Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 6 days ago
The doctrine of plural marriage occupies a unique place in Mormon history. For decades, Church leaders taught that polygamy was not merely permitted by God—it was essential for the highest degree of salvation.
Joseph Smith introduced plural marriage as part of the "new and everlasting covenant." Brigham Young taught that men who entered polygamy could become Gods. Orson Pratt declared that if plural marriage were false, the entire doctrine of celestial marriage would collapse with it. Church leaders repeatedly described plural marriage as an eternal principle that could never be set aside.
Then it was.
In 1890, under intense legal and political pressure, Church President Wilford Woodruff issued the Manifesto, ending the official practice of plural marriage. Members who continued practicing it were eventually disciplined and excommunicated. Today, the Church publicly presents monogamy as the standard for marriage.
This creates a profound dilemma.
If plural marriage was truly an eternal doctrine required for exaltation, why was it abandoned? If it could be abandoned, in what sense was it eternal? And if prophets taught that something was necessary for salvation when it was not, what does that mean for prophetic authority?
At the heart of this chapter is a simple question:
If prophets can declare a doctrine eternal, essential, and required for exaltation—and later abandon it—how can members know which doctrines are truly eternal?
A Logical Deconstruction of Mormonism is a chapter-by-chapter examination of the truth claims, doctrines, history, and logic of Mormonism.
If you find value in this content, please like, subscribe, and share.
"A Logical Deconstruction of Mormonism" and all of my other books are available on Amazon in Kindle, Paperback, and Audible formats
amazon.com/stores/Bill-Reel/author/B0H1NLJLP6
Also if anyone needs extra support as they work through their faith deconstruction, I am a certified Somatic Informed Trauma Coach and you can look into my work at awakenandthrive.org
#Mormonism #LDS #Polygamy #JosephSmith #BrighamYoung #ChurchHistory #ExMormon #MormonStories #LatterDaySaints #LogicalDeconstruction #MormonDiscussion
The doctrine of plural marriage occupies a unique place in Mormon history. For decades, Church leaders taught that polygamy was not merely permitted by God—it was essential for the highest degree of salvation.
Joseph Smith introduced plural marriage as part of the "new and everlasting covenant." Brigham Young taught that men who entered polygamy could become Gods. Orson Pratt declared that if plural marriage were false, the entire doctrine of celestial marriage would collapse with it. Church leaders repeatedly described plural marriage as an eternal principle that could never be set aside.
Then it was.
In 1890, under intense legal and political pressure, Church President Wilford Woodruff issued the Manifesto, ending the official practice of plural marriage. Members who continued practicing it were eventually disciplined and excommunicated. Today, the Church publicly presents monogamy as the standard for marriage.
This creates a profound dilemma.
If plural marriage was truly an eternal doctrine required for exaltation, why was it abandoned? If it could be abandoned, in what sense was it eternal? And if prophets taught that something was necessary for salvation when it was not, what does that mean for prophetic authority?
At the heart of this chapter is a simple question:
If prophets can declare a doctrine eternal, essential, and required for exaltation—and later abandon it—how can members know which doctrines are truly eternal?
A Logical Deconstruction of Mormonism is a chapter-by-chapter examination of the truth claims, doctrines, history, and logic of Mormonism.
If you find value in this content, please like, subscribe, and share.
"A Logical Deconstruction of Mormonism" and all of my other books are available on Amazon in Kindle, Paperback, and Audible formats
amazon.com/stores/Bill-Reel/author/B0H1NLJLP6
Also if anyone needs extra support as they work through their faith deconstruction, I am a certified Somatic Informed Trauma Coach and you can look into my work at awakenandthrive.org
#Mormonism #LDS #Polygamy #JosephSmith #BrighamYoung #ChurchHistory #ExMormon #MormonStories #LatterDaySaints #LogicalDeconstruction #MormonDiscussion
