For 16 years, John Sayer followed a man who calls himself Michael, finally settling along with other families on a former ranch in a remote corner of New Mexico.

There were red flags along the way, but Mr. Sayer stayed with the Lord Our Righteousness Church until late 2005.

He said the church’s leader, Michael Travesser, whose real name is Wayne Bent, “said God told him that he was supposed to sleep with seven virgins,” including Mr. Sayer’s daughters, then 14 and 15.

“I just told him no,” Mr. Sayer, 36, said. “I don’t see it’s right.”

...Mr. Sayer said Mr. Bent did sleep with seven virgins, but all were over 18 and did not include his daughters. He said his daughters “lay naked” with Mr. Bent, although they insisted no sex was involved. He said he doubted his daughters were molested.