Guide Note

Polygamy is the practice of simultaneously maintaining a marriage to more than one spouse. Polygyny describes a man with multiple wives, while polyandry describes a woman with multiple husbands.

Fast Facts

Polygyny: One man with multiple wives
Polyandry: One woman with multiple husbands
Group marriage: Polygyny and polyandry combination
Polygamous practices followed by many groups throughout history, including some Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities¹
About 20,000 American Muslims practice polygamy (2007)²
About 37,500 fundamentalist Mormon polygamists in the U.S., Canada and Mexico (2007)²

Polygamy and Mormonism

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints banned polygamy in 1890, though some members continued the practice for years after the ban.³ However, according to the Mormon church, fundamentalist sects that practice polygamy, like the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, are not Mormons.⁴

2008 Polygamous Sect Raid

On April 8, 2008, more than 400 children were taken from a ranch maintained by a polygamous group in Texas, following reports that they had been forced into marriage and abused.⁵

Categories

News | Political Issues and Controversies | Social Issues

View Note History

Polygamy

The Mahalo Top 7

NPR: Polygamist Raid is PR Nightmare for Mormons (June 30, 2008)
Times Online: 400 Children Seized From Polygamy Sect in Texas (April 8, 2008)
Wikipedia: Polygamy | Plural Marriage
The Salt Lake Tribune: Polygamy
Religious Tolerance: Introduction to Polygamous Marriage
LDS Newsroom: Polygamy and Plural Marriage
YouTube Video: Scores Taken From Polygamist Ranch (Time: 1:22)

Polygamy Recent News Stories

Google News: Polygamy
NPR: Polygamist Raid is PR Nightmare for Mormons (June 30, 2008)
The Province (British Columbia): Top Court Must Decide Polygamy Issue (April 8, 2008)
The Associated Press: Arrest Made in Texas Polygamy Case (April 8, 2008)
Today Show: Woman Describes ‘Escape’ From Polygamy (April 8, 2008)
USA Today: Children removed from Jeffs' polygamist-sect compound in Texas (April 5, 2008)
MSNBC: Polygamy fueling Ariz.’s rate of genetic disorder (2007)
KUTV.com: Romney Can't Imagine Anything Worse Than Polygamy (2007)
New York Times: "Polygamy Follows Africans to N.Y." (2007)
Newsweek: "Polygamists, Unite!" (2006)
ABC News: Mormons Not Laughing About Big Love (2006)

Polygamy Background and Information

Howstuffworks: How Polygamy Works
ReligiousTolerance.org: Polygyny during the 19th Century
ACLU: ACLU to Join Polygamists in Bigamy Fight (1999)
A Chronicle of Federal Legislation on Polygamy (1998)
The Role of Women in Mormonism (1995)

Polygamy Victims Support

Utah Attorney General: Polygamy
Tapestry Against Polygamy

Polygamy Commentary and Criticism

The Salt Lake City Tribune: Plural Marriage Window Still Agape - Salt Lake Tribune (April 8, 2008)
The Huffington Post: Gay Marriage and Polygamy (May 30, 2007)
ABC News: Former polygamist speaks out (2007)
Slate Magazine: The Economic Case for Polygamy (2006)
Washington Post: Pandora and Polygamy (2006)
Slate Magazine: The Difference Between Gay Marriage and Polygamy (2006)
The Weekly Standard: Polygamy Versus Democracy (2006)
FindLaw: The Marriage Debate and Polygamy (2004)
The Weekly Standard: Beyond Gay Marriage (2003)

Polygamy Message Boards and Blogs

The Salt Lake Tribune: The Polygamy Files
The Becker-Posner Blog: Should Polygamy Be Legal?
Tim Worstall: Polygamy in the U.K.
Pro-Polygyny Site: 4 the Family
Messenger and Advocate: Mitt Romney Caves On Polygamy

Polygamy Satire and Humor

YouTube: Polygarol
YouTube: Eau de Polygamie

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