When a complaint comes in against Polygamists groups with no details of location, phone numbers, or description of the ones who need help, then it should be considered a prank call.

Utah don't wipe out a whole town or Family over rumors like Texas. No details equals no complaint. Try protecting Family Rights instead of following a wild goose chase ... God is watching.

So what is Utah going to do about this? I guess we can rant and rave about them for awhile and leave Texas alone for a day or two.

How come it takes these calls, real or not, to get any sort of investigation underway? Do we really believe that, unless one of these calls comes in, no investigation is necessary, and even though right on the surface what they're doing is illegal but not "illegal"?
We live in quite a world of denial if we think that young teenage girls really want to have sex with their ugly old uncles and thereafter live in a world of cranking out kids where laughter is forbidden. You bet there's abuse there.
God is watching. We need to put a stop to this stuff.

Let's see we put an article out about this possibly being a hoax call and what shows up? Hoax calls. I wonder why? Stop giving idiots things to do, they can get in enough trouble by themselves.

we should send a swat team of counselors.
talking will fix it.

it is important for lawbreaking polygamist to trust us.

The time is too questionable.

I think if they go down and look around and investigate into those polygamy colonies they will find many more things the Polygamist are hiding. The FLDS cannot be trusted in any way.

God is watching? What is that supposed to mean? If you add that phrase to your post does that somehow give authority to your words?

Hopefully things are a little different in Texas than in Hilldale. YFZ is a fenced compound. The kids and women had no way to escape their circumstances. My question is: Does Utah have a social service building, trailer or something in Hilldale where these people can come to in safety to report? Otherwise Hilldale and YFZ have one thing in common, victims are trapped. Come on Utah... stand up.

Regarding Utah and polygamy. Utah is like a post turtle. You know, a turtle that somebody has put on a fence post. It just sits there flailing around and goes nowhere. We usually take pride in the fact that the rest of the world thinks us odd. But we should feel shame when it comes to the open flaunting of the law by polygamist. Where is our Attorney General? Hopefully in Texas sharing information. Hopefully, when he returns, Utah will do the right thing.

Hopefully Utah will raid and free another group (for a change).

Yes, I agree with Dude - Utah stand up and check things out! Utah needs to make sure there are no underage mothers, especially. Utah - stop looking the other way just because so many of you have polygamist ancestors. I have no problem with polygamy, but I do have a great problem with young teens having to marry and have babies. Just read Jessop's book "Escape." She left polygamy because her daughter was turning l4 and mom would have to report to the "Church" so the girl would be eligible for a marriage - how sick - but how brave of this mom!

This is sad, yet the truth is yet to be revealed. They don't need a compound to keep those being abused there. They are all captive in those communities. FLDS is nothing more than a controlling nightmare. Those men who lead this should be punished. Anyone who has lived in these parts know. And the only one that is ever protected is the leaders by the members lies and deniel from fear of harm to them or their loved ones. That's what makes it so hard to prosecute. Plus that fact that they don't keep records of births, parents, marriages etc. Why would they do that unless they had something to hide. I hope somehow they can stop all this. Give those who are innocent help to live someday at their own choise. Not through fear and intimidation.

Dude, Wheezy come into the light and actually understand what is going on. The FLDS went to Texas because Washington County in Utah and Mohave County in Arizona were successfully putting their leaders in jail and dismantling their economic base. They chose Texas because at the time, the age of consent in Texas was 14.

Utah and Arizona do not engage in high-profile stunts like Texas just has for the simple reason that unintended consequences splash back on law enforcement and political leaders and do not seem to have any long term effect on the polygamists. The 1953 raid by Arizona law enforcement and National Guard troops resulted in a minor inconvenience for the polygamists and the termination of the political career of the governor.

Texas is going to learn the hard way that picking off sex offenders one by one is far more effective than creating media circuses like the one that they have brought themselves.

Shut down this oppressive way of living.

There is already sufficient probable cause for an investigation. The state already prosecuted and imprisoned the group's leader for this very thing. Are we now just going to pat ourselves on the back and say the problem is solved? That is ridiculous! We've already started down the road, we need to finish this.

And by the way, this isn't about polygamy, it's about sexual predators preying on little girls. While I despise polygamy, just like I do homosexuality, I'm not going to send the swat team after consenting adults doing their thing. But if they involve minors in it, then I say "let loose the dogs of war!"

This counterfeit lifestyle is ugly and forbidding. When people depart from the truth and the leadership that goes there...there will always be "Hell to Pay".

The LDS understand the governmental abuse of authority to remove "undesirables", and any excuse (justified or immagined) to harass and persecute. That is why they came to Utah insted of staying in NY, IL, and MO.

So I ask; does the alleged anonymous accusations of a "child' (16 years old) have the authority to over-ride the US constitution? In Texas the answer is "YES". They have gone after the FLDS with vengeance and broken up all the families and terrorized the children (children brought up to distrust the "outside world" having their parent/protector removed is terrifying to them don't you think?.

I sincerely pray that Utah authorities be more controlled and sure of veracity of the accusations before they join the persecution of a nonconformist Christian sect.

re: kjm1102 you wrote "So I ask; does the alleged anonymous accusations of a "child' (16 years old) have the authority to over-ride the US constitution?"

From what I have read the last day or so, child welfare agencies operate under civil law and not criminal law. There are few or no constitutional protections for respondents (accused parents) under civil procedure. They only get their rights protected when and if the situation moves into criminal court.

Child welfare workers who respect the idea of equal protection under law build cases that meet criminal law standards and when they act, offending family members go to prison. Unfortunately, there are too many politically driven social workers in the profession and they do not act with the same respect for justice that the best social workers have.

STUART! Polygomy.....This is how this all started. And then mushroomed out of control into the nightmare it is. You should read up on a few facts. That's why they broke away from the LDS church.

The prefect excuse to enforce the Anti Polygamy section of the State Constitution. Put them all in jail!!!

What, no penalties attached to the anti-polygamy section of the State Constitution? How convenient.

I too have a problem with polygamy. This isn't polygamy. In polygamy you marry and take care of multiple women and their children. The FLDS marry once, take the rest as spiritual wives, let the state care of the children. This isn't polygamy, this is rape. Both under-age girls and the state taxpayers.

Go Texas.

Ah . . . what part of prosecute child sex predators did you not understand? I'm fine with criminalizing anything other than traditional monogomous marriage (that means polygamy, adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexuality, etc...), but I doubt most of my fellow Americans would agree. With that in mind, we cannot as a society say that one form of sexual relations between consenting adults is okay and another is not. But that does not mean we cannot say relations between and adult and a child are okay. To that end, I say we investigate these people. Leave the ones who form these types of relationships as adults alone, but throw the perverts who do it with minors into prison for a very long time.

The authorities need to free the woman and children from all these polygamy cults, and then deprogram them.

I think the polygamists of Hilldale can breathe easy. AG Shurtleff has more important things to do like crusade against alcopops and prepare for a run at Governor rather than prosecute child rapists and welfare cheats.

Watch Dr. Phil today. The truth is coming out.

Looks like the cops are to quick to act and Kid Nap Children
Poor choices with people with guns and armord vehicles
Could have been another Waco real easy when hot headed cops move into a situation
There is also the fact these children stolen will be sent accross State Lines

As long as we are "protecting the children" then the law and the Constitution don't matter?
If you are serving a higher purpose, then you are "above the law"?
That is what the polygamists believe.....we tell them they can't do that, but we cheer for Nazi Texas when they do it.

Lets get it straight. The call was not from a 16 yr old reporting abuse. The call was from a mentaly ill person impersonating a 16 yr old. Prove the abuse and go after that person. Stop all the lies. Stop the witch hunt.

Empty out Hildate, because it is all the same residence. Maybe they will at least have a shred of evidence.

The reason Utah and Arizona don't carry out mass arrests is because they learned the hard way that it only makes things worse. Google the Short Creek Raid.

All Texas has done with this fiasco is expose the excesses of CPS, create a lot of concern for the Constitution, fulfill FLDS prophecies, and generate public sympathy for the FLDS.

I am surprised that something this horrible is taking place in USA, and under "religious freedom". There is right and wrong, the Polygamist group in Texas has long left their constitutional rights. Should we put Constitution above sexual and other abuse of children? Even if a phone call by "Sarah" was not made by real "Sarah". Apparently God is putting a stop to it, with or without "Sarah". With Constitution or without it. Warren Jeffs is a sick sick man, as all those working with him also are. I believe mothers of those children should also be prosecuted at some point. Fiasco in Texas? Not yet.

Been in Hildale many times and know many people. These are the most content and respectful people. Other families in the US should be this close and adjusted,

Talking about "God putting a stop to it", I believe God allows people agency.

On the other hand when the children were taken out of their homes a violent storm hit Texas the same night, including San Angelo which was to be the scene of the continuing assault on the Constitution of the USA.

Violent storms, tornadoes etc are legally "acts of God" aren't they? Thought so.

The media were careful not to mention this "coincidence". I had to pull out my USA maps and find out where the storms were relative to Eldorado. Also MSN has a site which verified the San Angelo storm in detail; it's not their main site however; I had to search out some "back pages".

Wouldn't it be great if Utah would take action in polygamist communities again? Doing nothing makes people think they condone it. "Evil prevails when good men do nothing." People should have their free-agency, but abuse should have forced consequences.

I'm waiting to get more news of this event in Texas. Perhaps not all of the information is in yet.

In the meantime.... Go get em in Utah.

The culture in Utah isn't quite the Bang, bang your dead kind that it is in Texas. But doing nothing is just as bad or worse

Isn't interesting, people seem to be more interested in condemn/punishing the polygamous lifestyle rather than defending the Constitutional right as clearly stated "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;... or of the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for redress of grievances." Amendment 1 Constitution of the United States of America.

Persecution and bigotry is wrong I don’t care what group of people it is. That is why the US Constitution put very strict limits to the power of the Government.

Has anyone seen a copy of the warrants? Civil or Criminal, matters not when it comes to enumerated Constitutional rights.

I hear the reason they give for removing these children from their mothers is that they MAY/POSSIBLE suffer POTENTIAL abuse, such as knowing about a relationship involving a “young female.’ Under that standard, POTENTIAL abuse and witness, every parent who has watched an uncensored R rated movie with a child under the age of 17 in the home is guilty of the same offence.

What are we doing to the parents of the young females who get venereal disease, abortions and or have children before the age of 18? 16 in ‘Texas. These young females have been abused and their parents have allowed it to happen. Now I am not saying that these young females are not willing participants, they may well be but if it is wrong for one sect it is wrong for them all.

Well maybe not. After all, these people profess to be Christian, and we all know that all Christians are the same are they not?

Again I say:
Persecution and bigotry is wrong I don’t care what group of people it is. That is why the US Constitution put very strict limits to the power of the Government.

Have you seen the newly launched FLDS website about the captive children? I looked at all the pictures, and I must say that hardly any of the children look particularly devastated that they are being removed.

A few of the kids actually look excited!

The website show pictures of a few broken door frames and such, but no major damage. I'm sure the people probably refused to unlock the doors, so they had to be kicked in.

And as far as this lady in Colorado supposedly making a prank call: HOW ODD. Maybe Warren Jeffs really IS a prophet after all, but only in reference to his OWN SICK WORLD. I quote Warren Jeffs:

"The black race is the people through which the devil has always been able to bring evil unto the earth."

I have to say I am rather proud of Rozita Swinton at this point, as bizarre as it sounds.

While we are playing the “my morals are more correct than yours” game with children’s psyches, aren’t fornication (sex prior to marriage), adultery (sex outside of marriage while married) and physical homosexual relations against the law in most states? Yet I have heard these are not enforced because it is consensual. I have yet to hear of any of theses mothers complaining that their relationship with their spouse is nonconsensual; they even profess to be “wives” with “husbands” & “fathers” for their children. How does that stack up to the average “under aged’ mom in the US? I think most of them would be hard pressed to know who was the father of their child much less to be in a committed “binding” relationship with him.

Are thes parents losing thier other children? I think not.

Again I say:
Persecution and bigotry is wrong I don’t care what group of people it is. That is why the US Constitution put very strict limits to the power of the Government

I am not now nor have I ever been a supporter of the FLDS. I live in the here and now. I believe strongly in the right to religious freedom and the right to self determination.

What I do support is the US Constitution. It is the only real protection we have against tyranny, fascism and anarchy. I get very defensive when "for the children" or other such emotional slogans are used as excuses to dismiss our Constitutional protections.

As is oft' quoted but seldom held; "I reserve my right to disagree with your opinion, but I will fight for your right to have it."

That is how I feel about this situation in Texas. I truly believe that these people are seriously misguided and their leaders will pay an eternal price, but if their rights are trampled, mine may well be next.

I can not sit by and be a silent participant in the further erosion of individual and group rights guaranteed us as Citizens of the United States of America by our Governing document and final definition of the law of this land, the US Constitution.

The Constitution cannot be more important than the safety of the most innocent, nor will it override God. Radical? Maybe. As for God allowing people to be "agency"? God does what he will and when he will, tornadoes and all, "agency" or not. I congratulate you, Rozita Swinton, whomever you may be. If you waited for the constitutional window to open,...maybe it would never have.

Well, the panel of three judges in Texas decided that CPS didn't have the right to take the children away form YFZ compound. This sounds just about right from the legal point of view. I stronly believe, however, that this is a case of "form over substance"; the process being more important than the matter. The result is that the CPS wants to help, but are caught in a catch 22. I have been familiar with the subject of polygamist Mormons for a long time now, reading books (an excellent one is "Under The Banner of Heaven" by Jon Krakauer), artilces and so on. They hide under the Constitutional right to freedom of religion, and so get away with doing things which are otherwise unacceptable in a society with a dose of morality. Child abuse, child brides is an early form of brainwashing. Don't you know people that children are off limits? So what's to be done?