Mormon Handbook

A REFERENCE TO THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

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Mormon Polygamy


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“The Lord knows if I had lost a rib for each wife I have I should have had none left long ago.”

— Brigham Young

Second Mormon prophet
"For This is Life Eternal"
General Conference, Salt Lake City
Sermons, brighamyoungcenter.org


Update: Plural Marriage Essays

After the first publication of this handbook, the LDS church has conceded nearly every point made herein. Those admissions are published in four essays under Gospel Topics Essays on the churchofjesuschrist.org website.


Key Points Admitted in the Four Essays

[Essay #]

Why Polygamy?

Latter-day Saints do not understand all of God’s purposes in instituting, through His prophets, the practice of plural marriage.

LDS.org

— Gospel Topics Essays

"Plural Marriage in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints"
lds.org

Mormon leaders who married Joseph Smith’s former wives

Brigham Young
Second Mormon prophet
Heber C. Kimball
First Presidency Counselor
Ezra T. Benson
Mormon apostle
  • Zina D. Harrington
  • Emily Dow Partridge
  • Olive Grey Frost
  • Louisa Beaman
  • Mary Elizabeth Rollins Lightner
  • Eliza Roxcy Snow
  • Maria Lawrence
  • Rhoda Richards (who was Brigham’s first cousin)
  • Prescindia L. Huntington
  • Sarah Ann Whitney
  • Lucy Walker
  • Martha McBride (Knight)
  • Desdemona Wadsworth Fullmer

The Wives of the Prophets

The first seven Mormon prophets had at least 135 wives.

Mormon prophet Number of wives
Joseph Smith Up to *49
Brigham Young 55
John Taylor 7
Wilford Woodruff 5
Lorenzo Snow 11
Joseph F. Smith 6
Heber J. Grant 3
Joseph F. Smith family

Mormon prophet Joseph F. Smith: 6 wives, 48 children.


Research on Joseph Smith’s Wives

Historian *Wives Source
Andrew Jensen, Asst. Church Historian 27 The Historical Record (1887), Vol. 6, pp. 233-234
Fawn M. Brodie 48 No Man Knows My History (1995), Appendix C, pp. 457-488
Todd Compton 33 In Sacred Loneliness: The Plural Wives of Joseph Smith (1997)
George D. Smith 37 Nauvoo Polygamy (2011), Table 1.1, p. 36
Brian C. Hales 30-40 Joseph Smith’s Polygamy (2013), Vol. 2, pp. 272-273
  • This is the source that churchofjesuschrist.org cites in its Gospel Topics Essays.

A Timeline of Key Events


TIMELINE
1827 Joseph Smith elopes and marries Emma Hale
1830 - 1876 For 46 years (1830 - 1876) LDS scripture is consistent in prohibiting polygamy.
1830 Book of Mormon published, condemning polygamy:

And now it came to pass that the people of Nephi, under the reign of the second king, began to grow hard in their hearts, and indulge themselves somewhat in wicked practices, such as like unto David of old desiring many wives and concubines, and also Solomon, his son.

Book of Mormon

— Jacob


1:15

But the word of God burdens me because of your grosser crimes.... they seek to excuse themselves in committing whoredoms, because of the things which were written concerning David, and Solomon his son. Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord. Wherefore, I the Lord God will not suffer that this people shall do like unto them of old.... For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none.

Book of Mormon

— Jacob


2:23-28

Behold, the Lamanites your brethren, whom ye hate because of their filthiness and the cursing which hath come upon their skins, are more righteous than you; for they have not forgotten the commandment of the Lord, which was given unto our father—that they should have save it were one wife, and concubines they should have none, and there should not be whoredoms committed among them.

Book of Mormon

— Jacob


3:5

For behold, he did not keep the commandments of God, but he did walk after the desires of his own heart. And he had many wives and concubines. And he did cause his people to commit sin, and do that which was abominable in the sight of the Lord. Yea, and they did commit whoredoms and all manner of wickedness.

Book of Mormon

— Mosiah


11:2

And it came to pass that Riplakish did not do that which was right in the sight of the Lord, for he did have many wives and concubines.

Book of Mormon

— Ether


10:5

1833 Working on his revision of the King James Bible, Joseph Smith changes the meaning of verses to emphasize that polygamy is unrighteous.

King James Version Inspired Version (JST)

And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

— 2 Samuel 12:13

And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath not put away thy sin, that thou shalt not die.

— 2 Samuel 12:13

And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.

— 1 Kings 3:14

And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, then I will lengthen thy days, and thou shalt not walk in unrighteousness as did thy father David.

— 1 Kings 3:14

4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.

5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father.


— 1 Kings 11:4-6

4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not perfect with the Lord, his God, and it became as the heart of David, his father.

5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom, the abomination of the Ammonites.

6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, as David, his father, and went not fully after the Lord.


— 1 Kings 11:4-6

1835, before August Joseph secretly marries Fanny Alger, a teen working and living in his home. Oliver Cowdery (a Book of Mormon witness) learns about it and confronts Joseph. Emma Smith has Fanny evicted from their home.
1835, August Official LDS periodical denies polygamy charges. Word of Joseph’s tryst with Fanny must have leaked out by this time.

Inasmuch as this Church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication and polygamy, we declare that we believe that one man should have one wife, and one woman, but one husband.

Messenger and Advocate

— Messenger and Advocate


Vol. 1, No. 11, p. 163

1835 - 1876 Doctrine and Covenants published with Section 101 condemning polygamy. It contains a denial of polygamy charges.

MARRIAGE.

Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication, and polygamy: we declare that we believe, that one man should have one wife; and one woman, but one husband.

Doctrine and Covenants

— Doctrine and Covenants


Section 101 (1835-1876)

1837, April General Authorities issue statement condemning polygamy.

1st-That we will have no fellowship whatever with any Elder belonging to the quorums of the Seventies who is guilty of polygamy or any offense of the kind, and who does not in all things conform to the laws of the church contained in the Bible and in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants.

Messenger and Advocate

— Quorum of Seventies, Resolution #1


Messenger and Advocate, Vol. 3, No. 8, p. 511

1838, January 21 Oliver Cowdery writes to his brother about how he confronted Joseph Smith about his affair with Fanny Alger.

When he [Joseph Smith] was there we had some conversation in which in every instance I did not fail to affirm that what I had said was strictly true. A dirty, nasty, filthy affair of his and Fanny Alger's was talked over in which I strictly declared that I had never deviated from the truth in the matter, and as I supposed was admitted by himself.

Oliver Cowdery

— Oliver Cowdery

Assistant President and Book of Mormon witness
Letter to his brother Warren Cowdery, January 21, 1838,

1838, April 12 The church excommunicates Oliver Cowdery.
1838, July Joseph denies polygamy in official church periodicals.

Question 7th. Do the Mormons believe in having more wives than one. Answer. No, not at the same time.

Joseph Smith

— Joseph Smith

Mormonism founder
Elders’ Journal, Vol. 1, No. 3, p. 43

1838, December 16

We have heard that it is reported by some, that some of us should have said, that we not only dedicated our property, but our families also to the Lord; and Satan, taking advantage of this, has perverted it into licentiousness, such as a community of wives, which is an abomination in the sight of God.

Joseph Smith

— Joseph Smith

Mormonism founder
History of the Church, Vol. 3, p. 230
Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 127

1838 - 1842 Joseph Smith marries Lucinda Harris, who at the time was married to George Harris.
1841, April 5 Joseph marries Louisa Beaman.
1841, October 27 Joseph marries Zina Jacobs, who at the time was married to Henry Jacobs.
1841, December 11 Joseph marries Presendia Buell, who at the time was married to Norman Buell.
1842, January 6 Joseph marries Agnes M. Coolbrith Smith, who was the widow of Joseph’s brother Don Carlos Smith.
1842, January 17 Joseph marries Mary Lightner, who at the time was married to Adam Lightner.
1842, February Joseph marries Sylvia Sessions Lyon, who at the time was married to Windsor Lyon. The following month Joseph will also marry Sylvia’s mother Patty Session.
1842, March 1 Article of Faith, 12
Joseph pens the 12th Article of Faith. Polygamy was a violation of law.

We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

Joseph Smith

— Joseph Smith

Mormonism founder
"The Wentworth Letter"
Ensign (2002, July), churchofjesuschrist.org

1842, March 9 Joseph marries Patty Sessions, who at the time was married to David Sessions. The prior month, Joseph had married her daughter, Sylvia Sessions Lyon.
1842, April Joseph marries Marinda Hyde, who at the time was married to Orson Hyde.
1842, May (or before) Joseph Smith marries Elizabeth Durfee, who at the time was married to Jabez Durfee.
1842, June (or before) Joseph marries Delcena Johnson.
1842, June 28 (or before) Joseph marries Sarah Cleveland, who at the time was married to John Cleveland.
1842, June 29 Joseph marries Eliza Snow.
1842, July 27 Joseph marries 17-year-old Sarah Whitney.
1842, August A General Authority denies polygamy in official church periodical.

But, for the information of those who may be assailed by those foolish tales about two wives, we would say that no such principle ever existed among the Latter-day Saints, and never will; this is well known to all who are acquainted with our books and actions.

Parley P. Pratt

— Parley P. Pratt

Mormon apostle
Millennial Star, Vol. 3, No. 4, p. 73

1842, August Joseph Smith marries Martha McBride.
1842, September Official church periodical denies polygamy.

Inasmuch as the public mind has been unjustly abused... we make an extract on the subject of marriage, showing the rule of the church on this important matter. The extract is from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and is the only rule allowed by the church.... "Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication, and polygamy: we declare that we believe, that one man should have one wife".

Times and Seasons

— Times and Seasons


Vol. 3, No. 21, p. 909

1842, October Official church periodical reprints D&C 101 prohibiting polygamy.

Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication, and polygamy: we declare that we believe, that one man should have one wife; and one woman, but one husband.... We have given the above rule of marriage as the only one practiced in the church.

Times and Seasons

— Times and Seasons


Vol. 3, No 23, p. 939

1842 Joseph Smith marries Sarah Bapson.
1842 - 1843 Joseph marries 14-year-old Nancy Winchester.
1843, February Joseph marries Ruth Sayers, who at the time was married to Edward Sayers.
1843, March 4 & 8 Joseph marries Emily Partridge on March 4th and her sister Eliza Partridge four days later on March 8th.
1843, May 1 Joseph marries 17-year-old Lucy Walker.
1843, May First Presidency Counselor Heber C. Kimball convinces his 14-year-old daughter Helen to marry Joseph Smith with a promise of ‘eternal salvation’.

Joseph also marries teenage sisters Sarah and Maria Lawrence this month.
1843, Spring Joseph marries 16-year-old Flora Woodworth.
1843, June 1 Joseph marries Elvira Holmes, who was at the time married to Jonathan Holmes.
1843, June 12 Joseph marries Rhoda Richards.
1843, July 12 Revelation on Plurality of Wives — Doctrine and Covenants, Section 132
  • Joseph Smith gives a revelation requiring the practice of polygamy in order to attain exaltation—becoming gods. v.1-6, 20-21
  • This revelation was canonized in 1876 as Section 132 of the Doctrine and Covenants. It remains part of the LDS canon today. Section 101 prohibiting polygamy was removed.
  • During the previous eight years, Joseph was secretly marrying plural wives and concealing them from his first and only legal wife Emma—while his church was publicly denying the practice.
  • Joseph sent his brother Hyrum to present this ‘divine revelation’ to Emma, to try and win her approval of Joseph’s behavior.
  • It warns Emma that she would be destroyed if she rejects it (v.54, 64). Notably, Joseph would be dead in a year. Emma died peacefully at the age of 74.
  • It states that additional wives are to be virgins (vv.61-62), and are for childbearing (v.63). Joseph ignored these requirements as nine of his first twelve wives were already married, and one was widowed. It does not appear that he had children with anyone besides Emma.
1844, January Joseph’s church continued to deny polygamy after the revelation.

Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication and polygamy, we declare that we believe, that one man should have but one wife, and one woman but one husband.... We wish these doctrines to be taught by all that are in the ministry, that the people may know our faith respecting them, and also to correct the public mind in respect to the church.

Millennial Star

— Millennial Star


Vol. 4, No. 9, p. 144

1844, February 1 Joseph Smith excommunicates a church elder for polygamy.

As we have lately been credibly informed, that an Elder of the Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter-day Saints, by the name of Hiram Brown, has been preaching Polygamy, and other false and corrupt doctrines, in the county of Lapeer, state of Michigan. This is to notify him and the Church in general, that he has been cut off from the church, for his iniquity.

Joseph Smith

— Joseph Smith

Mormonism founder
Times and Seasons, Vol. 5, No. 3, p. 423

1844, March Under the direction of Joseph Smith, his brother Hyrum officiates a polygamous wedding for Mormon apostle Erastus Snow.

The Prophet Joseph also gave me the privilege of taking another wife, which I did in March, 1844, the Patriarch Hyrum Smith officiating under the Prophet’s direction.

Erastus Snow

— Erastus Snow

Mormon apostle
The Historical Record, Vol. 6, p. 232

1844, March 15 Joseph’s brother Hyrum denies polygamy in official church periodical.

Whereas brother Richard Hewitt has called on me to-day, to know my views concerning some doctrines that are preached in your place, and states to me that some of your elders say, that a man having a certain priesthood, may have as many wives as he pleases, and that doctrine is taught here: I say unto you that that man teaches false doctrine, for there is no such doctrine taught here; neither is there any such thing practised here.

Hyrum Smith

— Hyrum Smith

Assistant President and Joseph Smith’s brother
Times and Seasons, Vol. 5, No. 6, p. 474

1844, April Fallout: First Presidency Counselors
After Jane Law rebuffs Joseph Smith’s proposal to marry him, her husband William Law—who is Joseph’s Second Counselor in the First Presidency—is excommunicated. First Counselor Austin Cowles also quits the church in protest.
1844, May 26 Joseph Smith denies polygamy in his “Address of the Prophet — His Testimony Against the Dissenters at Nauvoo” discourse.

I had not been married scarcely five minutes, and made on proclamation of the Gospel, before it was reported that I had seven wives. I mean to live and proclaim the truth as long as I can.

This new holy prophet [William Law] has gone to Carthage and swore that I had told him that I was guilty of adultery. This spiritual wifeism! Why, a man dares not speak or wink, for fear of being accused of this....

What a thing it is for a man to be accused of committing adultery, and having seven wives, when I can only find one. I am the same man, and as innocent as I was fourteen years ago.

Joseph Smith

— Joseph Smith

Mormonism founder
History of the Church, Vol. 6, pp. 410-11

1844, June 7 William Law and others start a local newspaper called the Nauvoo Expositor. Its first edition was critical of Joseph’s polygamy.

We hope many items of doctrine, as now taught, some of which, however, are taught secretly, and denied openly (which we know positively is the case,) and other publicly, considerate men will treat with contempt; for we declare them heretical and damnable....

We are earnestly seeking to explode the vicious principles of Joseph Smith, and those who practice the same abominations and whoredoms....

[F]or all is not well, while whordoms and all manner of abominations are practiced under the cloak of religion....

They are requested to meet brother Joseph, or some of the Twelve, at some insulated point, or at some particularly described place on the bank of the Mississippi, or at some room, which wears upon its front—Positively NO admittance. The harmless, inoffensive, and unsuspecting creatures, are so devoted to the Prophet, and the cause of Jesus Christ, that they do not dream of the deep-laid and fatal schemes which prostrates happiness, and renders death itself desirable, but they meet him, expecting to receive through him a blessing, and learn the will of the Lord concerning them, and what awaits the faithful follower of Joseph, the Apostle and Prophet of God, when in the stead thereof, they are told, after having been sworn in one of the most solemn manners, to never divulge what is revealed to them, with a penalty of death attached, that God Almighty has revealed it to him, that she should be his (Joseph’s) Spiritual wife; for it was right anciently, and God will tolerate it again.... she is thunder-struck, faints, recovers, and refuses. The Prophet damns her if she rejects. She thinks of the great sacrifice, and of the many thousand miles she has traveled over sea and land, that she might save her soul from pending ruin, and replies, God’s will be done, and not mine. The Prophet and his devotees in this way are gratified.

William Law

— William Law

First Presidency Counselor
Nauvoo Expositor, Vol 1, No. 1, pp. 1-2

  • The paper includes testimony from Austin Cowles.

Forasmuch as the public mind hath been much agitated by a course of procedure in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.... In the latter part of the summer, 1843, the Patriarch, Hyrum Smith, did in the High Council, of which I was a member, introduce what he said was a revelation given through the Prophet....

The doctrine of a plurality of wives, or marrying virgins; that "David and Solomon had many wives, yet in this they sinned not save in the matter of Uriah. This revelation with other evidence, that the aforesaid heresies were taught and practiced in the Church; determined me to leave the office of first counselor to the president of the Church at Nauvoo.

Austin Cowles

— Austin Cowles

First Presidency Counselor
Nauvoo Expositor, Vol. 1, No. 1, p. 2

1844, June 10 Joseph Smith, who is also the mayor of Nauvoo, orders the printing press and office of the Nauvoo Expositor destroyed. In response, the Governor of Illinois issues a warrant for Joseph’s arrest: Writ of Arrest on the Charge of Treason—Joseph Smith for “the crime of treason against the government and people of the State of Illinois”.
1844, June 24 Joseph and his brother Hyrum are arrested and put in jail.
1844, June 27 Joseph Smith’s death
An angry mob storms the jail and kills Joseph and Hyrum.
1844, October 15 Sidney Rigdon, another prominent church leader—who was excommunicated the month before—goes public, admitting that church authorities are secretly practicing polygamy.

It is a fact, so well known, that the Twelve and their adherents have endeavored to carry this spiritual wife business in secret, that I hardly need mention it here, and have gone to the most shameful and desperate lengths, to keep it from the public.... I could bring facts which can be established in any court of justice, in relation to these vile abominations practised under the garb of religion that would make humanity blush.

Sidney Rigdon

— Sidney Rigdon

First Presidency Counselor
Messenger and Advocate, Vol. 1, No. 1

1844, November 15 John Taylor, editor of the Times and Seasons—who at the time had four wives and would become the church’s third prophet—responds to Sidney Rigdon, denying polygamy and calling him ‘corrupt’ and ‘the man of sin’ on page 712 in this edition.

In the present instance, after the sham quotations of Sidney... under the "dreadful splendor" of "spiritual wifery,".... The law of the land and the rules of the church do not allow one man to have more than one wife alive at once.

John Taylor

— John Taylor

Third Mormon prophet
Times and Seasons, Vol. 5, No. 21, p. 715

1845, May 1 Official church periodical denies polygamy.

The Latter-day Saints are charged by their enemies, with the blackest crimes. Treason, murder, theft, polygamy, and adultery, are among the many crimes laid to their charge.... As to the charge of polygamy, I will quote from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, which is the subscribed faith of the church and is strictly enforced. Article Marriage, sec. 91, par. 4, says, "Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication and polygamy, we declare that we believe that one man should have BUT ONE WIFE, and one woman but one husband."

Times and Seasons

— Times and Seasons


Vol. 6, No. 8, p. 894

1850 John Taylor publicly denies polygamy while at the time he has 7-12 wives of his own.

We are accused here of polygamy, and actions the most indelicate, obscene, and disgusting, such that none but a corrupt and depraved heart could have contrived. These things are too outrageous to admit of belief... I shall content myself by reading our views of chastity and marriage, from a work published by us, containing some of the articles of our Faith. "Doctrine and Covenants," page 330....

Inasmuch as this Church of Jesus Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication and polygamy, we declare that we believe that one man should have one wife, and one woman but one husband.

John Taylor

— John Taylor

Third Mormon prophet
Three Nights Public Discussion, p. 8

1852, August 29 Public Acknowledgment of Polygamy
In a special conference, the LDS church publicly acknowledges the practice of polygamy.

It is well known however, to the congregation before me, that the Latter-day Saints have embraced the doctrine of a plurality of wives, as a part of their religious faith.

Orson Pratt

— Orson Pratt

Mormon apostle
"Celestial Marriage"
General Conference, Salt Lake City
Journal of Discourses, Vol. 1, p. 54

1854, February 19 A General Authority encourages polyandry.

Now suppose Joseph should come and say he wanted your wife, what would you say to that? "I would tell him to go to hell." This was the spirit of many in the early days of this Church....

What would a man of God say, who felt aright, when Joseph asked him for his money? He would say, "Yes, and I wish I had more to help to build up the kingdom of God." Or if he came and said, "I want your wife?" "O yes," he would say, "here she is, there are plenty more."

Jedediah M. Grant

— Jedediah M. Grant

First Presidency Counselor
"The Power of God and the Power of Satan"
Salt Lake City
Journal of Discourses, Vol. 2, pp. 13-14

1857, July 25 Official LDS publication condemns polygamy before 1843.

The Latter-day Saints, from the rise of the Church in 1830, till the year 1843, had no authority to marry any more than one wife each. To have done otherwise, would have been a great transgression.

Millennial Star

— Millennial Star


Vol. 19, No. 30, p. 475

1862 Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act
United States President Abraham Lincoln signs the Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act targeting the LDS church.
1866, August Mormon prophet declares polygamy a priority over Utah statehood.

"Do you think that we shall ever be admitted as a State into the Union without denying the principle of polygamy?" If we are not admitted until then, we shall never be admitted.

Brigham Young

— Brigham Young

Second Mormon prophet
"Beneficial Effects of Polygamy"
Salt Lake City
Journal of Discourses, Vol. 11, p. 269

1876 Doctrine and Covenants — Section 101 removed, Section 132 inserted
Canonized for over 40 years, Section 101 which condemns polygamy is removed from the Doctrine and Covenants. Section 132 requiring polygamy for exaltation is canonized. Section 132 remains canon today.
1879, October 6 Mormon prophet declares polygamy a priority over federal law.

I was asked, "Do you believe in obeying the laws of the United States?" "Yes I do, in all except one"—*in fact I had not broken that. "What law is that?" "The law in relation to polygamy."

John Taylor

— John Taylor

Third Mormon prophet
"The Work of God Cannot Be Hindered, etc."
General Conference
Journal of Discourses, Vol. 20, p. 317

  • Taylor had as many as eight wives in his lifetime
1887, February 19 Edmunds-Tucker Act
The United States Congress passes the Edmunds-Tucker Act which allowed the U.S. Government to disincorporate the LDS church and seize its assets for continuing to practice polygamy.
1887, May Andrew Jenson, assistant LDS church historian, compiles what is considered to be the first list of Joseph Smith’s wives. He documented 28 wives not including Emma. Historical Record, Vol. 6, pp. 233-34
1890, October 6 1890 Manifesto / Official Declaration—1
Under increasing pressure from the federal government, Wilford Woodruff, the fourth Mormon prophet, issues a statement denying the practice of polygamy.

The Utah Commission, in their recent report to the Secretary of the Interior, allege that plural marriages are still being solemnized and... that in public discourses the leaders of the Church have taught, encouraged and urged the continuance of the practice of polygamy—I, therefore, as President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, do hereby, in the most solemn manner, declare that these charges are false. We are not teaching polygamy or plural marriage, nor permitting any person to enter into its practice.

Wilford Woodruff

— Wilford Woodruff

Fourth Mormon prophet
Doctrine and Covenants, Official Declaration—1

  • About a year later, Wilford began referring to his statement as a ‘revelation’. It was canonized in 1908.
1892 Lorenzo Snow (fifth Mormon prophet), then the President of the Twelve, condemns the practice of polygamy before 1843.

Up to the time of the presentation of that revelation to the church and its acceptance by the church, the law of the church on marriage was the same as you have read, and which I referred to in the 1835 edition of the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, Exhibit E. That was the law of the church up to the time of the purported revelation and its acceptance by the church; yes, sir, that is true.

And a man that violated this law in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, 1835 edition, until the acceptance of that revelation by the church, violated the law of the church if he practiced plural marriage. Yes, sir, he would have been cut off from the church. I think I should have been if I had.

Before the giving of that revelation in 1843 if a man married more Wives than one who were living at the same time, he would have been cut off from the church. It would have been adultery under the laws of the church and under the laws of the State, too.

Lorenzo Snow

— Lorenzo Snow

Fifth Mormon prophet
The Temple Lot Case, pp. 320-322

1898, November B. H. Roberts, Mormon Seventy and Church Historian, was elected to the U.S. Congress to represent Utah. However, when it became known that he had three wives—one of whom he married after the 1890 Manifesto—a petition circulated demanding that he not be seated. It garnered 7-million signatures. As a result, he was barred from taking office.
1904, March Reed Smoot Hearings
When another Utah Mormon, apostle Reed Smoot was elected to the U.S. Senate, investigative hearings were held—which uncovered that polygamy was still being practiced secretly among General Authorities. Smoot himself, having only one wife, was ultimately allowed to serve office.
1904, April Second Manifesto In response to the Reed Smoot Hearings, the sitting Mormon prophet issues a second manifesto denying polygamy.

Inasmuch as there are numerous reports in circulation that plural marriages have been entered into contrary to the official declaration of President Woodruff, of September 26, 1890, commonly called the Manifesto, which was issued by President Woodruff and adopted by the Church at its general conference, October 6, 1890, which forbade any marriages violative of the law of the land; I, Joseph F. Smith, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, hereby affirm and declare that no such marriages have been solemnized with the sanction, consent, or knowledge of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and I hereby announce that all such marriages are prohibited, and if any officer or member of the Church shall assume to solemnize or enter into any such marriage, he will be deemed in transgression against the Church and will be liable to be dealt with, according to the rules and regulations thereof, and excommunicated therefrom.

Joseph F. Smith

— Joseph F. Smith

Sixth Mormon prophet
"1904 Statement by Joseph F. Smith"
churchofjesuschrist.org

1905, October 28 In protest, two Mormon apostles, John W. Taylor and Matthias F. Cowley resign from the Quorum of Twelve, as they continued to practice and/or perform plural marriages. Taylor would later be excommunicated, while Cowley was restricted from using his priesthood.
1943, November 12 Mormon apostle Richard R. Lyman is excommunicated after being caught secretly practicing polygamy.
1958 A Mormon apostle anticipates polygamy to resume.

Plural Marriage.

Obviously the holy practice will commence again after the Second Coming of the Son of Man and the ushering in of the millennium.

Bruce R. McConkie

— Bruce R. McConkie

Mormon apostle
Mormon Doctrine (1958), pp. 522-23


Doctrinal Teachings on Polygamy

When polygamy was openly practiced, General Authorities taught:

The Lord has said, that those who reject this principle reject their salvation, they shall be damned, saith the Lord; those to whom I reveal this law and they do not receive it, shall be damned....

I want to prophesy that all men and women who oppose the revelation which God has given in relation to polygamy will find themselves in darkness; the Spirit of God will withdraw from them from the very moment of their opposition to that principle, until they will finally go down to hell and be damned, if they do not repent.

Orson Pratt

— Orson Pratt

Mormon apostle
"God’s Ancient People Polygamists, etc."
General Conference, Salt Lake City
Journal of Discourses, Vol. 17, pp. 224-25

[F]or all those who have this law revealed unto them must obey the same.... if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory.

Doctrine and Covenants

— Doctrine and Covenants


132:3-4

The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy.

Brigham Young

— Brigham Young

Second Mormon prophet
"Beneficial Effects of Polygamy, etc."
Salt Lake City
Journal of Discourses, Vol. 11, p. 269

Some people have supposed that the doctrine of plural marriage was a sort of superfluity, or nonessential to the salvation or exaltation of mankind. In other words, some of the Saints have said, and believe, that a man with one wife, sealed to him by the authority of the Priesthood for time and eternity, will receive an exaltation as great and glorious, if he is faithful, as he possibly could with more than one. I want here to enter my solemn protest against this idea, for I know it is false....

It is useless to tell me that there is no blessing attached to obedience to the law, or that a man with only one wife can obtain as great a reward, glory or kingdom as he can with more than one, being equally faithful.

Joseph F. Smith

— Joseph F. Smith

Sixth Mormon prophet
"Plural Marriage, etc."
Salt Lake City Tabernacle
Journal of Discourses, Vol. 20, pp. 28-30

If plurality of marriage is not true or in other words, if a man has no divine right to marry two wives or more in this world, then marriage for eternity is not true, and your faith is all vain, and all the sealing ordinances and powers, pertaining to marriages for eternity are vain, worthless, good for nothing; for as sure as one is true the other also must be true. Amen.

Orson Pratt

— Orson Pratt

Mormon apostle
"This Command More Fully to be Carried into Effect, etc."
Salt Lake City Tabernacle
Journal of Discourses, Vol. 21, p. 296

I bear my solemn testimony that plural marriage is as true as any principle that has been revealed from the heavens. I bear my testimony that it is a necessity, and that the Church of Christ in its fullness never existed without it. Where you have the eternity of marriage you are bound to have plural marriage; bound to; and it is one of the marks of the Church of Jesus Christ in its sealing ordinances.

George Teasdale

— George Teasdale

Mormon apostle
Journal of Discourses, Vol. 25, p. 21

The Scripture says that He, the Lord, came walking in the Temple, with His train; I do not know who they were, unless His wives and children.

Brigham Young

— Brigham Young

Second Mormon prophet
"Gathering the Poor—Religion a Science"
Ogden Tabernacle
Journal of Discourses, Vol. 13, p. 309


Conclusion

For decades, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints went to great lengths to deny the practice of polygamy, before and after its founder Joseph Smith received a ‘revelation’ authorizing it. Despite issuing multiple public manifestos, church leaders continued the practice in secret.

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