The Mormon Manifesto did NOT end Polygamy

The Mormon Manifesto: A Not-So-Definitive End to Polygamy

When people speak of the Mormon Manifesto of 1890, they often incorrectly label it as the definitive end to polygamy within the LDS Church. The truth is messier, involving both calculated public relations and persistent clandestine marriages. This nuanced reality matters to anyone seeking to understand the historical complexities of Mormonism and its ongoing evolution.

The 1890 Manifesto and Its Historical Context

In 1890, the first Mormon Manifesto was issued by LDS Church President Wilford Woodruff, ostensibly to halt the practice of polygamy. The federal government had been increasing pressure on the church through legislation like the Edmunds-Tucker Act, which disincorporated the church and threatened its properties. Woodruff’s Manifesto was a strategic move to help Utah achieve statehood and to protect church assets, but it did not immediately stop polygamous practices.

Claims and Evidence: The Persistence of Polygamy

Contrary to popular belief, documented evidence strongly suggests that polygamous unions continued well into the 20th century. Secretive "post-Manifesto" marriages were sanctioned by top church leaders, maintaining the practice even as it was publicly denounced.