Plural Marriage

A commandment for a time

While the Prophet Joseph was studying the Bible, he read about prophets like Abraham and Moses who had been married to more than one wife. Joseph had a lot of questions. So he decided to pray and ask the Lord.

Doctrine and Covenants 132:1; Saints, 1:121, 503

Joseph learns that people should be in plural marriage only if commanded by God.

The Lord said that usually a man should have only one wife. But sometimes the Lord commanded a man to be married to more than one wife. This was called plural marriage. The Lord told Joseph that His people should only be in plural marriages if He commands it.

Jacob 2:27–30; Doctrine and Covenants 132:34–39; Saints, 1:121, 290–91, 489–90, 503

Years later, the Lord told Joseph and some other Saints to be in plural marriages. It was not easy to live this commandment.

Saints, 1:290–91, 444–46

A member of the Church stands before a judge because he is in a plural marriage.

The government made laws against plural marriage. Some Saints, including Church leaders, were put in prison.

Saints, 2:501–4

Members of the Church accept the commandment that they should no longer practice plural marriage.

In 1890, the Lord told Wilford Woodruff, the President of the Church, that men should not marry more than one wife anymore. The leaders of the Church shared this commandment with the Saints. This is still the Lord’s commandment today—a man should be married to only one wife.

Official Declaration 1; Saints, 2:598–601, 607–9