Did Jeffs sense the law was closing in on him?

Warren Jeffs seemed to know that law enforcement was closing in on the Fundamentalist LDS Church.

"In the last moments ... the final preparation ... the storm clouds are gathering against us," he said in a secretly recorded priesthood sermon obtained by the Deseret Morning News. "Only the Lord can protect us from the trials ahead."

In the Aug. 10, 2003, Sunday meeting recorded by a member shortly before the member was excommunicated, Jeffs railed against "sinners" within his flock. Later that day, Jeffs addressed his entire congregation in Hildale and cancelled church meetings. Within months, dozens were purged from FLDS ranks.

In the priesthood sermon, Jeffs tells the men to choose sides.

"There is only one side and that is the Lord's side," he said in a monotone voice.

Law enforcement involved in the manhunt for the fugitive polygamist leader are hoping to capture him and avoid bloodshed.

"That's the big question," said Gary Engels, an investigator in the Mohave County Attorney's Office assigned to look into the goings-on in the polygamous border towns of Hildale and Colorado City, Ariz. "We don't know how he'll go. If he'll go quietly or go out as a big martyr."

Jeffs was placed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list last week, fueling a nationwide manhunt. A $100,000 reward is also being offered for information leading to his arrest.

In Utah and Arizona, Jeffs is facing criminal charges accusing him of arranging child bride polygamous marriages. Federal prosecutors have filed unlawful flight to avoid prosecution charges against him.

Just this past week, Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff told the Deseret Morning News that his office has been quietly conducting an organized crime investigation into Jeffs, the Fundamentalist LDS Church and the United Effort Plan (UEP) Trust. A federal grand jury in Arizona is also reportedly investigating Jeffs and the FLDS Church.

"We do think that he certainly has the capacity for violence," said Ken Wallentine, the Utah attorney general's chief of law enforcement. "He travels with individuals who have that ability."

The polygamist leader travels with a pack of armed bodyguards, nicknamed "The God Squad" by some in Hildale and Colorado City.

"There's a chance they will fight to protect him, and that's what we don't want to have happen," Shurtleff said.

"In my opinion, we take all necessary steps with our state and local partners to ensure that any apprehension is done in safe manner," FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Tim Fuhrman said last week. "Mr. Jeffs holds the key to this. He could turn himself and surrender."