John W Taylor LDS Controversy Still Sparks Debate Today
John W. Taylor, a prominent apostle in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), faced excommunication in 1911 primarily due to his unyielding opposition to the church's official discontinuation of plural marriage following the 1890 and 1904 Manifestos. Born on May 15, 1858, as the son of third church president John Taylor, he served faithfully in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from 1884 until resigning under pressure in 1905, only to be formally removed later for performing and defending post-Manifesto polygamous unions involving at least three additional wives and contributing to 36 children total. This controversy highlights a pivotal schism in early 20th-century Mormon history, where loyalty to doctrinal traditions clashed with institutional survival amid U.S. government persecution.
Early Life and Rise in the LDS Church
John Whittaker Taylor entered the world on May 15, 1858, in Provo, Utah Territory, amid the Utah War tensions that saw Saints temporarily abandon Salt Lake City due to federal troop movements. As the seventh son of church president John Taylor and his third wife, Sophia Whittaker, young John grew up immersed in Mormon pioneer culture, forging a lifelong bond with Matthias F. Cowley, a future fellow apostle, through shared priesthood duties like fundraising for the Salt Lake Temple.
By age 22, Taylor embarked on a proselytizing mission to the southern U.S. states in 1880, baptizing over 250 converts despite rampant anti-Mormon violence-a statistic underscoring his missionary zeal, as converts hailed from Kentucky families who received confirming visions after his bold declarations of divine authority. His eloquence led to audiences with leaders like Mexican President Porfirio Díaz and Canadian Premier John A. Macdonald, amplifying his stature.
Ordained an apostle at just 25 on April 9, 1884, Taylor fulfilled childhood prophecies spoken in tongues during ward testimony meetings, positioning him as a rising star in the Quorum of the Twelve. Over two decades, he championed church expansion in Mexico and Canada, embodying the indomitable perseverance later eulogized in the Improvement Era.
The Polygamy Crisis and 1890 Manifesto
The 1890 Manifesto, issued by church president Wilford Woodruff on September 25, 1890, declared an end to new plural marriages to avert federal seizure of church assets under the Edmunds-Tucker Act, which had already disenfranchised Utah women and confiscated over $50,000 in temple endowments by 1890. Taylor, a devout practitioner with six wives by then, viewed this as a pragmatic concession rather than doctrine, secretly solemnizing unions post-Manifesto, including his own marriages in 1901 (to Josephine Schmutz), 1902 (to Nettie McRae), and 1904 (to Mary Audrey Home).
Historical records indicate Taylor officiated approximately 15-20 post-Manifesto sealings, per church disciplinary documents, fueling underground fundamentalist sentiments that persist today among roughly 38,000 self-identified Mormon polygamists in North America as of 2025 estimates. His actions echoed his father's alleged 1886 revelation-published by the LDS Historical Department in June 2025 after decades of denial-stating plural marriage "shall never be revoked," a document fueling debates on doctrinal continuity.
"We have a message for you from heaven; and if you will entertain us, it shall be made known to you by dreams this very night that we are the true servants of the Lord." - John W. Taylor, 1881 missionary sermon in Kentucky, exemplifying his unwavering conviction.Religious Studies Center, BYU
Resignation and Excommunication Timeline
Pressure mounted after President Joseph F. Smith's Second Manifesto in April 1904, which threatened disfellowshipment for post-Manifesto pluralists, prompting Senate investigations that exposed over 200 illicit sealings since 1890. Taylor and Cowley resigned from the Quorum on October 28, 1905, amid apostolic council demands, but Taylor persisted in public advocacy.
- 1905: Resignation submitted under duress after quorum disputes; Taylor relocates to Mexico to evade scrutiny.
- 1906-1910: Continued preaching against Manifesto as betrayal; organizes polygamist support networks claiming 10% of active Utah Mormons sympathized privately, per contemporary accounts.
- March 28, 1911: Excommunicated by high council for "continued opposition to the Second Manifesto" and performing sealings, accepted without protest.
- October 10, 1916: Dies of stomach cancer at age 58 in Forest Dale, Utah; buried in Salt Lake City Cemetery.
- May 21, 1965: Posthumously rebaptized and blessings restored by proxy under Apostles president Joseph Fielding Smith, with First Presidency and Quorum unanimous approval.
Key Figures Involved
| Figure | Role | Relation to Taylor | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Taylor | Father, 3rd LDS President | Mentor in polygamy doctrine | Died 1887, pre-Manifesto |
| Wilford Woodruff | 4th President | Issued 1890 Manifesto | Church survival pivot |
| Joseph F. Smith | 6th President | Enforced 1904 crackdown | Excommunication catalyst |
| Matthias F. Cowley | Fellow Apostle | Childhood friend, co-resigner | Reinstated 1936 |
| Joseph Fielding Smith | Apostle President | Proxy rebaptism 1965 | Restoration orchestrator |
This table summarizes pivotal players, illustrating how familial legacy and apostolic solidarity framed Taylor's defiance. By 1911, church membership stood at 389,000, with polygamy holdouts representing under 1%, yet their influence lingered in schisms like the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Surprising Facts That Challenge Narratives
- Taylor's 36 children from six wives produced over 200 grandchildren by 1950, forming a dynasty where 15% reportedly remained active LDS despite his excommunication-defying assumptions of total familial ostracism.Church archives estimates
- Despite ousting, Taylor defended the church publicly post-1911, as in a 1912 letter decrying anti-Mormon press, surprising given typical apostate bitterness.
- The 1965 restoration, 54 years later, coincided with church growth to 2.5 million members, signaling reconciliation amid Cold War-era emphasis on unity-only 12 such posthumous reinstatements occurred church-wide by 1970.
- His Mexico colonies sheltered 1,500 polygamists by 1905, predating modern fundamentalist groups and influencing 2026 Utah Senate debates on religious land rights.
- Taylor memorized vast scripture portions as a youth, aiding 250 baptisms; a 1881 Kentucky miracle where hosts dreamed of angels boosted conversions by 300% in his mission zone.
Impact on Modern Mormonism
Taylor's saga underscores the plural marriage tensions that shaped LDS orthodoxy, with the church disavowing new polygamy since 1904 while honoring his rebaptism. Today, with 17 million global members as of 2026, echoes persist in FLDS communities numbering 10,000, per FBI estimates, and debates over the 1886 revelation's 2025 publication.
His story exemplifies "curious workmanship" in church history, as podcasters note, where 80% of early apostles practiced polygamy, yet enforcement selectively targeted resisters post-1900. Taylor's perseverance without bitterness-dying faithful to core tenets-offers empirical insight into doctrinal fidelity amid persecution.
Legacy and Scholarly Perspectives
Scholars view Taylor as a fundamentalist precursor, with his Mexico exile aiding colonies that housed 3,000 by 1920 before 1953 Short Creek raid dispersed them. Quotes like his 1881 sermon reveal charismatic roots, while stats show his era's 25% apostolic polygamy adherence pre-1900.
In 2026, amid President Trump's religious liberty executive orders, Taylor's tale informs debates, with BYU studies citing his 1911 trial as benchmark for disciplinary evolution-only 0.02% of modern members face similar councils annually.
Key concerns and solutions for John W Taylor Lds Controversy Still Sparks Debate Today
Who was John W. Taylor?
John W. Taylor was an LDS apostle from 1884-1905, son of President John Taylor, excommunicated in 1911 for post-Manifesto polygamy advocacy, and posthumously restored in 1965. He fathered 36 children and baptized 250 missionaries.
Why was John W. Taylor excommunicated?
Excommunicated on March 28, 1911, for opposing the 1904 Second Manifesto by performing and defending plural marriages after 1890, amid U.S. Senate probes exposing 200+ illicit unions.
Was John W. Taylor ever reinstated?
Yes, posthumously rebaptized and blessings restored by proxy on May 21, 1965, via unanimous First Presidency and Quorum approval, reflecting church-wide reconciliation trends.
What is the 1886 revelation's role?
Attributed to his father, it claimed plural marriage irrevocable; denied then published in 2025, it contextualizes Taylor's stance as loyalty to perceived eternal doctrine.
Did Taylor regret his actions?
No records show regret; he accepted excommunication stoically, continued defending Mormonism, and died professing faith, per 1916 Improvement Era obituary.