[svcw]

Personally, I like my lds uncle’s explanation of the mormon practice of polygamy.
He said and firmly believes “polygamy had to be practiced because so many mormon men had been killed because of their religious beliefs that woman had no ability to marry. So the leaders declared it permissible for men to marry more than one woman, in order that the women would be taken care of”.
Really, he and my lds aunt beleive this.
When he told me I laughed, as I thought he was joking, but he was not.

[Utah Binger]

He said and firmly believes “polygamy had to be practiced because so many mormon men had been killed because of their religious beliefs that woman had no ability to marry. So the leaders declared it permissible for men to marry more than one woman, in order that the women would be taken care of”.

That was indeed the party line talking point when I was a mish in 60-63. And not just to take care of them but to "Multiply and Replenish the Earth".