Faith Matters Unpacking Polygamy: Polygamy from Nauvoo to Utah, with Brittany Chapman Nash & Patrick Mason
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Nov 6, 2025 Brittany Chapman Nash, a historian at the Church History Department and author specializing in 19th-century Latter-day Saint women's history, joins Patrick Mason to delve into the intricate world of early polygamy. They explore the personal stories of women often overlooked in history, examine the motivations behind plural marriage, and discuss its profound impact on the community’s theology and social structures. Brittany highlights the complex emotional landscape of those involved and reflects on how this legacy frames modern perspectives within the faith.
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A Wife's Relief At Open Practice
- Zyana D.H. Young recalled the relief of openly identifying as a plural wife once away from hostile laws.
- She felt freedom to show the world her husband's other wives without fear of reproach.
Multiple Arguments For 1852 Announcement
- Orson Pratt and others framed polygamy with theological, social, and anthropological arguments in 1852.
- They claimed it fulfilled scripture, reduced prostitution, and fitted global historical norms.
Diverse Experiences And 1850s Peak
- Experiences of polygamy in Utah varied widely across class, age, and local enthusiasms.
- The 1850s Reformation produced a spike in plural marriages and some extreme local pressures.
