The Edmunds-Tucker Act: How Federal Law Criminalized Polygamy and Transformed Utah

A federal law from 1887 that intensified the legal battle against polygamy, leading to significant changes for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Utah Territory.

By Garret Merkley · Explainer · Jun 10, 2026

Branched from Utah Statehood and the Polygamy Question: Federal Conditions for 1896 Admission

Quick take

The Edmunds-Tucker Act (1887) was a harsh federal law targeting polygamy in U.S. territories, particularly Utah.
It disenfranchised polygamists, confiscated most property of the LDS Church, and made wives testify against husbands.
The Act pushed the LDS Church to formally abandon polygamy, paving the way for Utah's statehood.
It represents a significant chapter in the conflict between religious practice and federal authority in American history.

The Edmunds-Tucker Act, passed by the U.S. Congress in 1887, was a significant federal law designed to suppress and ultimately eradicate polygamy, primarily targeting members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in Utah Territory and other western territories. It built upon earlier anti-polygamy legislation, making it much more stringent and far-reaching in its enforcement.

Sweeping Provisions to Dismantle Polygamy

This act did not simply fine or imprison individuals; it systematically attacked the organizational and social structures that supported polygamy. It targeted the LDS Church directly by dissolving its corporate status and authorizing the confiscation of most of its property, with exceptions only for temples and buildings used for worship. This property was then placed under federal receivership.

On an individual level, the Act stripped polygamists of their civil rights. It disenfranchised anyone who practiced or believed in polygamy, making them ineligible to vote, hold public office, or serve on a jury. It also required an anti-polygamy oath for anyone wishing to register to vote or serve in these capacities, effectively excluding a large portion of the male population in Utah Territory from civic life.

Undermining Social and Legal Protections

The Edmunds-Tucker Act also made it easier for federal prosecutors to secure convictions. It removed the legal protection that typically allowed a wife to refuse to testify against her husband, compelling wives in polygamous marriages to potentially provide evidence that could lead to their husbands' imprisonment. This provision was particularly controversial, as it fractured families and challenged established legal norms.

Furthermore, the Act abolished women's suffrage in Utah Territory, which had been granted in 1870. This move was intended to weaken the political influence of the LDS community, as many believed polygamous women would vote in alignment with church leadership. It also dissolved the Perpetual Emigration Fund, an organization that had helped thousands of converts immigrate to Utah, further disrupting the church's operations.

Key Measures of the Edmunds-Tucker Act

Disenfranchised polygamists and those who believed in polygamy.
Confiscated most property of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Compelled wives to testify against their polygamous husbands.
Abolished women's suffrage in Utah Territory.
Required an anti-polygamy oath for voters and officeholders.

Why It Mattered: A Turning Point for Utah Statehood

The Edmunds-Tucker Act marked the peak of federal efforts to suppress polygamy and was a critical turning point in the relationship between the U.S. government and the LDS Church. Its severe penalties and systematic dismantling of church and community structures created immense pressure. Facing widespread arrests, property seizures, and the threat of complete governmental control, the LDS Church issued the 1890 Manifesto, officially advising members to cease the practice of plural marriage. This pivotal decision, largely a direct response to the Edmunds-Tucker Act and its predecessors, ultimately cleared the most significant obstacle to Utah's eventual admission as a U.S. state in 1896. The Act's legacy highlights the tension between religious freedom and federal law, and its enforcement fundamentally reshaped the social and political landscape of the American West.

Was the Edmunds-Tucker Act the first law against polygamy?

No, it was not the first. It built upon earlier legislation like the Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act of 1862 and the Edmunds Act of 1882. The Edmunds-Tucker Act was, however, the most comprehensive and severe of these anti-polygamy laws.

Did the LDS Church immediately stop all polygamous marriages after the Act?

The 1890 Manifesto, issued by LDS Church President Wilford Woodruff, officially advised members to cease plural marriage and was a direct response to the escalating federal pressure, including the Edmunds-Tucker Act. While the official practice ended, some individuals continued to live in existing plural marriages, and a small number of new plural marriages were performed unofficially for a period, leading to further clarification and enforcement by the Church.

What happened to the confiscated church property?

Much of the confiscated property was eventually returned to the LDS Church after the 1890 Manifesto and subsequent agreements with the federal government. This process involved legal battles and negotiations, but the church eventually regained control of its assets.

Did the Act specifically target other groups besides the LDS Church?

While the language of the Edmunds-Tucker Act applied to all U.S. territories, its primary and most impactful target was the practice of polygamy by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah Territory, where the vast majority of polygamists resided.

Sources

Sarah Barringer Gordon, The Mormon Question: Polygamy and Constitutional Conflict in Nineteenth-Century America (University of North Carolina Press, 2002).
Richard S. Van Wagoner, Mormon Polygamy: A History (Signature Books, 1989).
U.S. Congress, Edmunds-Tucker Act, 1887.