Plural Marriage

Faith to obey a law from the Lord, even when it’s hard

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 wondered how the Lord felt about that. So he decided to 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 His people to be in marriages of one man and more than one woman. 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

A few years later, the Lord told Joseph to marry other women. Joseph didn’t want to marry other wives. But he knew it was a commandment from the Lord. When Joseph asked a woman to marry him, he told her to pray about it. He wanted her to know from the Lord that it was right.

Saints, 1:290–91, 444–46

Joseph and Emma talking about plural marriage.

This commandment was also hard for Joseph’s first wife, Emma. Sometimes, Emma helped Joseph decide who he should ask to marry him. Other times, Emma did not want Joseph to marry other women.

Doctrine and Covenants 132:51–56; Saints, 1:482–84, 490, 502, 504

Joseph teaching the Twelve Apostles about plural marriage.

Joseph taught the Twelve Apostles about plural marriage. It was a hard commandment for them too.

Saints, 1:432–34, 443.

Brigham and Mary Ann Young praying about plural marriage.

Brigham Young and his wife Mary Ann prayed a lot to the Lord about what to do. They learned that they should obey the commandment of plural marriage.

Saints, 1:485

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

For many years, some of the Saints were asked to be in plural marriages. People outside the Church did not like plural marriage. They made laws against it. Some Saints, including Church leaders, were put in prison. But the Lord blessed the families who obeyed His commandments, even when it was hard.

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