[Onelifetogive]

To avoid prosecution [for polygamy], typically men in Colorado City will legally marry only the first of their wives; subsequent wives, although “spiritually married,” to their husband by Uncle Rulon, thus remain single mothers in the eyes of the state.

It's wrong, but how is it any different that what happens in many inner cities, where guys have children with multiple women (and girls) and all the "wives" and kids live as wards of the state?

[Daisyjane69]

It is NO different!

BTW, this author left out a couple of things that the locals know:

They deliberately build these houses on the border of AZ and UT...and I mean the border. That’s because it allows them to run to the AZ side of the house when the UT law enforcement show up and vice-versa.

The other thing is, none of these homes are ever “finished.” They leave a side or section unfinished so they cannot be assessed higher property taxes.