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The "1890 Manifesto", sometimes simply called "The Manifesto", is a statement which officially ceased the practice of plural marriage in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the fourth largest Christian denomination in the United States and the largest and most well-known Signed by church president Wilford Woodruff in September 1890, the Manifesto was a dramatic turning point in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In the Latter Day Saint movement, the President of the Church is generally considered to be the highest office of the church Wilford Woodruff ( March 1, 1807 &ndash September 2, 1898) was the fourth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Year 1890 ( MDCCCXC) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common See also History of the Latter Day Saint movement The early history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is shared by the larger Latter Day Saint It has been canonized in the LDS Church Standard Works as Official Declaration—1. The Standard Works of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church consists of several books that constitute its open scriptural

The Manifesto prohibited church members from entering into any marriage prohibited by the law of the land, but did not require the dissolution of existing plural marriages.

Contents

Background

The Manifesto was issued in response to the anti-polygamy policies of the Federal Government of the United States, and most especially the Edmunds-Tucker Act of 1887. The federal government of the United States is the central United States Governmental body established by the United States Constitution. The Edmunds–Tucker Act of 1887 touched all the issues at dispute between the United States Congress and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Year 1887 ( MDCCCLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common This law disincorporated the LDS Church and authorized the federal government to seize all of the church’s assets. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the provisions of the Edmunds-Tucker Act in The Late Corporation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints v. United States. The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest judicial body in the United States and leads the federal judiciary. The Late Corporation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints v [1]

In April 1889, Woodruff, then president of the church, began privately refusing the permission that was required to contract new plural marriages. [2] In October 1889, Woodruff publicly admitted that he was no longer approving new polygamous marriages, and in answer to a reporter's question of what the LDS Church's attitude was toward the law against polygamy, Woodruff stated, "we mean to obey it. We have no thought of evading it or ignoring it. "[3] Because it had been Mormon practice for over 25 years to either evade or ignore anti-polygamy laws, Woodruff's statement was a signal that a change in church policy was developing. [4]

By September 1890, federal officials were preparing to seize the church’s four temples and the U.S. Congress had debated whether to extend the 1882 Edmunds Act so that all Mormons would be disenfranchised, not just those practicing plural marriage. In the The United States Congress is the bicameral Legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses Year 1882 ( MDCCCLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The Edmunds Act, is United States federal legislation signed into law on March 23 1882 declaring Polygamy a Felony. TalkMormon#Latter Day Saint vs Latter-day Saint --> Mormon The Supreme Court had already ruled in Davis v. Beason[5] that a law in Idaho Territory which disenfranchised individuals who practiced or believed in plural marriage was constitutional. Idaho Territory was an Organized territory of the United States which existed from 1863 to 1890 [6]

Woodruff would later recount that on the night of September 23, 1890, he received a revelation from Jesus Christ that the church should cease the practice of plural marriage. Events 1122 - Concordat of Worms. 1459 - Battle of Blore Heath, the first major battle of the English Year 1890 ( MDCCCXC) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Revelation is the act of revealing or disclosing (see etymology or in the theological perception making something obvious and clearly understood through active or passive communication Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) [7] Woodruff announced the Manifesto on September 25 by publishing it in the church-owned Deseret Weekly in Salt Lake City. Events 303 - On a voyage preaching the Gospel, Saint Fermin of Pamplona is beheaded in Amiens, France Salt Lake City is the Capital and the most populous city of the U [8] On October 6, 1890, during the 60th Semiannual General Conference of the church, the Manifesto was formally accepted by the church membership. Events 105 BC - Battle of Arausio: The Cimbri inflict the heaviest defeat on the Roman army of Gnaeus Mallius Maximus Year 1890 ( MDCCCXC) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common In the Latter Day Saint movement, a general conference is a meeting for all members of the church for conducting general church business and instruction In the Latter Day Saint movement, common consent is a democratic principle established by the movement's founder Joseph Smith Jr

The Manifesto

The Manifesto, issued by Wilford Woodruff, states:

"To Whom It May Concern:
"Press dispatches having been sent for political purposes, from Salt Lake City, which have been widely published, to the effect that the Utah Commission, in their recent report to the Secretary of the Interior, allege that plural marriages have been contracted in Utah since last June or during the past year, also that in public discourses the leaders of the Church have taught, encouraged and urged the continuance of the practice of polygamy—
"I, therefore, as President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, do hereby, in the most solemn manner, declare that these charges are false. We are not teaching polygamy or plural marriage, nor permitting other number of plural marriages have during that period been solemnized in our Temples or in any other place in the Territory.
"One case has been reported, in which the parties allege that the marriage was performed in the Endowment House, in Salt Lake City, in the Spring of 1889, but I have not been able to learn who performed the ceremony; whatever was done in this matter was without my knowledge. In consequence of this alleged occurrence the Endowment House was, by my instructions, taken down without delay.
"Inasmuch as laws have been enacted by Congress forbidding plural marriages, which laws have been pronounced constitutional by the court of last resort, I heareby declare my intention to submit to those laws, to use my influence with the members of the Church over which I preside to have them do likewise.
"There is nothing in my teachings to the Church or in those of my associates, during the time specified, which can be reasonably construed to inculcate or encourage polygamy; and when any Elder of the Church has used language which appeared to convey such teaching, he has been promptly reproved. And I now publicly declare that my advice to the Latter-day Saints is to refrain from contracting any marriage forbidden by the law of the land.
"WILFORD WOODRUFF [signed]
"President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "[9]

Formal acceptance by the LDS Church

"President Lorenzo Snow offered the following:

"'I move that, recognizing Wilford Woodruff as the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the only man on the earth at the present time who holds the keys of the sealing ordinances, we consider him fully authorized by virtue of his position to issue the Manifesto which has been read in our hearing, and which is dated September 1890, and that as a Church in General Conference assembled, we accept his declaration concerning plural marriages as authoritative and binding. '

"The vote to sustain the foregoing motion was unanimous.

"Salt Lake City, Utah, October 6, 1890. "[9]

New plural marriages vs. existing plural marriages

The Manifesto was the end of official church authorization for the creation of new plural marriages that violated local laws. It had no effect on the status of already existing plural marriages, and plural marriages continued to be performed in locations where it was believed to be legal. As Woodruff explained at the general conference where the Manifesto was accepted by the church, "[t]his Manifesto only refers to future marriages, and does not affect past conditions. I did not, I could not, and would not promise that you would desert your wives and children. This you cannot do in honor. "[10] Despite Woodruff's explanation, some church leaders and members who were polygamous did begin to live with only one wife. [11] However, the majority of Mormon polygamists continued to cohabit with their plural wives in violation of the Edmunds-Tucker Act. The Edmunds–Tucker Act of 1887 touched all the issues at dispute between the United States Congress and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [12]

Aftermath and post-Manifesto plural marriage

Within six years of the announcement of the Manifesto, Utah had become a state and federal prosecution of Mormon polygamists subsided. The State of Utah (ˈjuːtɔː or) is a western state of the United States. A US state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of the United States of America that share Sovereignty with the federal government However, Congress still refused to seat representatives-elect who were polygamists, including B.H. Roberts. Brigham Henry Roberts ( March 13, 1857 – September 27, 1933) was a Mormon leader historian and politician who published a

D. Michael Quinn and other Mormon historians have documented that some church apostles covertly sanctioned plural marriages after the Manifesto. Dennis Michael Quinn (born in 1944) is a historian who has focused on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This practice was especially prevalent in Mexico and Canada because of an erroneous belief that such marriages were legal in those jurisdictions. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page [13] However, a significant minority were performed in Utah and other western American states and territories. The estimates of the number of post-Manifesto plural marriages performed range from scores to thousands, with the actual figure probably close to 250. [14] Today, the LDS Church officially acknowledges that although the Manifesto "officially ceased" the practice of plural marriage in the church, "the ending of the practice after the Manifesto was . . . gradual. "[15]

Rumors of post-Manifesto marriages surfaced and began to be examined by Congress in the Reed Smoot hearings. The Reed Smoot hearings ( Smoot hearings or Smoot Case) were a series of Congressional hearings on whether the United States Senate should seat U In response, church president Joseph F. Smith issued a "Second Manifesto" in 1904 which reaffirmed the church's opposition to the creation of new plural marriages and threatened excommunication for Latter-day Saints who continued to enter into or solemnize new plural marriages. Joseph Fielding Smith Sr ( November 13, 1838 &ndash November 19, 1918) was the sixth president of The Church of Jesus Christ The "Second Manifesto" was a 1904 declaration made by Joseph F Year 1904 ( MCMIV) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year starting on Apostles John W. Taylor and Matthias F. Cowley each resigned from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles due to disagreement with the church’s position on plural marriage. John Whittaker Taylor ( May 15, 1858 &ndash October 10, 1916) was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church Matthias Foss Cowley ( 1858-08-25 &ndash 1940-06-16) born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Quorum of the TwelveIn The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (also known as the Quorum of the Twelve, the [16] Plural marriage continues to be grounds for excommunication from the LDS Church. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church a disciplinary council is an ecclesiastical trial during which a member of the church is tried for alleged violations [17]

The cessation of plural marriage within LDS Church gave rise to the Mormon fundamentalist movement. Mormon fundamentalism (also called fundamentalist Mormonism) is a belief in the validity of selected fundamental aspects of Mormonism as taught and

Evolution of Latter-day Saint views on the Manifesto

The Manifesto has been canonized by the LDS Church, and its text appears in the Doctrine and Covenants, one of the church's books of scripture. The Doctrine and Covenants (sometimes abbreviated and cited as D&C) is a part of the open scriptural canon of several denominations of the The Standard Works of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church consists of several books that constitute its open scriptural However, when the Manifesto was issued, it was not apparent that Woodruff or the other leaders of the LDS Church viewed it as the result of a divine revelation. [18] Approximately one year after he declared the Manifesto, Woodruff began to claim that he had received instructions from Jesus Christ that formed the basis of what he wrote in the text of the Manifesto. [7] These instructions were reportedly accompanied by a vision of what would occur if the Manifesto were not issued. In Spirituality including Religion, visions comprise Inspirational renderings generally of a Future state and/or of a mythical [7]

Following Woodruff's death in 1898, other church leaders began to teach that the Manifesto was the result of a revelation of God. Revelation is the act of revealing or disclosing (see etymology or in the theological perception making something obvious and clearly understood through active or passive communication [19] Since that time, church leaders have consistently taught that the Manifesto was inspired of God. [20][21][22] In 1908, the Manifesto was printed in the LDS Church's Doctrine and Covenants for the first time, and it has been included in every edition since. A non-Mormon observer of the church has stated that "[t]here is no question that, from a doctrinal standpoint, President Woodruff's Manifesto now has comparable status with [Joseph Smith's] revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants". [23] The Manifesto is currently published as "Official Declaration—1" in the Doctrine and Covenants.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ 136 U.S. 1 (1890). The Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act was signed into law on July 8, 1862 by President Abraham Lincoln. The Poland Act (18 Stat 253 of 1874 was an act of the United States Congress which sought to facilitate prosecutions under the Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act by eliminating This page is about the 1878 US Supreme Court case about polygamy and religious duty as a defense to criminal prosecution The Edmunds Act, is United States federal legislation signed into law on March 23 1882 declaring Polygamy a Felony. Civil marriage has undergone significant changes in the United States since the country's inception 1830 - Right of married woman to own property in her own name (instead The Endowment House was an early building used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to administer temple ordinances in Salt Lake City George Reynolds ( January 1, 1842 – August 9 1909) was a General authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
  2. ^ Richard S. Van Wagoner (1989, 2d ed. ). Mormon Polygamy: A History (Salt Lake City, Utah: Signature Books) p. 135.
  3. ^ Salt Lake Herald, 1889-10-27, quoted in Richard S. Year 1889 ( MDCCCLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 312 - Constantine the Great is said to have received his famous Vision of the Cross. Van Wagoner (1989, 2d ed. ). Mormon Polygamy: A History (Salt Lake City, Utah: Signature Books) p. 136.
  4. ^ Stephen Eliot Smith, “The ‘Mormon Question’ Revisited: Anti-polygamy Laws and the Free Exercise Clause” (2005) (LL. M. thesis, Harvard Law School) p. 62–63.
  5. ^ 133 U.S. 333 (1890).
  6. ^ Stephen Eliot Smith, “The ‘Mormon Question’ Revisited: Anti-polygamy Laws and the Free Exercise Clause” (2005) (LL. M. thesis, Harvard Law School) p. 63–64.
  7. ^ a b c Remaraks of Wilford Woodruff at Cache Stake Conference, Logan, Utah, 1891-11-01; repoted at Wilford Woodruff, "Remarks", Deseret Weekly (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1891-11-14; excerpts reprinted in LDS Church, "Official Declaration—1", Doctrine and Covenants. A stake is an administrative unit composed of multiple congregations in denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement. Logan is a city in Cache County, Utah, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 42670 a substantial increase Year 1891 ( MDCCCXCI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi Year 1891 ( MDCCCXCI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 1533 - Conquistadors from Spain under the leadership of Francisco Pizarro arrive in Cajamarca, Inca The Doctrine and Covenants (sometimes abbreviated and cited as D&C) is a part of the open scriptural canon of several denominations of the
  8. ^ Wilford Woodruff, "Official Declaration", Deseret Weekly (Salt Lake City) 41:476 (1890-09-25). Year 1890 ( MDCCCXC) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 303 - On a voyage preaching the Gospel, Saint Fermin of Pamplona is beheaded in Amiens, France
  9. ^ a b LDS Church, Official Declaration — 1, Doctrine and Covenants. The Doctrine and Covenants (sometimes abbreviated and cited as D&C) is a part of the open scriptural canon of several denominations of the
  10. ^ Diary entry of Marriner W. Merrill, 1890-10-06 (LDS Church archives), cited in B. Marriner Wood Merrill ( 1835-09-25 &ndash 1906-02-06) born in Sackville, New Brunswick, was a pioneering settler of Cache Valley and Year 1890 ( MDCCCXC) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 105 BC - Battle of Arausio: The Cimbri inflict the heaviest defeat on the Roman army of Gnaeus Mallius Maximus Carmon Hardy (1992). Solemn Covenant: The Mormon Polygamous Passage (Urbana: University of Illinois Press) p. 141.
  11. ^ Lorenzo Snow, who would succeed Woodruff as president of the church, was one such leader. Lorenzo Snow ( April 3, 1814 – October 10, 1901) was the fifth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
  12. ^ Kenneth L. Cannon II, "Beyond the Manifesto: Polygamous Cohabitation among LDS General Authorities after 1890", Utah Historical Quarterly 46:24 (1978).
  13. ^ Numerous marriages also were performed in international waters on the high seas.
  14. ^ B. Carmon Hardy (1992). Solemn Covenant: The Mormon Polygamous Passage (Urbana: University of Illinois Press) pp. 167–335 and appendix II.
  15. ^ LDS Church, Gospel Topics: Polygamy (Plural Marriage) (accessed 2007-10-12). Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 539 BC - The army of Cyrus the Great of Persia takes Babylon.
  16. ^ Victor W. Jorgensen and B. Carmon Hardy, "The Taylor-Cowley Affair and the Watershed of Mormon History", Utah Historical Quarterly 48:4 (1980).
  17. ^ LDS Church (2006). Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 1: Stake Presidencies and Bishoprics. Church Handbook of Instructions (formerly the General Handbook of Instructions) is a two-volume book of instructions and policies for leaders of The (Salt Lake City, Utah: LDS Church) pp. 105–115.
  18. ^ B. Carmon Hardy (1992). Solemn Covenant: The Mormon Polygamous Passage (Urbana: University of Illinois Press) pp. 146–152.
  19. ^ See, e. g. , Discourse delivered by Lorenzo Snow at St. George, Utah on 1899-05-03, published as Lorenzo Snow, "Discourse", Millennial Star, vol. Lorenzo Snow ( April 3, 1814 – October 10, 1901) was the fifth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints St George is a city located in the southwestern part of the U Year 1899 ( MDCCCXCIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 1491 - Kongo monarch Nkuwu Nzinga is baptised by Portuguese missionaries adopting the baptismal name of João Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star (usually shorted to Millennial Star) was the longest continuously published periodical of The Church of Jesus 61, no. 34 pp. 529–533 at p. 532 (1899-08-24), reprinted in Lorenzo Snow (1998, Clyde J. Year 1899 ( MDCCCXCIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 49 BC - Julius Caesar 's General Gaius Scribonius Curio is defeated in the Second Battle of the Bagradas River Williams ed. ). The Teachings of Lorenzo Snow: Fifth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft) pp. 192–193.
  20. ^ John A. Widtsoe (1943). John Andreas Widtsoe ( 31 January 1872 – 29 November 1952) was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church Evidences and Reconciliations: Aids to Faith in a Modern Day (Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft) p. 89.
  21. ^ Joseph Fielding Smith (1922) (24th ed. Joseph Fielding Smith Jr ( July 19, 1876 &ndash July 2, 1972) was the tenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day , 1971). Essentials in Church History: A History of the Church from the Birth of Joseph Smith to the Present Time (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book) pp. 493–494.
  22. ^ Spencer W. Kimball (1998, Edward L. Spencer Woolley Kimball ( March 28, 1895 – November 5, 1985) was the twelfth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Kimball ed. ). The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball: Twelfth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft) pp. 447–448.
  23. ^ Jan Shipps (1985). Mormonism: The Story of a New Religious Tradition (Urbana: University of Illinois Press) p. 114.

References

External links

The Encyclopedia of Mormonism is a semi-official Encyclopedia for topics relevant to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the LDS Church
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