Warren Jeffs, the polygamist leader accused of sexually assaulting two underage girls, gave a closing statement only three words long -- after holding the court hostage for nearly half an hour with his silence on Thursday.

ABC News reports that Jeffs stood mute for the 25 minutes permitted for a closing statement, interrupted only by reminders of the time by Judge Barbara Walther.

At the end of the 25 minutes, Jeffs faced the jury and said "I am at peace."

After being granted permisson last Thursday to represent himself, Jeffs refused to articulate a plea, make an opening statement, or question witnesses, remaining "unresponsive" as the prosecution presented evidence against him.

The defendant broke his silence on Friday to deliver a threatening sermon that defended polygamy, or "plural marriage" as it is known in his splinter group, the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Jeffs is the self-proclaimed "prophet" of FLDS, who are known to openly practice polygamy in compounds, including the Yearning for Zion ranch in Eldorado, Texas.

Jeffs charged with sexually assaulting two young teenage girls he took as "spiritual" wives.

Jurors heard an audio recording of a "heavenly comfort" training session Jeffs presided over with three of his spritual wives in 2006. One of the wives was 12 years old at the time, and Jeffs could be heard asking the girl how she feels and indicating that the two are on a bed. At one point Jeffs told the other women to "get on the other side of the bed."

ABC News reported periods described as "rhythmic heavy breathing" on the transcript of the recording.

Members of FLDS believe they are preserving the beliefs of the original Latter-day Saints who traveled to the Great Basin in the mid-19th century. They are not affiliated with the official Mormon church -- the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or LDS -- as Mormons renounced polygamy at the end of the 19th century, and the practice has been condemned by LDS ever since.

According to FLDS beliefs, plural marriage is a means of ensuring one's exaltation in heaven, as it increases the size of families.

If Jeffs is convicted of the sexual assault charges, he could face life imprisonment.

The jury began deliberations on Thursday.

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