When many people hear about Mormonism, their first thought is polygamy. The mainstream LDS church continues to try to downplay their polygamist roots. But polygamy in LDS offshoots keeps cropping up in the news. How did polygamy get started? Why did they do it? When did it end? Are Mormons polygamists today?
Joseph Smith and the Origins of Polygamy
- Some of early LDS scripture is in response to questions asked JS
- One such question: why many OT leaders had more than one wife (as early as 1831)
- Smith was interested in restoring ancient biblical religion
- But without context or hermeneutical discernment
- How many wives? 40 - 49.
- Some dispute bc documents do not always exist
- Fanny Alger (1833) - 16 yr old housemaid living with Smiths
- People closest to Smith (Emma, Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris) believed it was simply adultery
- Apparently there was a marriage ceremony; although this may be dubious - based on very late accounts
- Plural marriage in Nauvoo (1841-1844)
- Practiced entirely in secrecy
- Smith’s wives
- Two under 14
- Eight were already married to other men
- Some pairs of sisters / in some cases, mother and daughter
- Many of these were consummated
- Key leaders initiated into the practice → loyalty test / initiation into higher level
- About 100 people initiated into it before Smith’s death
- Smith’s denials of polygamy - 1835 even became part of LDS scripture for a time
- Smith’s justification for plural marriage
- Claims that David’s multiple wive and concubines were given to him by God
- Lots of problems with this claim (see below)
- But → biblical prophets / kings did not take multiple wives then lie about it
- Backlash reaction - Nauvoo Expositor
- Leaders in Nauvoo began to hear rumors / opposed Smith for this reason
- William Law started an opposition newspaper devoted to “exposing” plural marriage
- Only one edition → Smith had it destroyed = the reason for his arrest, which led to his death
See the LDS Church’s Gospel Topics Essay on Plural Marriage in Kirtland and Nauvoo
Brigham Young and Utah Polygamy
- BY was already initiated in plural marriage when took over
- J Smith dies - 1844
- B Young leads exodus to Utah - 1846-47
- Public announcement of polygamy - 1852
- Published the written revelation → Section 132 of D&C
- Brigham Young’s polygamy practice
- 51-56 wives / 56 children
- Some lived with him as wives; others were sealed only for eternity; others were married to him as “welfare” cases (older widows)
- Other prominent practitioners → basically every top leader; Young’s successors
- Plural marriage as a Utah institution
- Those in leadership positions were encouraged / expected to take multiple wives
- Never a majority practice: St George: 1870 - 30%; 1880 - 40%
- South Weber 1880 - 5%
- Most polygamists had 2 wives
See the LDS Church’s Gospel Topics Essay on Plural Marriage and Families in Early Utah
The End of Polygamy in the LDS Church
- Popular opposition in the US
- 1856 (just after public revelation) = Republican party platform opposed polygamy
- Pressure from the US government
- Series of US laws from 1862-1874 seeking to undermine / prohibit...
