How LDS Women Navigated and Resisted Plural Marriage in the 1800s

Exploring the various ways Latter-day Saint women pushed back against or departed from plural marriage during the 19th century, despite immense pressures.

By Garret Merkley · Explainer · Jun 4, 2026

Branched from Women's Experiences in LDS Plural Marriages: What Their Own Words Reveal

Quick take

LDS women in the 1800s employed diverse strategies, from subtle delays to overt legal action, to resist or leave plural marriage.
Resistance often involved significant social, economic, and spiritual risks, including ostracism and financial hardship.
Limited legal options and strong community ties made leaving extremely challenging for many women.
Their actions highlight individual agency within a deeply patriarchal and communal religious system.

Plural marriage, a practice of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) in the 19th century, required women to share a husband with other wives. For many, this was a difficult and often unwelcome arrangement. "Resisting" or "leaving" in this context refers to the varied ways women sought to avoid entering plural unions, minimize their involvement once in them, or ultimately exit these marriages, navigating profound social, religious, and economic pressures.

Forms of Resistance and Departure

Women's responses to plural marriage were rarely monolithic; they ranged from quiet, individual acts to more public, collective efforts. These strategies often depended on a woman's personal circumstances, her relationship with her family and community, and her individual convictions.

Some women resisted entering plural marriage in the first place. This could involve delaying consent, outright refusing proposals, or seeking to marry a non-polygamous man. For those already in a plural union, resistance might manifest as emotional withdrawal, refusing intimacy, or maintaining separate living arrangements within the larger household. These covert forms of resistance allowed women to exert a degree of agency without directly confronting church leaders or their husbands, which could carry severe consequences.

More overt resistance included appealing to Church authorities for relief, though such appeals were rarely successful if the husband insisted on the marriage. A small number of women also publicly spoke out against the practice, sometimes aligning with anti-polygamy reformers or federal efforts to outlaw the practice. These women often faced intense social ostracism and risked losing their standing within the community.

Challenges of Leaving Plural Marriage

Exiting a plural marriage was fraught with difficulties. In 19th-century Utah, a woman's social standing, economic security, and spiritual identity were often deeply intertwined with her marriage and her community within the LDS Church. Leaving meant risking financial destitution, as women had limited independent economic opportunities. Many faced the prospect of being cut off from family support networks and losing access to their children, who often remained with the father.

Furthermore, the spiritual implications were significant. To leave plural marriage was often seen as a rejection of a core religious principle, potentially jeopardizing one's eternal salvation and community standing. This made the decision to leave incredibly complex, requiring immense personal courage and often leading to profound isolation. While some women did manage to obtain divorces through the territorial courts, legal recourse was often limited, expensive, and carried its own social stigmas.

Despite these challenges, the fact that women did resist and leave, even in small numbers, speaks to their resilience and the strength of their individual wills in navigating a system that often limited their choices.

Why This History Matters Today

Understanding how LDS women resisted or left plural marriage offers crucial insights into the complexities of women's agency within patriarchal religious and social structures. It highlights the diverse ways individuals navigate challenging circumstances, revealing that even in highly restrictive environments, people find ways to assert their will and seek personal autonomy. This history reminds us of the importance of recognizing individual experiences within broader historical narratives and the long-lasting impact of social and religious pressures on women's lives. It also sheds light on the evolving roles of women in religious communities and broader society.

Was it common for women to resist or leave plural marriage?

While difficult to quantify precisely, overt resistance or leaving was not the norm due to the immense social, economic, and spiritual pressures. However, subtle forms of resistance, such as delaying consent or emotional withdrawal, were likely more common as women navigated their circumstances.

What happened to women who left plural marriage?

Women who left often faced significant challenges, including social ostracism from their families and communities, economic hardship due to limited independent means, and loss of their children. Some found support outside the LDS community, often from anti-polygamy reformers, but many faced isolation.

Did the Church support women leaving plural marriage?

Generally, no. Plural marriage was considered a divine commandment by Church leadership during its practice. While individual bishops or leaders might show compassion in specific situations, leaving was often seen as a rejection of a core religious principle and was not officially sanctioned or supported.

Were there legal options for women to leave?

Yes, but they were limited and often difficult to pursue. Women could seek divorces through the territorial courts, but this was costly, could be socially stigmatizing, and did not guarantee financial support or custody of children. Federal anti-polygamy laws also provided some avenues, but these were often focused on prosecuting men rather than directly assisting women in leaving.

Sources

Newell, Linda King, and Valeen Tippetts Avery. Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale Smith. University of Illinois Press, 1994.
Van Wagoner, Richard S. Mormon Polygamy: A History. Signature Books, 1999.
Women's Voices: An Early History of the Relief Society. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2013.