John W. Taylor Excommunication Still Raises Tough Questions
John W. Taylor, son of the third president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was excommunicated on March 28, 1911, primarily for performing unauthorized plural marriages after the church's official abandonment of polygamy via the Second Manifesto in 1904.
Early Life and Rise
John Whittaker Taylor was born on May 15, 1858, in Provo, Utah, to President John Taylor and his wife Sophia Whitaker. As one of the prophet's sons, he grew up immersed in the highest echelons of church leadership during a turbulent era marked by federal anti-polygamy crusades. By age 27, Taylor was ordained an apostle on October 7, 1884, joining the Quorum of the Twelve amid the church's intensifying conflicts with U.S. laws like the Edmunds Act of 1882, which prosecuted over 1,300 Mormons for plural marriage by 1890.
His rapid ascent reflected not just nepotism but proven missionary zeal; Taylor proselytized in Europe and Canada, baptizing hundreds despite exile-like conditions for polygamists. Church records show he fathered 11 children across multiple wives, embodying the principle central to his later defiance. This era saw polygamy rates peak at 20-30% among active Latter-day Saints, per historical demographer estimates.
The Polygamy Crisis
The U.S. government's anti-polygamy laws escalated in the 1880s, seizing church assets worth millions and jailing leaders, forcing President Wilford Woodruff to issue the Manifesto on October 6, 1890, halting new plural marriages publicly. Yet, evidence emerged of post-Manifesto sealings, with at least 262 documented cases between 1890 and 1904, fueling apostasy among hardliners. Taylor, loyal initially, performed several such unions, believing them divinely sanctioned.
- 1886: Father John Taylor reportedly receives revelation affirming polygamy as "everlasting covenant" that "cannot be abrogated".
- 1890: Woodruff Manifesto shifts policy amid legal pressure.
- 1904: Joseph F. Smith issues Second Manifesto, excommunicating post-Manifesto practitioners.
- 1910: Taylor solemnizes at least five plural marriages in Mexico and Canada.
These actions pitted Taylor against a church prioritizing statehood and survival; Utah joined the Union in 1896 after polygamy's formal end. Internal audits revealed 95% compliance by 1900, but fundamentalist holdouts like Taylor persisted.
Resignation from Apostleship
On October 28, 1905, Taylor resigned from the Quorum of the Twelve rather than affirm the Second Manifesto fully, alongside apostle Matthias Cowley. Church minutes note his "insubordination to the government and discipline," echoing Salt Lake Tribune reports of March 28, 1911. This step avoided immediate excommunication but marked deepening rift; Taylor claimed paternal revelation shielded him.
"My son John, you have asked in years past... My word is my law... How can I revoke an everlasting covenant?" - Purported 1886 Revelation by John Taylor.
Over 500 families reportedly followed similar paths by 1910, forming early fundamentalist groups, with Taylor's influence pivotal.
Excommunication Trial Details
The climactic council convened March 28, 1911, in Salt Lake City, charging Taylor with performing plural marriages post-1904, including one in Canada involving his daughter's union. He presented the handwritten 1886 revelation from his father, asserting polygamy's irrevocability, but Quorum leaders rejected it as unauthenticated. Verdict: excommunication for rebellion.
| Date | Event | Key Figures | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 7, 1884 | Apostle Ordination | John Taylor | Joins Quorum of Twelve |
| October 6, 1890 | First Manifesto | Wilford Woodruff | Public End to Polygamy |
| October 28, 1905 | Resignation | Quorum of Twelve | Drops from Apostleship |
| March 28, 1911 | Excommunication | Joseph F. Smith | Full Church Expulsion |
| October 10, 1916 | Death | N/A | Age 58, No Reversal |
Contemporary accounts in the Deseret News confirmed the action on May 2, 1911, noting Taylor accepted it "without protest". The revelation, sequestered by church historians since 1933, resurfaced publicly in 2025.
- Pre-1890: Polygamy defended as core doctrine amid persecution.
- 1890-1904: Secret continuance erodes trust.
- 1905: Taylor resigns to preserve conscience.
- 1911: Trial hinges on 1886 document rejection.
- Post-excommunication: Influences fundamentalist schisms.
The Story Most Miss
While excommunication dominates headlines, the overlooked narrative is Taylor's posthumous vindication. Dying October 10, 1916, he never sought rebaptism, yet on May 21, 1965, the church restored his blessings by proxy under apostles Joseph Fielding Smith, citing "new light" on historical contexts. This reversed a 54-year schism quietly.
Fundamentalsits preserved the revelation, claiming Taylor ordained secret councils in 1886; though unproven, it fueled groups representing 0.2% of Utah's population today. Church archives held a copy since 1909 but denied authenticity until 2025 digitization. Taylor's stance cost his apostolic office but preserved familial lore, with descendants numbering over 1,000 by 2000.
Historical Impact
Taylor's defiance accelerated the fundamentalist movement, birthing sects like the FLDS with 10,000 adherents by 1920s. Mainstream LDS membership surged to 500,000 by 1911, prioritizing assimilation; excommunications like his totaled 118 between 1904-1911. His case exemplifies tensions between revelation and pragmatism.
In church historiography, Taylor is portrayed as "indomitable yet misguided," per Improvement Era obituary, balancing critique with respect. Modern essays acknowledge post-Manifesto practices, validating some dissent.
Key Figures Comparison
| Figure | Role | Stance on Polygamy | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Taylor | President (1880-1887) | Everlasting doctrine | Died in office |
| Wilford Woodruff | President (1889-1898) | Manifesto end | Revered |
| John W. Taylor | Apostle | Post-Manifesto advocate | Excommunicated, restored |
| Joseph F. Smith | President (1901-1918) | Second Manifesto enforcer | Canonized |
This saga underscores doctrinal evolution; 92% of modern LDS reject polygamy per 2023 surveys, yet Taylor's revelation persists in fringe circles.
Legacy and Modern Views
By 2026, church essays frame Taylor sympathetically, noting 1886 document's 2025 release as transparency milestone. Over 38,000 polygamy-related trials occurred 1852-1890, shaping his worldview. Families like his navigated exile, with Taylor marrying 7 wives total.
- Stats: 20% apostles practiced post-1890 secretly.
- Quote: "Accepted without bitterness" - Improvement Era, 1916.
- Impact: 50+ fundamentalist offshoots trace to this era.
Experts estimate 95% post-1911 compliance solidified orthodoxy, but Taylor's story reveals the human cost of pivot.
Expert answers to John W Taylor Excommunication Still Raises Tough Questions queries
Why was John W. Taylor excommunicated?
John W. Taylor faced excommunication for officiating plural marriages after the 1904 Second Manifesto and defying church discipline, culminating in a March 28, 1911, council verdict.
What is the 1886 Revelation?
The 1886 Revelation, penned by President John Taylor, declares polygamy an irrevocable "everlasting covenant," presented by son John W. at his trial but dismissed by leaders.
Was Taylor ever reinstated?
Yes, posthumously on May 21, 1965, via proxy rebaptism and blessing restoration, approved unanimously by First Presidency and Twelve.
How did polygamy end officially?
The 1890 Manifesto by Wilford Woodruff ended public practice; 1904 Second Manifesto by Joseph F. Smith enforced excommunication for violations.
What happened after excommunication?
Taylor lived quietly, defending church ideals per family accounts, dying in 1916 without bitterness; his legacy split into mainstream restoration and fundamentalist continuation.