply with the slow pace of Jeffs' opening statement and four-hour questioning of one of his followers regarding Mormon history and scripture. 
 
 As the 'sex tape' was played, jurors were seen covering their mouths in horror while some were seen wiping their eyes. 
 
 
 
 The alleged 12-year-old victim was mentioned by name twice on the 21-minute tape, in which Mr Jeffs can be heard breathing heavily and panting. 
 
 Leader: Warren Jeffs' (left) official title in the FLDS Church was President and Prophet, Seer and Revelator, before he was convicted of two felony counts of child sexual assault in 2011 
 
 The recording was allegedly made at the Yearning for Zion ranch in Texas, owned by the FLDS. It begins with Jeffs asking the girl how she feels. 
 
 
 
 According to the transcript made and given to the court, the girl replies: 'Feels good.' 
 
 
 
 Soon after Jeffs can be heard saying: 'Everyone else let go of me, back away a little. Please get on the other side of the bed. 
 
 'You shall learn the powers of the spirit of God as a heavenly wife should,' Jeffs tells the 12-year-old. 
 
 'Just don't think about the pain, you're going to heaven. The world's view of sexual relations is selfish, the celestial view is not' 
 
 'Let the heavenly comfort hear us. 
 
 'We bless you, by the Lord, at this young age. To come to know God and his power, and feel his presence.' 
 
 According to CNN, many jurors lowered their heads and closed their eyes during the recording. 
 
 The voice is also heard saying: ' You have to know how to be sexually excited and to help each other ... and you have to be ready for the time I need your comfort. 
 
 
 
 'This is your mission. This is how you abide the law.' 
 
 
 
 At one point, he says: 'Take your clothes off. Do it right now.' 
 
 
 
 The sounds of crying followed as he then says: 'Just don't think about the pain, you're going to heaven. The world's view of sexual relations is selfish, the celestial view is not.' 
 
 
 
 In another part of the recording he can be heard saying: 'Do you feel ... your servant ... fill them with the Holy Ghost ... deliver these ladies.' 
 
 The male voice can also be heard saying: 'You will be able to come into the heavenly session ... and see heavenly visions, the angels, this shall make to come to know God in his power and feel his presence.' 
 
 
 
 Documents show earlier said that a child of the alleged 15-year-old victim was conceived in a 'heavenly session'. 
 
 
 
 Worship: Temple of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in El Dorado, Texas, where the 'heavenly sessions' with the young girls are said to have taken place 
 
 Seized property: Texas Ranger Nick Hanna moves a computer from the back of a truck with the rest of the evidence for the trial against Warren Jeffs 
 
 As the session ends, Jeffs begins to pray, saying: 'Behold father these three ladies, innocent and pure. We thank you for these gifts and join in a prayer of oneness.' 
 
 He then asks the 12-year-old for a hug. 
 
 Just before the tape ends, Mr Jeffs is heard saying, 'in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.' 
 
 Three female voices then reply: 'Amen.' 
 
 The tape was taken by police from the car Mr Jeffs was riding in when he was arrested in 2006. 
 
 After his 30-minute opening statement, Jeffs called his first witness, JD Roundy, a member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, who read passages from Mormon scripture under Jeffs' questioning. 
 
 Warning: Judge Barbara Walther, who limps after suffering from polio, was told by Jeffs that God had sent 'a crippling disease upon her which shall take her life soon' 
 
 During the four-hour questioning - which was focused solely on scripture and mentioned nothing of the sexual assault charges - jurors are said to have appeared impatient. 
 
 Prosecutor Eric Nichols objected several times, saying that neither man’s religious beliefs were relevant to the sexual assault charges. 
 
 Judge Barbara Walther let Jeffs continue, but admonished him to stay on topic, saying: 'I don’t believe the pursuit of your defence should be trying to lecture or teach the jury about your religion.' 
 
 The topics included the 'everlasting covenant' of plural marriage, and the idea of a living prophet who is the voice of God. 
 
 
 
 Jeffs, the head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is accused of sexually assaulting two girls, ages 12 and 15, that he took as brides in 'spiritual marriages.' 
 
 During his 30-minute long opening statement, Jeffs compared the plight of the FLDS church to that of the American Civil Rights Movement. 
 
 'There has been a persecuting zeal against a religion seeking religious freedom,' he said. Jeffs said he wants there to be understanding of his religion before judgement comes, according to the Salt lake Tribune. 
 
 
 
 On Tuesday, another jaw-dropping audio tape revealed the 55-year-old church leader instructing his sister wives that they must 'work together' to please him sexually. 
 
 Mr Jeffs, who is representing himself after firing his high-powered legal team, vehemently objected before both of the tapes were played, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. 
 
 Judge Barbara Wa lther overruled him each time. 
 
 Tuesday's 90-minute segment details how the young brides should become 'so natural as clothed as unclothed' and always shower before getting near him. 
 
 Mr Jeffs is also heard instructing the woman on how to maintain their pubic hair, and a woman is heard showing the other wives how to properly shave their armpits. 
 
 He says on the tape: 'No one sits around, everyone assists each other.' 
 
 
 
 This came after a doctor and forensic analyst testified Mr Jeffs was the father of a 15-year-old's child. 
 
 
 
 An excerpt from hundreds of pages of his personal journals said the child was 'pure and innocent and willing to obey' and he summoned her parents and 'informed them of their girl belonging to me.' 
 
 Prosecutors played the tape of Warren Jeffs talking to the girl when she was 14 after Texas Ranger Nick Hannah testified about documents and electronic files seized during a 2008 police raid at the church's remote compound in West Texas. 
 
 Among the documents seized was a record of Jeffs' spiritual marriage 'for time and all eternity' with the 14-year-old in January 2004. 
 
 
 
 The FLDS church believes polygamy brings exaltation in heaven. 
 
 Followers see Jeffs as a prophet who is God's spokesman on earth. 
 
 Open door: Jeffs gets into a waiting vehicle as he leaves the Tom Green County Courthouse on Wednesday 
 
 'No one sits around': Warren Jeffs is accused of child sexual assault and bigamy 
 
 Hannah read from Mr Jeffs' journals, which said he took the 14-year-old the night after their wedding with him and another of his new wives on a car ride outside the church's headquarters along the Utah-Arizona border for 'training.' 
 
 In writing about the session in his journal later, Jeffs said he told his wives they were 'honorable vessels, property of your husband's kingdom and the Kingdom of God on Earth.' 
 
 Excerpts of Mr Jeffs' journal described the Lord ordering him to visit Eldorado, Texas, about 45 miles south of San Angelo, and the church purchasing 1,700 acres of land outside the town for $1.2 million in 2003. He called the area 'Place of Refuge 17,' or R-17. 
 
 'This will only be a place of refuge if it is kept sacred and secret,' Mr Jeffs wrote, adding that his followers should populate the area and let 'a community grow here more in hiding before the neighbors find out.' 
 
 He told followers to plant cotton and raise animals and said they could build whatever they wanted thanks to Texas' lax zoning laws. Construction teams working around-the-clock erected dozens of buildings, including a sprawling, white-limestone temple. 
 
 Texas authorities raided the compound in April 2008 after receiving a call to an abuse hotline that turned out to be a hoax. 
 
 
 
 More than 400 FLDS children who were placed in protective custody were eventually returned to their families. 
 
 But police saw underage girls who were clearly pregnant and found Jeffs' journals and the other documents in a vault at the end of a secret passageway in the temple. 
 
 Testifying: Former sect member Rebecca Musser, outside court yesterday, said the church teaches young girls that pleasing men 'pleases God' 
 
 Evidence: Texas Rangers move boxes of evidence for the trial at Tom Green County Courthouse in San Angelo, Texas 
 
 Another vault in an annex building provided still more records and files. 
 
 Jeffs and 11 other FLDS men were charged with crimes including sexual assault and bigamy. So far, all seven who have been prosecuted have been convicted — receiving prison sentences of between six and 75 years. 
 
 Mugshot: Jeffs after being arrested following the 2009 raid on his church 
 
 Gasps were heard among jurors earlier this week when pictures were revealed showing him kissing and cuddling a 12-year-old girl. 
 
 The photographs show Jeffs with a young redhead, who he is alleged to have raped, grinning and kissing the girl. 
 
 The images were said to have been taken July 27, 2006 – days after the girl’s 12th birthday. 
 
 Authorities raided the Yearning For Zion compound, 45 miles south of San Angelo, after receiving an anonymous call to an abuse shelter, alleging that girls at the compound were being forced into polygamist marriages. 
 
 The call turned out to be a hoax, and more than 400 children who had been placed in state custody were returned to their families. 
 
 But police seized marriage records and thousands of pages of documents and eventually charged Jeffs and 11 other FLDS men. 
 
 All seven sect members who have been prosecuted so far were convicted of crimes including sexual assault and bigamy and received prison sentences of between six and 75 years. 
 
 Jeffs has repeatedly called the raid an illegal search and wants a separate hearing on whether authorities violated his First Amendment rights to freedom of religion . 
 
 Old-fashioned garb: Women from Jeffs's polygamist sect pictured after their relocation from Yearning for Zion in 2008
– A panting "sex tape" of polygamist Warren Jeffs allegedly raping his 12-year-old "spiritual bride" while uttering her name was played for a Utah jury yesterday before prosecutors rested their bigamy and sex assault case against the cult leader. As the tape ends, Jeffs proclaims: "In the name of Jesus Christ." At least one juror was seen wiping her eyes, and several covered their mouths in apparent shock as the tape was played, reports the Daily Mail. Documents presented in evidence to the jury showed that after the sex, Jeffs wrote that the girl "experienced the heavenly session; she felt the all consuming fire of heaven," reports Reuters. The tape followed two earlier ones in which Jeffs, 55, advises his young "sister wives" that they must work together to please him sexually. After the tape was played, the polygamy cult leader entered the entire Book of Mormon into evidence. Jeffs is claiming he has a religious right to multiple, underage wives, which will bring him "exaltation" in heaven. The tapes, preserved by Jeffs as "priestly records," were seized in a 2008 raid on the Yearning for Zion polygamist compound in Texas, according to prosecutors. He faces up to 119 years in prison if convicted of the numerous charges against him.