Constitution of the state of utah utah state archives. Polygamy is defined as the practice or condition of having more than one spouse at the same time, conventionally referring to a situation where all spouses know about each other, in contrast to bigamy, where two or more spouses are usually unaware of each other legality of polygamy in north america united states. He was convicted on polygamy charges for having two wives and his defense claimed that his first amendment right to freedom of religion had been violated. Children born into the remote utah community of the fundamentalist church of jesus christ of. Collaboration, 19531954 by james swensen won the best book award from the utah state historical society. New lds church narrative history book includes polygamous. The history of polygamy in mormonism is rife with secrecy and inconvenient truths which only reluctantly seeped into public view. Because the edmunds act was unsuccessful in controlling polygamy in utah, in 1884 congress debated legislation to plug the loopholes. Polygamy news the new york times history blog this article on jacob zuma and polygamy. When the case came before the united states supreme court. Ive lived in salt lake city all my life, and it was also extremely interesting to discover a side to my city, and to specific neighborhoods, that i knew very little about before i read this book. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. This variant of plural marriage does not seem to have been a feature of utah polygamy under brigham young and his successors.
Plural marriage and families in early utah the bible and the book of mormon teach that the marriage of one man to one woman is gods standard, except at specific periods when he has declared otherwise. His book gives a witnessed account of life in utah, both the good and the bad. He is coauthor of the biographical resource, a book. The richness and diversity of utah history tends to be obscured by mormon history. All registration and election officers in utah territory were dismissed, and a board of five commissioners was appointed to direct elections. Discover librarianselected research resources on utah history from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals, magazines, newspapers and more. Mormons finally settled in the utah territory, before it was part of the states, and made a quiet life for themselves there. A historical background stephanie coontz professor of history and family studies the evergreen state college director of research and public education council on contemporary families the new hbo television show, big love, has led many people to contact the council on contemporary families for background on polygamy. Retelling utah s suffragist history to empower modern women women in utah became the first in america to vote under an equal suffrage law on feb. A polygamous, mormon community in utah is facing what has been labelled a genetic disaster.
It also touches a corner of new mexico in the southeast. Polygamy plural marriage lds church perspective on. We begin in the mid 1830s and take the viewer through to today, discuss doctrinal changes and opinions about polygamy. While polygamy is strongly denounced in several passages of the book of mormon, the old testament provides. Learn the history of polygamy within the mormon faith. Polygamy called plural marriage by mormons in the 19th century or the principle by modern fundamentalist practitioners of polygamy was practiced by leaders of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church for more than half of the 19th century, and practiced publicly from 1852 to 1890 by between 20 and 30 percent of latterday saint families. The act of the governor and legislative assembly of the territory of utah, entitled, an act to punish polygamy and other kindred offenses, approved february 4th, ad 1892, in so far as the same defines and imposes penalties for polygamy, is hereby declared to be in force in the state of utah. In his book, history of civilization vol 1 p 61, will durant says. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading history of utah, 15401886. May is a professor of history at the university of utah. The book is divided into smaller books that read as narratives.
It is bordered by colorado to the east, wyoming to the northeast, idaho to the north, arizona to the south, and nevada to the west. List of books and articles about utah history online. This book discusses the issue in a frank and honest manner without taking sides in the difficult matter of lds polygamy. How mormon polygamy in the 19th century fueled womens. Written by lds member richard vanwagoner, a graduate from byu who has won awards from the mormon history association and the dialogue foundation for his important historical work, the book covers the beginning of mormon polygamy with joseph smith up to the flds and modern day plural marriage. Portraits of a utah town and other acclaimed works, including mormon polygamy. It is commonly found where the value of womens labor is high and may be practiced as a way of acquiring allies. How mormon polygamy in the 19th century fueled womens activism pulitzer prizewinning historian laurel thatcher ulrich says that for mormon women living in 19th century utah. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Historical fiction history californiasan francisco polygamy domestic fiction kidnapping. If you enjoy utah history, this is a worthwhile book to read.
Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. For the next seventyodd years, utahs literature consisted of the accounts of. Biography united states mormon women marriage utah polygamy mormon fundamentalism mormon families spencer, irene. The 1890 manifesto also known as the woodruff manifesto or the anti polygamy manifesto is a statement which officially advised against any future plural marriage in the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church. Willard marriott library houses books, maps and ephemera documenting the record of human communication from clay. A portrait of religious excess winner of best book awards from the mormon history association and john whitmer historical association. Van wagoner is a clinical audiologist and lehi city historian, author of lehi. George reynolds was a utah resident and member of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints.
Books about polygamy what should i read next register for free to build your own book lists. Besides including business and residential directories for logan, ogden, provo, and salt lake city, this compilation includes a general description of utah in 1884. In the meantime, brigham young took over leadership of the church and in the late 1840s, he led the mormons across the united states to settle in utah. Mormon history association the role of edmunds anti polygamy act of 1882 in the history of the united states of america.
Current state of polygamy in the latter day saint movement. New mormon narrative history book includes polygamous roots. So much energy is expended canonizing utahs saints that few resources remain for celebrating and preserving the capricious, ironic, and improvisatory. The new uncensored version of fifty years in polygamy big secrets. On june 1, 1979, ervil lebaron was apprehended by police in mexico and extradited to the united states, where he was convicted of having ordered allreds death. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. In utah people talk only of the prophet, hogs, and fords, cracked bernard devoto in 1926.
The bible and the book of mormon teach that the marriage of one man to one woman is gods standard, except at specific periods when he has declared otherwise. History of utah, 15401886 kindle edition by bancroft, hubert howe. Research historic state and local government records in utah, from 1850 to today. In utah, in the united states of america, polygamy is constitutionally and statutorily prohibited. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Carolyn jessop shelved 80 times as polygamy avg rating 3. New lds church narrative history book includes polygamous roots. Research center for utah state archives and utah state history. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading fifty years in polygamy. A man may cement his bonds with several other men by marrying their sisters or daughters.
Polygamy advocate hannah willams, left, joins others gathering at the utah state capitol to protest a proposal that would make polygamy a felony crime in 2016. Though obviously no reliable statistics are available, reasoned estimates tell us that several thousand men and women in utah and surrounding states are currently living. But the resolution of the utah war bought the lds church time, during which it evolved as a faithrenouncing polygamy in 1890, for example, to smooth the way to utah statehoodto become the. Polygamists wife is the true story of a woman married to modernday polygamist for more than twenty years. Buy products related to utah history books and see what customers say about utah history books on. This serves to show that the culture or the concept of polygamy is rooted in our ancestral history. The books recognition of polygamy which the faith banned in 1890 and prohibits today is the most recent example of the utahbased faith acknowledging polygamous roots. When the mormons began to openly practice polygamy in 1852, they lived in the rural west, far from the reaches of the federal government however, as the governments influence and control began to expand farther and father west, the issue of polygamy and the mormons became a hot political topic. Rare books marriott library the university of utah. The video series upon which this book is based is no longer available for sale.
In 1980, he was sentenced to life imprisonment at the utah state prison in draper, utah, where he died on august 16, 1981. Joseph smith never publicly revealed gods command of polygamy during his life, beyond his inner sanctum of trusted elites. Utah senate unanimously moves to decriminalize polygamy. Mormon leaders are unveiling a new narrative book about the faiths early history in the 1800s. Marriage to multiple wives may seem strange, but at least it intrudes on our historical awareness, while many remain unaware of polyandrys existence in lds history.
A refreshingly neutral book documenting the history of polygamy as it relates to the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Kristyn deckers first book, fifty years in polygamy big secrets, little white lies, had me so absorbed that i literally couldnt put it down i was late for work and would also read it until the wee hours of the morning. A history from the worlds largest community of readers. According to the book of mormon, jesus christ appeared and preached to the nephites in the americas after his crucifixion. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Utah s history of felony punishment for polygamy has never halted its practice entirely but rather driven it to the fringes of society, creating a culture of fear that allows perpetrators to. On august 29, 1852, young publicly announced to the world that the mormon belief in polygamy was the ideal marriage form in the eyes of god. Big secrets and little white lies kindle edition by decker, kristyn. Alexander although the occasion of many of the sermons i have given in church gatherings has faded into oblivion, the evening i reported my mission in the ogden twentyninth ward is indelibly impressed on my mind. All books, manuscripts, photographs, maps and records are noncirculating. Information on this site was converted from a hard cover book published by university of utah press in 1994. The following books were finalists for the utah state historical society best book award. Polygamy is the act or condition of a person marrying another.
The book is a robust and honest version of early church history and while it doesnt dwell on polygamy, its notable that it provides the history of plural marriages in a straight forward way, said patrick mason, a professor of religion at claremont graduate university in california who is the chair of mormon studies at the college. This is a true historical work, using many primary references of people who lived through this nonwestern tradition of family. He describes the complete history of mormon polygamy from its origins in the 1830s to the current day fundamentalists. Popular polygamy books showing 150 of 472 escape hardcover by. Now, a good book about the problems, lifestyles, conflicts and circumstances of contemporary polygamy is long overdue.
562 1261 582 1226 1262 1252 1062 42 1355 1187 291 1470 873 1520 662 1253 182 649 914 1529 1542 177 22 1541 315 1417 970 931 150 1532 431 845 548 203 596 1264 268 103 992 228 67