Can Mormons Have Multiple Wives, Still?

The Doctrine of Marriage in Latter-day Saint Belief

Members of the Church today do not practice polygamy, and anyone who attempts to do so faces excommunication. However, the history is complex and often misunderstood, since plural marriage occurred during the 19th century under Church leadership direction, was publicly practiced for decades, then officially discontinued.

According to Church teachings, monogamy represents the Lord’s standard marriage law. The Book of Mormon reinforces this, teaching that ordinarily “one wife” is the norm unless God commands otherwise for specific purposes.

Latter-day Saints believe God commanded plural marriage during certain historical periods. Old Testament examples include Abraham, Jacob, and David. Early Church members viewed Mormon polygamy as another instance where God temporarily commanded something different.

From this perspective, plural marriage was not permanent but an exceptional commandment for a specific period.

The Origins of Plural Marriage in the Early Church

Plural marriage traces to the early 1830s. Church founder Joseph Smith reported receiving revelation instructing him to reintroduce the biblical practice. The principle was introduced gradually and privately among select members in the early 1840s in Kirtland, Ohio and Nauvoo, Illinois.

Many early Saints found the principle difficult. Most came from monogamous backgrounds and found it culturally unfamiliar and emotionally challenging. Even some leaders, including Brigham Young, struggled before accepting polygamy as a matter of faith.

Plural marriage connected closely to another central doctrine: eternal marriage, or the belief that families can be sealed together beyond death. Within this framework, some early Saints viewed plural marriage as part of God’s plan to strengthen families and build strong communities.

Plural Marriage in Nauvoo

During the early 1840s in Nauvoo, plural marriage expanded slowly among select members. The first known plural marriage occurred in 1841. By Joseph Smith’s death in 1844, a relatively small group had entered plural marriages. Historical records indicate dozens of men and women participated during this early period.

Participants typically kept the practice confidential, partly because polygamy was highly controversial in American society, and rumors contributed to social tension and hostility toward the Church. Many early Saints who practiced plural marriage later described it as a transformative spiritual test, accepting it only after prayer and personal spiritual conviction.

Public Practice of Polygamy in Utah

Plural marriage became more publicly known after Latter-day Saints migrated west to present-day Utah. By 1852, Church leaders openly acknowledged the practice. However, plural marriage was never practiced by the Church majority. Historians estimate only about 15–20 percent of Mormon families in Utah were polygamous when practiced. Approximately two-thirds of men in polygamous marriages did not have more than two wives.

Church leadership regulated participation, typically limiting it to those with financial means and spiritual standing to support additional families. The first wife’s consent was generally expected before entering a plural marriage.

Plural marriage shaped many early Latter-day Saint communities. Large extended families were common, and plural households sometimes worked cooperatively to manage homes, farms, and businesses. However, the practice generated intense national controversy.

Growing Conflict with the United States Government

Throughout the late 19th century, the U.S. government passed several laws targeting plural marriage in the Utah Territory. These laws criminalized the practice and allowed federal authorities to prosecute those involved. As legal pressure increased, many Church leaders faced arrest, imprisonment, or confiscation of Church property. By the late 1880s, the situation had become increasingly severe.

In 1890, Church president Wilford Woodruff announced the Manifesto, declaring the Church would discontinue plural marriage and instructing members to obey the land’s laws. This marked a turning point in Latter-day Saint history. Woodruff later explained that he believed the decision came through divine guidance and that continuing would have brought serious consequences to the Church and its temples.

The Gradual End of Mormon Polygamy

Although the 1890 Manifesto formally ended the commandment to practice plural marriage, the transition back to universal monogamy took time. Some plural marriages continued to be performed for a few years afterward, particularly outside the United States. However, in 1904, Church president Joseph F. Smith issued the Second Manifesto, making it clear that anyone entering into or performing a plural marriage would face excommunication. After that declaration, polygamy ceased. Existing plural families continued living together, but no new plural marriages were permitted.

Why Some Groups Still Practice Polygamy

A source of confusion today is the existence of small groups in the western United States and Canada that still practice polygamy and sometimes identify as “Mormon.” These groups are not affiliated with the mainstream Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Most originated in the early 20th century when individuals wanting to continue practicing plural marriage separated from the main body, forming their own factions. Because of shared historical roots, outsiders sometimes mistakenly assume they are part of the same organization.

What the Church Teaches Today

Today, plural marriage is strictly prohibited for Church members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Anyone practicing it faces both legal consequences and Church discipline, resulting in membership loss.

Modern Latter-day Saints overwhelmingly live in monogamous families, like most people worldwide. While the historical practice remains an important Church history part, it is not part of contemporary member life.

Understanding the Past

Plural marriage remains one of the most discussed aspects of Latter-day Saint history. For many people both inside and outside the faith, it raises difficult questions about culture, doctrine, and challenges faced by early believers. From a faithful Latter-day Saint perspective, plural marriage represents a complex chapter in which early members tried to follow what they believed was a commandment from God, even when it conflicted with social norms and personal comfort. Members today recognize the commandment was temporary and that the Church now fully embraces monogamous marriage as the standard.

So, Can Mormons Have Multiple Wives Today?

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints do not practice polygamy today, and doing so would result in Church removal.

Mormons practiced plural marriage for several decades in the 19th century but stopped with the 1890 Manifesto and subsequent clarifications in the early 20th century. Today, Latter-day Saints honor their early pioneers’ sacrifices while living a different family structure than that earlier period.