The Woodruff Manifesto: How Mormon Polygamy Ended

An explanation of the 1890 declaration that officially ended the practice of plural marriage for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

By Garret Merkley · Explainer · Aug 17, 2026

Branched from The Origins and Evolution of Polygamy in Early Mormonism

Quick take

The Woodruff Manifesto was an 1890 declaration by LDS Church President Wilford Woodruff.
It officially advised members to cease new plural marriages and submit to anti-polygamy laws.
This decision came after decades of legal pressure, persecution, and confiscation of church property.
The Manifesto was crucial for Utah's statehood and the survival of the Church as a legal entity.

The Woodruff Manifesto is a declaration issued by Wilford Woodruff, then President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), on September 24, 1890. It officially advised Church members to obey federal anti-polygamy laws and cease contracting new plural marriages, marking a pivotal moment in the Church's history and its relationship with the United States government.

The Pressure Leading to the Manifesto

For decades leading up to 1890, the practice of plural marriage (polygamy) by members of the LDS Church was a source of intense conflict with the United States government. Federal legislation, such as the Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act of 1862 and the Edmunds-Tucker Act of 1887, progressively criminalized plural marriage, disenfranchised polygamists, and allowed for the confiscation of Church property. Many Church leaders and members were imprisoned, and the very existence of the Church as a legal entity was threatened. Its temples, tithing offices, and other assets were seized by the government, placing the Church in severe financial and organizational jeopardy.

The Declaration and Its Immediate Impact

Facing the potential complete dissolution of the Church and the permanent loss of its sacred temples, President Wilford Woodruff stated that he received a revelation. This led to the issuance of the Manifesto, which publicly declared the Church’s intention to submit to the laws of the land regarding marriage. It was not an immediate repudiation of the doctrine of plural marriage but a practical suspension of its practice, advising members that the Church would no longer sanction new plural marriages. While the Manifesto formally ended the Church’s endorsement of plural marriage, some existing plural marriages continued, and a small number of new plural marriages were performed in secret, particularly outside the United States, for a short period after 1890. This led to a subsequent, stricter declaration, often called the “Second Manifesto,” in 1904 by President Joseph F. Smith, which threatened excommunication for anyone entering into new plural marriages anywhere in the world.

The Woodruff Manifesto was a watershed moment. It allowed the LDS Church to survive as an institution and eventually integrate into mainstream American society. The declaration paved the way for Utah to achieve statehood in 1896, as the cessation of plural marriage was a key condition for its admission into the Union. It fundamentally altered the trajectory of the Church, distinguishing it from fundamentalist groups that continued to practice polygamy and solidifying its commitment to monagamous marriage as the standard practice for its members.

Did polygamy end completely overnight with the Manifesto?

No, existing plural marriages were not immediately dissolved, and some new ones were performed in secret for a time, particularly outside the U.S. The full enforcement and complete cessation took several years, solidified by the "Second Manifesto" in 1904.

Was the Woodruff Manifesto considered a change in doctrine or practice?

At the time, it was primarily presented as a change in *practice* due to intense external pressure, a pragmatic decision to save the Church from destruction. Over time, it led to a reinterpretation and evolution of the Church's understanding of marriage doctrine, firmly establishing monogamy as the sole authorized form of marriage.

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

While President Woodruff stated it was based on revelation, it was issued as a public declaration to the world and the U.S. government, hence the term "Manifesto." It is now canonized in the Church's scripture as "Official Declaration 1," signifying its revelatory and authoritative nature.

What was the Edmunds-Tucker Act?

The Edmunds-Tucker Act of 1887 was a severe piece of U.S. federal legislation targeting the LDS Church. It disincorporated the Church, dissolved the Perpetual Emigrating Fund, disenfranchised women and polygamists in Utah, and allowed for the confiscation of virtually all Church property exceeding $50,000 in value. This act was a major catalyst for the Church's decision to issue the Manifesto.

Sources

Official Declaration 1, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Woodruff Manifesto).
LDS Church History Topics: "Plural Marriage and Families in Early Utah."