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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Proto-Polygamy In Nauvoo
- In Nauvoo plural marriage was primarily a theological and secret practice, not a public household arrangement.
- Joseph Smith regulated sealings and participants usually needed his permission to engage in the practice.
From Concept To Practice On The Plains
- By Winter Quarters and the plains polygamy shifted from a spiritual concept to practical family arrangements.
- Around 700 people were practicing, making the pattern increasingly visible in Utah.
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.
