Am I missing the point?

Because "spiritual" marriages aren't illegal, just ones that are supposed to be legal. These men had one legal wife and multiple "spiritual" wives. Technically, that part isn't breaking the law. However, when they find out who fathered babies on underage girls, I guarantee you there will be criminal charges. I hope Jeffs has been making friends for them in jail, 'cause he's going to have company...

To start off, the marriages are probably not truly polygamic in that they were never legalized to begin with. What they have are spiritual marriages, not legal ones.

Secondly, even if the marriages are really polygamic, it would be very unusual for them to be prosecuted. There have only been a handful of polygamy prosecutions.

because they are not married by the legal definition.... they have not gone through a legal act... marriage licence... civil cerimony. or any other legal commitment... they have not actualy broken any law regarding"marriage"... they just "live" togeather... or in seperate quarters and "visit" now and then... a "religious" ritual is not a marriage contract under the law... those who "legaly" marry in a church actulay are not "married" by that act... it is the signing of the Licence by the couple and the licenced pastor/priest, and the witnesses that is the actual "marriage".... those people have not done this... so they technicaly have not violated the marriage laws.

that is why the law is trying to get them on child abuse and other criminal charges...

Well, the ceremony they use to "marry" these other women isn't recognized by the state, so it'd actually be harder than you would think to prove the case on that front -- they could always argue that they simply have an open marriage.

Anyhow, what three or more consenting adults agree to for a living arrangement isn't nearly as important as the abuse of children.

I think that they will be prosecuted. This is just the beginning stage of what will inevitably be a loooonnnnng legal battle.

because polygamists try to hide under the religious practices umbrella.

and until someone complains, its kinda hard to get into the mormons compounds to find out what exactly giong on.

kinda like beastiality is illegal, but until someone sees someone doing it, its hard to prosecute someone.

I think, at this point, they are more concerned with the children's wellfare. The govt will deal with the bigamy aspect of this whole mess as soon as the bigger problem (child neglect, abuse, molestation) is dealt with.

It makes all the sense in the world to me to worry about the children first and the criminals later.

I'm sure there will be charges filed.

Technically, they weren't legally married, so they didn't violate the law. They were "spiritually married", so in the eyes of the law the men were married to one woman, and cheating on her a lot.

They will be prosecuted, they are just building their case.