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Manifesto Latter Day SaintsEdit

The term Manifesto Latter Day Saints refers to the pivotal policy shift in the late 19th century when the leadership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints publicly renounced the church’s then-practiced plural marriages. This change, most often associated with the 1890 Manifesto issued under the direction of Wilford Woodruff and approved by the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the First Presidency, marked a turning point from a practice that had shaped church doctrine, social life, and political controversy for decades toward a more centralized, monogamous model aligned with civil law and modern citizenry. The Manifesto is widely treated as a scholarly and ecclesiastical hinge point in the story of the LDS tradition, balancing reverence for religious revelation with pragmatic governance in a rapidly changing society.

From its beginnings in the antebellum period, the Latter-day Saint movement developed distinctive family structures and community norms, among which plural marriage played a controversial role. Proponents argued that the practice fulfilled what they believed to be sacred covenantal obligations, while critics pointed to conflict with state law and contemporary norms about marriage and gender. The public perception of polygamy, coupled with federal legal pressure and social scrutiny in the broader United States, created a climate in which church leaders felt compelled to reconsider the policy in a way that would safeguard church unity, preserve religious liberty, and secure the church’s continued growth and state relations. The 1890 Manifesto did not immediately end all plural unions in practice, but it established a doctrinal and administrative framework that would eventually steer the church toward monogamy as the norm for members.

The Manifesto and its context

The 1890 Manifesto is understood by church historians and theologians as a revelation to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that the time had come to cease the practice of polygamy. It emphasized obedience to civil authorities while maintaining that revelation would continue to guide the church in other doctrinal matters. The document was presented as a binding resolution of the church leadership and served to disengage the movement from the most intense legal and political pressures it faced in the 1880s and 1890s, including enforcement actions by the United States government and the loss of exemptions from state laws that targeted polygamous households.

The Manifesto’s immediate effect was to slow the public practice of plural marriage and to set in motion a process of doctrinal and structural realignment. The church’s leadership began to emphasize monogamous family life, standardizing marriage patterns, and reorienting missionary and educational efforts toward a more conventional domestic model. In the broader trajectory of the church’s institutional development, the Manifesto facilitated the transition toward greater integration with mainstream American civic life, enabling advancements such as Utah statehood and greater participation in national institutions. For a broader comparative perspective, see plural marriage and polygamy in the Latter-day Saint movement.

The decision also provoked ongoing debate within the church and among scholars about the nature of revelation, prophetic authority, and the compatibility of religious demands with democratic governance. Supporters framed the Manifesto as a prudent application of religious leadership in a historical moment, arguing that the church was safeguarding its people from legal peril while staying faithful to core spiritual commitments. Critics, including some later scholars and former adherents, have pressed for a closer examination of how the policy change unfolded, and what it meant for those who had entered into polygamous unions under church sanction. See revelation and prophetic governance for related discussions.

Policy, enforcement, and legacy

Following the Manifesto, the church still faced pockets of resistance and ambiguity. A more explicit reaffirmation of anti-polygamy policy emerged in the 1904 Second Manifesto, which clarified that any new plural marriages would result in excommunication and were no longer compatible with church membership. This and subsequent clarifications helped to crystallize a monogamous standard across the church and to reduce the likelihood of religious sanction from civil authorities for polygamy. The long-term legacy of the Manifesto includes a reshaping of church institutions, from family and temple practices to missionary work and education, in ways that reinforced centralized leadership and doctrinal coherence. See Second Manifesto and Brigham Young for related historical contexts.

The Manifesto sits alongside other controversial episodes in the church’s history, such as the 19th- and 20th-century policies on race and priesthood. The church’s evolving stance on race—most notably the end of the priesthood restriction in 1978—has been the subject of extensive historical and theological debate. Proponents often argue that the church’s modernization reflected a broader movement toward equality in modern society, while critics point to a lag between moral ideals and institutional practice. The 1890 Manifesto itself is not a racial policy document, but its reception and implementation occurred within a broader framework of reform that included debates over gender roles, marriage, and civic duty. See race and the priesthood for more on these related debates.

From a contemporary vantage point, the Manifesto is often cited as an example of religious organizations navigating evolving social norms while seeking to preserve core beliefs. Supporters of this approach emphasize the importance of orderly transition, legal compliance, and the preservation of religious liberty, arguing that the change allowed the church to continue its mission and governance without becoming an instrument of ongoing legal conflict. Critics, including some historical observers and later commentators, may view the transition as a difficult compromise that raised questions about prophetic authority and the omgaan of revelation in a pluralistic society; however, the eventual monogamous standard became a lasting feature of the church’s identity and governance.

In the years since the Manifesto, the church has continued to articulate its positions on family life, religious freedom, and civic responsibility, while also confronting past criticisms head-on in various ways. The evolution from plural marriage to monogamy did not erase the broader tensions surrounding religious practice and social norms, but it did contribute to a trajectory of institutional stabilization that enabled the church to participate more fully in the civic and cultural life of the United States and to project a global religious presence.

See also