Sounds like one giant welfare scam. More babies equals more money to the breeders and their keepers.
Welfare scam? Hmmm, let’s see: 1/ Get married legally the first time. 2/ Other wives - marry in church only; no civil license. 3/ Have separate living quarters on your property for other wives (mobile homes are OK). 4/ Other wives have kids, go on welfare as single moms. 5/ When the gumm’nt snoops, the party line is that “I felt sorry for that poor lady, bought her a trailer, let her park it on my property, etc.” End of speculation.
Now, on to my firsthand experience in western UT: Overall, they’re a likeable bunch of folks. Not real educated or sophisticated, though (as if New Yorkers were any great deal either). Most all the kids look like they’ve been bleached in Clorox. They oughta import some Italians or South Americans to put some color in their pups. ;o) BTW, many of the guys have only one wife, and have been with the community for decades. Some say a big concern is that disenfranchised testosterone-filled male young’uns are a danger to any society. Just look at the Arabs; no contact with wimmings ‘till marriage makes ‘em crazy.