Polygamy In The Latter Day Saint MovementEdit
Polygamy, or plural marriage, has a long and contentious history within the Latter Day Saint movement. In the early days, some leaders taught that celestial marriage — sealing families for eternity — could involve more than one wife. This practice was publicly discontinued by the largest denomination in 1890, after legal and political pressure, though a number of offshoots continued it privately. The story is not merely a relic of the 19th century; it has shaped religious liberty debates, property and family arrangements, and the emergence of separate communities that still claim a Mormon heritage. The topic remains a focal point where religious commitments meet the demands of civil society, law, and public norms.
Origins and theology
The idea of plural marriage emerged within the Latter Day Saint movement as a doctrinal development tied to the concept of eternal marriage. Proponents linked plural marriage to the broader goal of restoring the original order of Zion and creating celestial families. In many accounts, periods of revelation or guidance from church leaders established the practice as a doctrinal option for those who were personally called to participate. The principle is closely tied to terms like celestial marriage and sealing, which describe eternal family relationships created through temple rites. Joseph Smith and later leaders such as Brigham Young played central roles in explaining and applying these ideas in the 1840s and 1850s. The practice sometimes included polyandry, and in a few rare cases women were legally wed to more than one husband, a situation discussed under the term polyandry.
19th-century expansion and social context
During the westward migration and the establishment of communities in the american frontier, plural marriage became more visible within the central gathering among Latter Day Saints. In Utah and nearby regions, thousands of plural marriages reportedly occurred over several decades, with practitioners arguing that the arrangement strengthened religious commitment, created stable family units, and linked households under a covenanted community. The expansive social system accompanying polygamy intersected with land ownership, kinship networks, and political organizing in the Utah era, shaping questions of governance, succession, and community discipline. The movement’s leadership framed the practice as a divinely sanctioned test of obedience in changing times, even as outsiders criticized the arrangement as incompatible with republican norms and women’s autonomy. Mormonism and its offshoots remained closely tied to these debates as the movement encountered broader American cultural shifts.
Legal and political conflict
Polygamy brought the Latter Day Saint movement into direct collision with federal and state authorities. The Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act of 1862 sought to curtail polygamy in federal territories, and subsequent laws, including the Edmunds Act and the Edmunds-Tucker Act, intensified penalties and restricted civil rights for polygamists. The legal pressure helped push a crisis of legitimacy for the church’s leadership in the public square. Advocates saw this as an improper intrusion on religious practice; opponents argued that legal coercion was necessary to protect women and children and to uphold the rule of law. The conflict between religious liberty and civil obligation became a central theme in late 19th-century american governance, with polygamy serving as a litmus test for broader debates about pluralism, state authority, and the boundaries of religious practice in a modern republic.
The 1890 Manifesto and subsequent policy
In 1890, the First Presidency issued what is commonly known as the Manifesto, declaring an end to new plural marriages within the church. This shift reflected strategic calculations to preserve civil liberties for members and to integrate more fully with the evolving legal and political order of the United States. The Manifesto did not instantly erase all polygamous practice, but it signaled a formal policy change and a commitment to monogamy as the practical norm for the church. A subsequent policy, sometimes called the Second Manifesto, reinforced the prohibition and led to disciplinary measures for those who continued to practice or promote polygamy. The church’s leadership framed these changes as a necessary alignment with mainstream civic expectations while preserving elements of its theological narrative in historical memory. 1890 Manifesto Second Manifesto Brigham Young.
Aftermath and reform within the Latter Day Saint movement
Following the Manifesto, the mainline church pursued legal, social, and internal reforms designed to minimize polygamy’s public profile and to resolve lingering practice within isolated communities. Some members maintained private beliefs or arrangements in small enclaves, but the official position of the largest denomination emphasized monogamy and discouraged clandestine practice. The church also sought to redefine family structure within a modern economic and social order, emphasizing responsible parenting, gender roles, and civic participation. The broader movement saw a rise in legal and sociopolitical integration, while still contending with historical memory and the identities of communities rooted in plural marriage. Latter Day Saint movement Brigham Young Temple rites.
Contemporary practice among fundamentalist groups
Beyond the mainline church, several fundamentalist groups continued to practice plural marriage into the 20th and 21st centuries. The best known are the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), which drew national attention for its leadership controversies and child protection concerns, and other groups such as the Apostolic United Brethren and related communities. These groups often present themselves as preserving the original order of Zion while operating outside or on the margins of mainstream america. Legal actions, social services interventions, and media coverage have shaped public perception and policy responses to these communities, including issues surrounding education, welfare, and the rights of children. FLDS Apostolic United Brethren.
Controversies and debates
Polygamy within the Latter Day Saint movement remains a flashpoint among historians, policymakers, and cultural commentators. Proponents of plural marriage in its historical form viewed the practice as a religious obligation, a test of personal faith, and a means of strengthening the social fabric in a frontier context. Critics—often emphasizing gender dynamics, consent, and the potential for coercion—argue that polygamy constrained women’s autonomy and raised concerns about children's welfare. In the modern political and legal environment, the state’s interest in safeguarding individual rights and preventing exploitation can clash with claims of religious freedom. Advocates of orderly reform point to the successful transition of the largest church away from plural marriage as evidence that religious communities can align with civil norms without sacrificing legitimate religious identity. From a traditional order perspective, the prompt integration of religious groups into civil society and the discontinuation of coercive practices are important markers of social progress. Critics who frame the issue primarily as an ethical failing in past eras are sometimes accused of anachronism or overgeneralization when they overlook the nuanced historical context. Some observers contend that “woke” critiques mischaracterize the beliefs and practices of adherents by treating a complex religious history as a single moral narrative, while others acknowledge legitimate concerns about gender equity and the protection of minors. The debate ultimately centers on balancing religious liberty, historical memory, family stability, and civil protections. polyandry celestial marriage sealing (Latter Day Saints).