The 1890 Manifesto: Why the LDS Church Officially Ended Polygamy

Learn about the pivotal declaration that officially ended the practice of plural marriage within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

By Garret Merkley · Explainer · Jul 20, 2026

Branched from Fundamentalist Offshoots: How Some Believers Continued Polygamy Illegally After the LDS Church Renounced It

Quick take

The 1890 Manifesto was a public declaration by LDS Church President Wilford Woodruff advising members to cease plural marriage.
It was issued under immense pressure from the U.S. government, including severe anti-polygamy laws and property seizures.
The Manifesto marked a significant turning point, allowing Utah to achieve statehood and normalizing the Church's relationship with the United States.
While initially a recommendation, it eventually led to strict enforcement and excommunication for those who continued the practice.

The 1890 Manifesto, officially titled the "Official Declaration 1," was a public declaration issued by Wilford Woodruff, then President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It advised members to comply with U.S. laws prohibiting plural marriage (polygamy), marking the official end of the church's sanctioning of the practice.

A Nation's Standoff: The Pressure to Conform

For decades, the practice of plural marriage by members of the LDS Church created significant conflict with the United States government. Federal authorities viewed polygamy as an immoral and unlawful practice, incompatible with American society. This led to a series of increasingly stringent anti-polygamy laws designed to compel the Church to abandon the practice.

Key legislative actions included the Edmunds Act of 1882, which made polygamy a felony, disenfranchised polygamists (preventing them from voting or holding office), and made them ineligible for jury service. The Edmunds-Tucker Act of 1887 was even more severe. It disincorporated the LDS Church, dissolved its Perpetual Emigrating Fund, and authorized the seizure of most of its property by the federal government. Church leaders faced arrest, imprisonment, and went into hiding, while thousands of members were forced to choose between their faith and obedience to the law.

The Manifesto's Declaration: An Official End

Faced with the imminent dissolution of the Church as a legal entity, the seizure of its temples, and the continued imprisonment of its leaders and members, President Wilford Woodruff issued the Manifesto on September 24, 1890. The declaration stated that the Church would submit to the laws of the land regarding plural marriage and advised members against entering into any further plural marriages.

Initially, the Manifesto was interpreted by some as a suspension of new plural marriages within the United States, allowing existing plural families to continue. However, the intent and enforcement gradually tightened. Over the next two decades, the Church clarified its stance, eventually making the practice of plural marriage grounds for excommunication, even for marriages performed outside the U.S. or before 1890.

A New Era: The Long-Term Impact

The 1890 Manifesto was a pivotal moment for the LDS Church, dramatically altering its trajectory and relationship with the United States. Its issuance paved the way for Utah to achieve statehood in 1896, a goal that had been repeatedly denied due to the polygamy issue. It also allowed the Church to regain its seized property and begin the process of normalizing its public image and integrating into mainstream American society.

For individual members, the Manifesto brought an end to a religiously sanctioned practice that had been central to their community for decades, requiring significant personal and social adjustments. While a small number of members continued plural marriage in defiance of the Church's new policy, leading to the rise of fundamentalist offshoots, the vast majority of Latter-day Saints embraced the change, solidifying the Church's commitment to monogamous marriage as its standard.

Did the 1890 Manifesto immediately end all plural marriages?

Not immediately. While it stopped the Church from authorizing new plural marriages, some existing plural families continued to live together. It took several years, and further declarations (like the "Second Manifesto" in 1904), for the Church to strictly enforce the ban, including excommunication for those who continued the practice.

Why was it called a "Manifesto" and not a revelation?

President Woodruff presented it as a declaration of policy and a response to the dire circumstances facing the Church, rather than a direct revelation dictating doctrine. However, Church members widely understood it as a divinely guided decision, given the existential threat to the Church.

What happened to those who continued practicing polygamy after the Manifesto?

Initially, enforcement was gradual. Over time, individuals who continued to enter into or advocate for plural marriages were subject to Church disciplinary councils, which could result in disfellowshipment or excommunication. This led to the formation of fundamentalist groups that separated from the LDS Church.

Did the U.S. government immediately trust the Church after the Manifesto?

Not entirely. There was still significant skepticism, and federal scrutiny continued for some time, particularly concerning allegations of ongoing plural marriages. It took years of consistent enforcement by the Church to fully regain public and governmental trust.

Sources

Official Declaration 1 (The Manifesto), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Quinn, D. Michael. "The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power." Signature Books, 1994.
Alexander, Thomas G. "Mormonism in Transition: A History of the Latter-day Saints, 1890-1930." University of Illinois Press, 1986.