Earlier Fundamentalists

[Coreyb]

In D. Michael Quinn's book Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power there is an appendix that is a chronology of selected events in mormonism from the 1850s through the 1990s which I am just now reading for the first time. I was surprised to find that he has recorded several early references (1890s-1900s) to men being called, sometimes by John Taylor, to keep the practice of plural marriage alive after the manifesto. This startled me because everything I have read so far on the origin of fundamentalism has placed this narrative with Lorin C. Woolley, (he called it the council of friends), in the late 1910s and early 1920s. Obviously there are many references to John Taylor's 1886 revelation much earlier than Woolley, with John W. Taylor, but I had assumed that the story of men called to keep the practice was something that Lorin and possibly his father John had started to tell later, after the First Presidency and Twelve had stopped permitting new plural marriages. Unfortunately this section of Quinn's book does not have notes or references as it is just short snipets of information on a timeline, so I was wondering if anyone knows of any other books or articles where these events are addressed? Any responses by Brian Hales perhaps? Thanks

[Tacenda]

I listened to this podcast the other night (I listen to podcasts to help me sleep, haha).  But this one kept me awake darn it.  Very good one with Brian Hales and his research was really good.  I think it will help answer some of your questions, hopefully!

 

Intro:  Join Lindsay as she interviews Brian Hales, author of  Modern Polygamy: The Generations After the Manifesto about his views on the beginnings of the different Mormon Fundamentalist groups.

 

http://feministmormonhousewivespodcast.org/year-of-polygamy-the-birth-of-mormon-fundamentalism-episode-73/

 

ETA:  I can see why the church is worried about members leaving the church to live polygamy.  Because of people thinking that the fundamentalist have more the authority than the LDS church has.  Interesting...

 

ETA again:  Here is this podcast, among many.  Lindsay did a whole year on polygamy.  But this one might be specific to your question.  Not sure Brian Hales answered it on the previous podcast.  http://feministmormonhousewivespodcast.org/year-of-polygamy-post-manifesto-marriages-episode-62/

Edited December 31, 2014 by Tacenda

[JLHPROF]

In D. Michael Quinn's book Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power there is an appendix that is a chronology of selected events in mormonism from the 1850s through the 1990s which I am just now reading for the first time. I was surprised to find that he has recorded several early references (1890s-1900s) to men being called, sometimes by John Taylor, to keep the practice of plural marriage alive after the manifesto. This startled me because everything I have read so far on the origin of fundamentalism has placed this narrative with Lorin C. Woolley, (he called it the council of friends), in the late 1910s and early 1920s. Obviously there are many references to John Taylor's 1886 revelation much earlier than Woolley, with John W. Taylor, but I had assumed that the story of men called to keep the practice was something that Lorin and possibly his father John had started to tell later, after the First Presidency and Twelve had stopped permitting new plural marriages. Unfortunately this section of Quinn's book does not have notes or references as it is just short snipets of information on a timeline, so I was wondering if anyone knows of any other books or articles where these events are addressed? Any responses by Brian Hales perhaps? Thanks

 

I don't know of any specific books on pre-manifesto other than the Woolley story, but calling men to keep polygamy alive after the manifesto was a common practice and there are many books about that.  Men were sent to Mexico and Canada to keep plural marriage going between the 1890 manifesto and the 1904 Second Manifesto.

Lorin and John Woolley made their claims in the 1920's & 1930's, but the calling they describe was given in 1886.  I know of no earlier calling to maintain polygamy since the Church at that time was still fighting to keep polygamy in the Church and all the leaders considered that their calling.  Pres. Taylor just saw the writing on the wall and prepared against it.

 

BTW - John Taylor died in 1887 - did you mean earlier than 1890 when you said?

 

(1890s-1900s) to men being called, sometimes by John Taylor,

 

 

So the only pre-manifesto calling I've ever heard of was the Woolleys (and the other men they list as being given the calling - George Q. Cannon, Joseph F. Smith etc).  Post-manifesto many men were called to keep polygamy alive by the Church as well.

In fact I consider those post manifesto callings as lending some credence to the Woolley story - if it can happen after the manifesto why couldn't it have happened before.

Edited December 31, 2014 by JLHPROF

[Coreyb]

I listened to this podcast the other night (I listen to podcasts to help me sleep, haha).  But this one kept me awake darn it.  Very good one with Brian Hales and his research was really good.  I think it will help answer some of your questions, hopefully!

 

Intro:  Join Lindsay as she interviews Brian Hales, author of  Modern Polygamy: The Generations After the Manifesto about his views on the beginnings of the different Mormon Fundamentalist groups.

 

http://feministmormonhousewivespodcast.org/year-of-polygamy-the-birth-of-mormon-fundamentalism-episode-73/

 

ETA:  I can see why the church is worried about members leaving the church to live polygamy.  Because of people thinking that the fundamentalist have more the authority than the LDS church has.  Interesting...

 

ETA again:  Here is this podcast, among many.  Lindsay did a whole year on polygamy.  But this one might be specific to your question.  Not sure Brian Hales answered it on the previous podcast.  http://feministmormonhousewivespodcast.org/year-of-polygamy-post-manifesto-marriages-episode-62/

Thanks Tacenda, I have been listening to the polygamy series. Unfortunately for my question he places the narrative with Lorin Woolley, as he does on his website.