Manifestos and Ambiguity: Joseph Hyrum Grant and Plural Marriage

Abstract

This article examines the complex period of post-Manifesto plural marriage within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through the case study of Joseph Hyrum Grant, a prominent LDS leader and half-brother to Church President Heber J. Grant. Following the 1890 Manifesto, which publicly ended new plural marriages, the practice continued covertly, resulting in ambiguity both within church leadership and among members. The article explores the continuation of authorized plural marriages after 1890, the heightened secrecy, and the conflicting attitudes among church authorities. The narrative details Joseph Hyrum Grant’s polygamous marriage to Louisa Coltrin and his involvement with local leaders who participated in or authorized plural marriages, particularly after the Second Manifesto of 1904, which threatened excommunication for new plural marriages. Drawing on historical documents, personal family accounts, and church records, the article reveals the persistent ambiguity, shifting disciplinary practices, and the gradual transition from polygamy to monogamy in LDS leadership and doctrine. The story of Joseph Hyrum Grant illustrates the challenges faced by both contemporary Latter-day Saints and modern historians in understanding and documenting this secretive, controversial period of Mormon history.