The group purchased the property in 2003 under the guise that it would be a "hunting retreat." Since then, a small city has been built on the outskirts of Eldorado, a western Texas prairie town. Few outsiders are allowed onto the ranch, but based on the view from small airplanes, the growth of the YFZ Ranch has been documented. Men, women and children are seen working in the fields or constructing buildings.

Faced with the history of the deadly stand-off at Waco, Schleicher County Sheriff David Doran has tried to develop a relationship with members of the FLDS Church. He has kept in communication with them at key moments in the government crackdown on the polygamous church. It was Doran who broke the news to them about the arrest of Jeffs, as well as when Jeffs was convicted last year in Utah of rape as an accomplice.

Doran declined to comment on the raid when reached at the compound by the Deseret Morning News Friday.

Jeffs is serving two five-to-life sentences for performing a marriage between a 14-year-old girl and her 19-year-old cousin. He is currently in Arizona, where he is facing charges accusing him of performing more child-bride marriages.

In southern Utah, Washington County Sheriff Kirk Smith confirmed that his office has been consulting with Texas authorities, but declined to comment on the raid.

"I've been working with Sheriff Doran, giving him background information on people and the group," Smith told the Deseret Morning News this morning.

The Utah Attorney General's Office said it was monitoring the situation. In the FLDS enclaves of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz., observers said the town came alive with activity as news of the raid spread.

Washington County sheriff's deputies are expected to assign additional patrols to make sure everything is safe.

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E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com