Official Declaration 1, known as the 1890 Manifesto, is a pivotal document in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Presented by President Wilford Woodruff, it marked the official end of the practice of plural marriage (polygamy) among Church members. The declaration was a response to mounting legal and social pressures from the U.S. government, including anti-polygamy laws and the threat of disincorporation and property seizure. By issuing the manifesto, President Woodruff sought to align the Church with the laws of the land, ensuring its survival and the ability to continue its broader spiritual mission.
The document was later canonized in the Doctrine and Covenants, signifying its doctrinal importance. While it required a significant adjustment for many members, it ultimately allowed the Church to emerge from isolation, gain statehood for Utah, and focus on global expansion and religious outreach. Today, Official Declaration 1 serves as a testament to the principle of ongoing revelation and the Church's commitment to adapting under divine guidance.
The Bible and the Book of Mormon teach that monogamy is God’s standard for marriage unless He declares otherwise (see 2 Samuel 12:7–8 and Jacob 2:27, 30). Following a revelation to Joseph Smith, the practice of plural marriage was instituted among Church members in the early 1840s (see section 132). From the 1860s to the 1880s, the United States government passed laws to make this religious practice illegal. The U.S. Supreme Court eventually upheld these laws. President Wilford Woodruff issued the following Manifesto after receiving revelation, and the Church accepted it as authoritative and binding on October 6, 1890. This led to the end of the practice of plural marriage in the Church.
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To Whom It May Concern:
In the late 19th century, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints faced immense political and legal pressure from the United States government to cease the practice of plural marriage. This conflict culminated in the 1890 publication of a pivotal document known as the Manifesto. The immediate context for this declaration was the circulation of press dispatches, derived from a report by the Utah Commission, alleging that polygamy was still being taught and that over forty such marriages had been performed in the previous year. In response, Church President Wilford Woodruff issued a formal, point-by-point refutation of these charges. He solemnly declared the allegations false, denying that plural marriages were being solemnized or that Church leaders were teaching its continuance. To demonstrate his commitment, President Woodruff revealed that upon learning of one alleged post-manifesto marriage in the Endowment House, he ordered the building’s immediate demolition. Crucially, he publicly declared his intention to submit to the constitutional laws of the land forbidding polygamy and used his influence to counsel the members of the Church to likewise refrain from contracting any marriage forbidden by law. This official statement, a masterclass in legal and diplomatic language, was a definitive step toward the Church’s transition away from the practice of plural marriage to ensure its survival and the well-being of the Heavenly Father's children.
President Lorenzo Snow:
Salt Lake City, Utah, October 6, 1890
What I got from this is that they are considering a pivotal moment in history, one that required profound faith and unity. The motion offered by President Lorenzo Snow in October 1890 is not merely a procedural formality; it is a powerful expression of core Latter-day Saint principles regarding prophetic authority. When he stands before the body of the Church, his words frame a critical decision. He affirms that Wilford Woodruff is the sole individual on earth who holds the sacred keys of sealing ordinances. This isn't just about a title—it's about a divine stewardship recognized by the membership. Therefore, President Snow moves that the Church, in full conference, sustain President Woodruff's painful but prayerful decision, the Manifesto, as a binding revelation for the people. By voting to accept this declaration, you are witnessing the community collectively affirming its trust in God’s chosen prophet to receive guidance for the entire Church, especially during periods of immense trial and transition. This event underscores a fundamental belief: that the Lord leads His church through authorized servants, and spiritual safety is found in following their counsel.
You must consider the October 1890 General Conference not merely as a gathering, but as a crucible where the Church’s very existence was negotiated between earthly law and divine mandate. Why was President Lorenzo Snow’s formal motion—accepting the Manifesto and confirming Wilford Woodruff’s authority—so profoundly necessary at that moment? You should understand that the necessity was dual: external survival and internal unity. Externally, the federal government had intensified its persecution to an unbearable extent; the Edmunds-Tucker Act had resulted in the complete disarmament and confiscation of Church property, leading to the imprisonment or exile of key leaders. The Church faced an existential threat, and without a decisive, public pivot, the work of gathering Israel and building Zion would have been legally extinguished. Internally, however, the Saints needed more than just a political compromise; they needed prophetic confirmation. Snow’s motion served as the crucial capstone, transforming a challenging policy shift into binding, unified doctrine. By stating clearly, "we consider him fully authorized by virtue of his position," the members were collectively affirming that this painful change was rooted in heavenly direction, not human fear, securing the future of your religious freedom through what was, arguably, the most defining administrative action of the era.
Understanding the Revelation: Excerpts from President Woodruff on the Manifesto
I now have the knowledge, not just a belief. In the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, few events were as pivotal as the 1890 Manifesto, which announced the cessation of the practice of plural marriage. To understand the profound spiritual weight and divine guidance behind this decision, we turn to the reflective words of the prophet who issued it, President Wilford Woodruff. In several addresses given in the years following the Manifesto, he offered important details about the revelation he received. He powerfully testified that the Lord will never allow the President of the Church to lead the covenant people astray, affirming that such leaders must operate by divine inspiration "or they cannot do it at all." President Woodruff then detailed the solemn question he presented before the Lord: should the Saints continue the practice at the cost of the complete decimation of the Church's work—including the confiscation of all temples, the imprisonment of its leadership, and the end of sacred ordinances for both the living and the dead? Through vivid vision and revelation, he saw the devastating consequences of continuing and understood that ceasing the practice was the only way to preserve the essential saving ordinances of the gospel. He declared that this course was a direct commandment from God, designed to allow the work of salvation to move forward unimpeded and to ensure the ultimate establishment of Zion. These excerpts are shared to provide clarity and understanding, affirming that this significant historical turning point was not a political concession but an act of faith, rooted in prophetic revelation and a divine commitment to preserve the core of the Church's mission for all generations.
Reason for Announcement: This document is written and announced to provide historical and doctrinal context for a defining moment in Church history. It serves to educate adult members, fostering faith and understanding by directly sharing the prophet's firsthand account of the divine guidance and difficult deliberation that led to the Manifesto. It reinforces the principle of continuous revelation and the assurance that the Lord actively leads His Church through its appointed prophets.
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