Church History Matters Podcast

Episode 180: Official Declaration 1 – The Official Response to Polygamy in the Church

Date: December 2, 2025
Hosts: Scott & Casey, Scripture Central
Episode Focus: Context, announcement, and aftermath of Official Declaration 1 (The Manifesto) ending plural marriage in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Episode Overview

In this episode, Scott and Casey dive deep into the background, historical context, and aftermath of Official Declaration 1—commonly known as “the Manifesto”—which ended the practice of plural marriage (polygamy) in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They explore the doctrinal complexity, personal sacrifices, legislative pressures, and the revelatory process that led to this pivotal moment. The hosts also discuss later attempts to enforce this policy, controversies surrounding revelation, and address questions about continuing revelation in the face of public and governmental opposition.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: The “Juiciest” Doctrine and Challenges

• [01:09] The episode opens with both hosts expressing enthusiasm for covering highly controversial topics: plural marriage and race & the priesthood.
  • Quote: "Like, we just pack the end with all the controversial stuff. And you and I love to discuss controversy, so this is fun for us." (A, 00:43)

2. What Are “Official Declarations”?

• [02:42] Official Declarations 1 & 2 are not direct revelations, but official announcements recognizing previous revelations that changed major church practice: ending polygamy (OD1) and ending priesthood/temple restrictions by race (OD2).
  • Quote: "...They give us a platform to do so. So I'm glad we get a chance to talk about this. It's actually stuff that I don't mind talking about. I even like talking about because it's good for us." (A, 01:09)

3. The Origins and Spread of Plural Marriage

• [06:01] Plural marriage started privately under Joseph Smith in Nauvoo, announced publicly in 1852, peaked around 1857, then declined—spiking in response to legal pressure.
• The “twin relics of barbarism” (slavery and polygamy) were primary targets of political reformers.
  • Quote: "The Republican Party was founded to eliminate two things: plural marriage and slavery. That's how big it was." (A, 07:00)

4. Escalating Legal and Social Pressures

• [10:15–14:40] The U.S. government passed increasingly severe anti-polygamy laws, such as:
  • 1862 Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act: largely symbolic at first.
  • 1882 Edmunds Act and 1887 Edmunds-Tucker Act: disenfranchised church members, dissolved the Church’s legal standing, targeted women’s suffrage, and required anti-polygamy oaths for voting.
• Many church leaders (and their families) were imprisoned and subpoenaed.

5. The 1890 Manifesto (Official Declaration 1)

• [14:40–16:57] With temples, assets, and religious practice at risk, President Wilford Woodruff seeks divine guidance and, in September 1890, issues the Manifesto.
• The statement is not a doctrinal reversal but an agreement to obey U.S. law regarding marriage.
  • Quote: “He was shown in vision exactly what would take place if we did not stop the practice. All the temples would go out of our hands.” (A, 14:40)
  • Quote: "...we are not teaching polygamy or plural marriage, nor permitting any person to enter into its practice." (A, 15:50)

6. Immediate Impact and Reactions

• [16:57–22:21] The Quorum of the Twelve and church members sustain the Manifesto, though with much emotion and reluctance.
  • Quote (Zina D.H. Young’s diary): “Today the hearts of all were tried but looked to God and submitted.” (B, 20:59)
• President Woodruff emphasizes the Manifesto only applies to future marriages, not existing plural families.
• Implementation is difficult and uneven, and plural marriages continue abroad (e.g., in Mexico and Canada).

7. The Second Manifesto (1904)

• [29:23–38:20] Ongoing controversy leads President Joseph F. Smith to issue the “Second Manifesto,” threatening excommunication for new plural marriages anywhere.
• This was prompted by Reed Smoot’s U.S. Senate hearings, which fueled scrutiny of the Church’s sincerity regarding polygamy.
• Apostles John W. Taylor and Matthias Cowley leave their positions over disagreements.
  • Memorable Quote: "As for me, I would rather have seated beside me in this chamber a polygamist who doesn't polyg, than a monogamist who doesn't monog." (Senator Boyce Penrose, B, 35:00)
• The Church begins excommunications over new plural marriages, distancing itself from eventual fundamentalist offshoots.

8. Theological Developments and Doctrinal Clarifications

• [39:10–40:25] Church historical introductions clarify monogamy as the standard except by special divine command (Jacob 2:27–30).
• Quote: “The Bible and the Book of Mormon teach that monogamy is God’s standard for marriage unless He declares otherwise.” (A, 39:10)

9. Addressing Controversies and Hard Questions

• [41:03–49:25]
  • Why didn’t God “prepare a way” to continue polygamy if He commanded it?
    • The hosts stress not to overgeneralize from 1 Nephi 3:7, citing historical examples when commandments couldn’t be fulfilled due to external circumstances.
    • Quote (President Woodruff): “The Lord does not require at our hands things that we cannot do.” (B, 41:09)
  • Did the Church cave to public pressure?
    • Revelation responds to circumstances; prophets operate within, not outside, real-world pressures.
    • Quote: "Revelation never takes place in a vacuum...the environment around us directs the prophets to receive the revelations that they do and often come in response to the serious questions they were dealing with." (A, 47:15)

10. The 1886 Revelation Controversy

• [50:44–59:29] The digitization and publication of John Taylor’s 1886 revelation (which fundamentalist groups cite as eternalizing plural marriage) is discussed.
• The revelation references the “new and everlasting covenant,” but interpretation is debated.
  • Insight: LDS scholars see it as affirming eternal marriage, not the perpetual earthly practice of plural marriage.
  • Quote: "If we're talking about the principle of plural marriage and not the practice, we never have repudiated the principle of plural marriage." (A, 56:22)
• The revelation wasn’t canonized, but the Manifesto was; the Church’s course is thus clear.

11. Consequences and Final Thoughts

• [59:29–63:32]
  • Official policy: No new plural marriages. Polygamy results in excommunication.
    • Quote (President Gordon B. Hinckley): "If any of our members are found to be practicing plural marriage, they are excommunicated. The most serious penalty the Church can impose." (B, 59:29)
  • Plural marriage played a defining role in Church history, required difficult sacrifice, and shaped theology and policy.
  • The present standard, practiced worldwide, is monogamy.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Zina D.H. Young (General Conference, Oct 6, 1890, 20:59):
  “Today the hearts of all were tried but looked to God and submitted.”

• President Woodruff (on plural marriage reversal, 41:09):
  “The Lord does not require at our hands things that we cannot do.”

• On revelation and external pressures (A, 47:15):
  “Revelation never takes place in a vacuum… circumstances cause us to ask the Lord, and then the Lord gives us revelations.”

• Senator Boyce Penrose’s “burn” (B, 35:00):
  “I would rather have seated beside me in this chamber a polygamist who doesn’t polyg than a monogamist who doesn’t monog.”

• On balancing scriptural interpretation (B, 43:30):
  “Every verse of Scripture, whether oft-quoted or obscure, must be measured against other verses. There are complementary and tempering teachings in the scriptures, which bring a balanced knowledge of truth.” (Citing President Boyd K. Packer)

• Casey, reflecting on plural marriage’s role (A, 60:50):
  “Plural marriage is part of the history of the church… I think it played the role that it was intended to play. And then God instructed the president of the church to end the practice.”

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Timestamp | Topic | |-----------|------------------------------------------------| | 00:09 | The role of circumstances in prompting revelation | | 01:09 | Setting up the controversies: Polygamy and race | | 02:42 | Nature of Official Declarations 1 & 2 | | 06:01 | Origins and spread of plural marriage | | 10:15 | Legal pressures and government opposition | | 14:40 | The 1890 Manifesto and President Woodruff’s vision| | 16:57 | Aftermath: Response, implementation struggles | | 29:23 | The Second Manifesto and excommunication | | 39:10 | Doctrinal clarifications on marriage | | 41:03 | Controversies: Commandments vs. circumstances | | 47:15 | Revelation and public/external pressure | | 50:44 | The 1886 Revelation controversy | | 59:29 | Permanent effects and modern church policy | | 63:32 | Closing reflections on plural marriage, transition| | 63:54 | Preview of next episode: Official Declaration 2 |

Tone and Takeaways

The episode is candid, thoughtful, and committed to facing difficult issues head-on. The hosts urge listeners to embrace complexity, seek context, and recognize both the faith and the struggles of prior generations. They affirm that living, responsive revelation guided the changes even when pressed by external events.

Next Episode

The hosts will cover Official Declaration 2 and the Articles of Faith next, continuing the conversation about pivotal changes and developments in Latter-day Saint history.