The Rocky End to Plural Marriage in the Church​

Title

The Rocky End to Plural Marriage in the Church​

Publication Type

Podcast

Publication Date

June 20, 2023

Authors

Griffiths, Casey Paul (Primary), and Woodward, Scott (Primary)

Abstract

In 1852, only eight years after Joseph Smith’s death, church leaders in Utah publicly announced to the astonished world what some had suspected: that Latter-day Saints did indeed practice the principle of plural marriage. But now that it was out there in the open, it could be openly challenged and attacked, and it was, relentlessly, for decades. In today’s episode of Church History Matters, we’ll walk through the history of how plural marriage came to a rocky end under the draconian legislation and crushing pressure of the United States government. We’ll dive into the George Reynolds trial, President Wilfred Woodruff’s Manifesto, the Reed Smoot Trials and Second Manifesto, the resignation of two members of the Quorum of the Twelve over this, the beginning of the FLDS church, and more.

Bibliographic Citation

Terms of use

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