How Federal Anti-Polygamy Laws Dismantled Mormon Theocracy in Utah
Explore the key federal laws, including the Edmunds Act, that challenged and ultimately ended polygamy and the unique political power structure of the Latter-day Saints in Utah Territory.
- Federal anti-polygamy laws, culminating in the Edmunds Act, aimed to dismantle the practice of plural marriage and the theocratic governance of the LDS Church in Utah Territory.
- These laws disenfranchised polygamists, seized church assets, and imposed severe penalties, creating immense pressure on the LDS community.
- The legal and financial pressure ultimately led the LDS Church to issue the 1890 Manifesto, officially ending polygamy and paving the way for Utah statehood.
Federal anti-polygamy laws, enacted by the U.S. Congress primarily between 1862 and 1887, were a series of legislative acts designed to suppress the practice of plural marriage by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in Utah Territory and challenge its theocratic political influence. The most impactful of these was the Edmunds Act of 1882, later strengthened by the Edmunds-Tucker Act of 1887.
Early Legislation and the Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act (1862)
The first federal law specifically targeting polygamy was the Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act of 1862. It prohibited bigamy in U.S. territories and disincorporated the LDS Church, limiting its property holdings. However, enforcement was difficult due to local juries sympathetic to polygamists and a lack of clear legal mechanisms for prosecution. This act largely remained unenforced for two decades.
The Edmunds Act of 1882: A Major Turning Point
The Edmunds Act significantly escalated federal efforts. It redefined polygamy to include "unlawful cohabitation," making it easier to prosecute men living with multiple wives without needing direct proof of marriage ceremonies. It also barred polygamists from voting, holding public office, or serving on juries. This effectively disenfranchised a large portion of Utah's male population and opened the door for non-Mormons to gain political influence.
The Edmunds-Tucker Act of 1887: Intensifying the Pressure
The Edmunds-Tucker Act further tightened the screws. It disincorporated the LDS Church and its Perpetual Emigrating Fund, confiscating most of its assets (valued at millions of dollars) and placing them under federal control. It abolished women's suffrage in Utah (which had been granted by the territorial legislature in 1870, largely to boost pro-LDS votes) and required all voters and jurors to take an oath affirming they were not polygamists. This act severely crippled the Church's financial and political power.
These federal anti-polygamy laws were instrumental in dismantling the unique theocratic system that had developed in Utah Territory. By systematically disenfranchising polygamists, seizing church assets, and making enforcement inescapable, the U.S. government exerted immense pressure on the LDS Church. This pressure directly led to the issuance of the 1890 Manifesto by LDS President Wilford Woodruff, which officially advised members to cease plural marriage. This pivotal shift was a prerequisite for Utah's eventual statehood in 1896, marking the end of a long period of conflict between the federal government and the LDS Church over religious practice and secular governance.
Sources
- U.S. Congress. Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act of 1862.
- U.S. Congress. Edmunds Act of 1882.
- U.S. Congress. Edmunds-Tucker Act of 1887.
- Arrington, Leonard J. "Great Basin Kingdom: An Economic History of the Latter-day Saints, 1830-1900."
- Alexander, Thomas G. "Mormonism in Transition: A History of the Latter-day Saints, 1890-1930."
