Polygamy: The Mormon Enigma

by E. Keith Howick Jr.

Presidential candidate Mitt Romney said, There is part of the history of the [Mormon] church s past that I understand is troubling to people. ... [P]olygamy, which was outlawed in our church in the 1800s, [is also] troubling to me. I have a great-great grandfather [who, with other Mormons, was] trying to build a generation out there in the desert. And so he took additional wives as he was told to do. I must admit, I can t imagine anything more awful than polygamy. ( 60 Minutes, May 13, 2007) Between his natural good humor and the strictures of political expediency, Mr. Romney has carefully dealt with the enigma of polygamy that has faced the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for almost two hundred years. It is true that the church banned the practice of polygamy through the Manifestos of 1890 and 1904 and members who entered into the practice thereafter were excommunicated. However, the Church continues to believe in the concept. Even though the Manifestos eliminated the practice of plural marriage, the LDS Church is generally associated with the issue whenever it rears its controversial head. Inside these pages the Mormon enigma of polygamy is examined from its origin, practice, evolution, and legal entanglements to its present-day status and current political impact.

200 pages, Hardcover

First published December 8, 2007

Reviews

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Other books have covered polygamy and laws enacted against it in the 1800's, but this book includes more recent actions up to 2007. I find it interesting that as Gay Rights activists work to change cohabitation and marriage laws in the US and Canada, it opens the way for polygamy today.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don't know what I was expecting, but there wasn't anything new here. Probably the most interesting thing was the concise listing of the provisions of the various Congressional acts against polygamy. If you are unfamiliar with this part of Latter-day Saint history, this might be a good place to start. If you anything at all--don't bother.

[Jeremy Snow · Rating 2 out of 5]

one or two new or interesting ideas. a lot of re-tread