The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is notorious
for several controversial issues including polygamy. This section provides
selected resources on two subjects for which the church is well known.
As such, familiarity with the basics of church history is requisite before
beginning a detailed study of women and polygamy. The mainstream Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, headquartered in Salt Lake City,
does not endorse or teach polygamy, and has not for over a hundred years.
However, polygamy is still associated with Mormons. In addition, the church
is known for its conservative views about the role of women in society.
The following resources present a variety of viewpoints about women and
polygamy in Mormon history.
Arrington, Leonard J., and Susan Arrington Madsen. Mothers
of the Prophets. Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book Company, 1987.
[BX8693.A76] Davis 3rd floor stacks
This work presents information about the lives of mothers
of 13 Mormon prophets. Through interviewing descendants and gathering
what little historical records exist for some of these women, the authors
have added to an overlooked area of Mormon history. This volume is valuable
for studying the lives of Mormon women.
Beecher, Maureen Ursenbach and Lavina Fielding Anderson,
eds. Sisters in Spirit: Mormon Women in Historical and Cultural Perspective.
Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1987.
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This collection of essays examines the experience of
women in the Mormon Church, throughout its history. Discussing such topics
as Eve, Mother in Heaven, the temple, motherhood, and marriage, the book
provides valuable insight to the differences between Mormon women experience
in the 19th century and today. The essays are written by believing Mormon
women questioning their changing role in the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints.
Bushman, Claudia L., ed. Mormon Sisters: Women in
Early Utah. Logan, UT: Utah State University Press, 1997.
[HQ1438.U8M67] Davis 5th floor stacks
A collection of essays, this book also discusses the
experience of Mormon women in early church history. The book includes
biographical essays in addition to discussions of anti-Mormonism, midwives,
schoolmarms, plural wives, feminists, and fictional sisters. This collection
focuses on practical matters as opposed to spiritual. Unique features
include a comparative chronology, readings lists, and a list of Mormon
women leaders.
Compton, Todd. In Sacred Loneliness: The Plural Wives
of Joseph Smith. Salt Lake City, UT: Signature Books, 1997.
[BX8693.C65] Davis 3rd floor stacks
In this volume, Compton chronicles the lives and marriages
of Joseph Smith's 33 confirmed plural wives. The introduction explains
Compton's determination of confirmed and possible plural wives, since
there is some uncertainty in the historical records. The author's treatment
is more objective than that of some other authors who have written about
polygamy. The end of the volume includes minutely detailed references,
and a helpful index.
Derr, Jill Mulvay, Janath Russell Cannon, and Maureen
Ursenbach Beecher. Women of Covenant: the Story of Relief Society.
Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book Company, 1992.
[BX8643.R38D47] Davis 3rd floor stacks
Believing Mormons have written this account of the history
of the women's organization in the church, and as such it is biased toward
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, their subject
is worthy of merit. This work is valuable for those interested in the
role of women in the church and how it has changed since the church was
first organized.
Godfrey, Kenneth W., Audrey M. Godfrey, and Jill Mulvay
Derr. Women's Voices: An Untold History of the Latter-day Saints 1830-1900.
Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book Company, 1982.
[BX8611.G65] Davis 3rd floor stacks
This book contains selected Mormon women's historical
documents. Selections from letters, journals, and diaries have been included
to examine the experience of Mormon women in Mormonism's first 70 years.
Brief biographical information is given for the women whose writings are
presented. In addition, pictures of the women and original documents are
included.
Tanner, Annie Clark. A Mormon Mother. Salt Lake
City, UT: University of Utah Library Tanner Trust Fund, 1983.
[BX8695.T27A33] Davis 3rd floor stacks
Annie Clark Tanner's autobiography provides a personal
account of a trying time in Mormon history: the transition between supporting
and discouraging polygamy. A stirring story, this book affords an intimate
view of Mormon history, as experienced by an individual living it, between
1864-1941. Although a reader needs to be familiar with the basics of Mormon
history, Tanner's life story is important for the study of how Mormonism
played a role in the life of its members.
Van Wagoner, Richard S. Mormon Polygamy: A History,
2nd ed. Salt Lake City, UT: Signature Books, 1989.
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Although himself a descendant of polygamists, Van Wagoner
attempts to provide an unbiased introduction to the multifaceted topic
of polygamy. The author discusses the beginnings of polygamy in the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and follows it through the present
day, examining fundamentalists in Utah who still practice polygamy today.
A valuable source for Mormons and others, the book also includes an extensive
bibliography and index.
Young, Ann Eliza. Wife No. 19. New York: Arno
Press, 1972. First published in 1875.
[BX8641.Y7] Davis 3rd floor stacks
One of Brigham Young's many plural wives, Young wrote
this history of her experience to convince other plural wives to leave
polygamy. Her stance is emphatically anti-polygamy, and often anti-Mormon.
She includes descriptions of early church history as well as discussing
Brigham Young's other wives. This book has been included in this guide
to provide an alternate viewpoint to pro-Mormon studies.