How the LDS Church's Narrative on Polygamy Has Evolved
A look into how the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has shaped and re-shaped its official history regarding its past practice of plural marriage and why this matters to members and observers.
- The LDS Church's official historical narrative on polygamy has significantly evolved over time.
- Early accounts often minimized its prevalence, while later official essays provided more direct, though curated, details.
- This recontextualization aims to align past practices with current church doctrine and public perception.
- Understanding this evolution is key to grasping the church's ongoing relationship with its complex history.
The historical rewriting of polygamy by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) refers to the ongoing evolution of its official narrative concerning the 19th-century practice of plural marriage. This involves changes in how the church describes its origins, prevalence, and cessation, often to align with contemporary understanding and doctrine while maintaining faith-promoting perspectives.
From Silence to Selective Disclosure: Shifting Narratives
For many decades, the official church narrative often minimized the extent and complexities of polygamy. Textbooks, Sunday School lessons, and public statements might have touched on it briefly, emphasizing its divine origin and eventual abandonment. However, they frequently omitted details about its full scope, its impact on women and children, or the church's internal struggles with the practice. This approach often presented polygamy as a brief, divinely commanded necessity rather than a widespread and enduring aspect of 19th-century Mormon life.
In recent years, particularly since the publication of the "Gospel Topics Essays" on LDS.org starting in the 2010s, the church has adopted a more direct, though still carefully framed, approach. These essays acknowledge previously downplayed or uncomfortable historical facts, such as Joseph Smith's polygamous marriages to women already married to other men, and the involvement of young women. However, they consistently frame these details within the context of faith, divine commandment, and the unique challenges faced by early Saints, emphasizing spiritual motives and the eventual obedience to U.S. law.
The "rewriting" also involves strategic framing and terminology. The term "plural marriage" is consistently preferred over "polygamy," which can carry more negative connotations in Western culture. Narratives often highlight the sacrifices made by polygamists and the perceived necessity of the practice for building the Kingdom of God, while less emphasis is placed on the social difficulties, dissent, or the coercion some individuals experienced. This aims to present a cohesive, faith-affirming story that integrates challenging historical elements.
Why This Evolving Narrative Matters
This evolving historical narrative matters significantly for several reasons. For members, it shapes their understanding of their faith's foundational history and can either strengthen or challenge their trust in church leadership, especially if new information contradicts what they previously learned. For external observers, it impacts the church's public image and its efforts to be seen as a mainstream, modern faith. Ultimately, how the church tells its own story about its past practices, especially one as controversial as polygamy, is central to its identity, transparency, and ongoing relationship with both its members and the wider world. It reflects an institution's ongoing effort to reconcile its past with its present and future.
Sources
- LDS.org, "Gospel Topics Essays: Plural Marriage in Kirtland and Nauvoo"
- LDS.org, "Gospel Topics Essays: Plural Marriage and Families in Early Utah"
