When I was investigating the Church and I first heard of the practice of polygamy, I never had any problem understanding the Lord's purpose for it. My grandmother got widowed in World War 2 - around 1944. She had 3 kids at this time, the youngest only 4 years old. She had to send her children kicking and screaming to the nunnery because it was just impossible for her to take care of them. Women in 1944 in the Philippines have no means to support themselves as they cannot work, cannot own property, etc. etc.
Here we are talking about the 1830's - over a century earlier than World War 2. With the early history of the LDS church, I can completely feel the desperation of these faithful women who have lost their husbands in massacres, etc. I would think that the Lord desired that these women stay in LDS families and be supported by upstanding priesthood holders. It is also one way for the Church to increase in member population in so short a time before all the males get killed! Polygamy to me makes sense. But then, if you see my other posts in a different thread, I am about the only one in this planet that do not immediately attach sexual relations to a relationship between opposite genders. I have no problem understanding that many of these polygamous relationships are not for the purpose of sex but for protection.
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