More Wives Than One: Transformation of the Mormon Marriage System, 1840-1910

More Wives Than One examines the practice of Mormon plural marriage in 19th century Utah through a focused study of Manti, a settlement 100 miles south of Salt Lake City. The book traces the evolution of polygamy from its theological foundations through its eventual dissolution by federal pressure. The study draws on marriage records, court documents, census data, and personal accounts to analyze marriage patterns and family structures in Manti between 1850-1910. Statistical evidence reveals concrete details about age at marriage, number of wives per husband, household arrangements, and economic conditions of polygamous families. Through the lens of Manti's community, Daynes chronicles the tensions between Mormon religious convictions and U.S. federal law regarding marriage practice. The narrative follows key legal battles, political maneuvering, and social changes that shaped the fate of plural marriage in Utah Territory. The work stands as a significant contribution to understanding how religious principles, legal frameworks, and social realities intersect to transform cultural institutions. By focusing on one representative community, the book illuminates broader patterns in Mormon history and American religious freedom.

Readers appreciate the detailed statistical analysis and comprehensive research using primary sources from Manti, Utah. Many note the book provides context about 19th century American marriage practices beyond just Mormon polygamy. Positive reviews highlight: - Clear explanation of legal and social factors affecting plural marriage - Examination of economic impacts on women in polygamous unions - Integration of demographic data with personal stories Common criticisms: - Dense academic writing style can be dry - Focus on one small Utah town may not represent broader Mormon experience - Some readers wanted more personal accounts and fewer statistics Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (52 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (15 ratings) One reader called it "the most thorough and balanced treatment of Mormon plural marriage." Another noted it's "more academic than narrative history, but worth the effort." A critical review said "too much emphasis on numbers and not enough on human experience."

Sister Saints: Mormon Women Since the End of Polygamy by Colleen McDannell This historical analysis traces how Mormon women's roles evolved after the end of plural marriage through the 20th century.

Religion of a Different Color: Race and the Mormon Struggle for Whiteness by W. Paul Reeve The book examines how plural marriage intersected with racial identity in 19th century Mormonism and American society.

The Mormon Question: Polygamy and Constitutional Conflict in Nineteenth-Century America by Sarah Barringer Gordon This legal history explores the constitutional battles over Mormon plural marriage and their impact on American law.

In Sacred Loneliness: The Plural Wives of Joseph Smith by Todd Compton The book reconstructs the lives of Joseph Smith's plural wives through primary source research and biographical narratives.

Prostitution, Polygamy, and Power: Salt Lake City, 1847-1918 by Jeffrey Nichols This social history examines how polygamy and prostitution shaped power dynamics in early Salt Lake City.

🔹 Kathryn Daynes analyzed over 1,500 marriages in Manti, Utah, to provide one of the most detailed statistical studies ever conducted on 19th-century Mormon polygamy. 🔹 The book reveals that by 1860, approximately 40% of Manti's married Mormon women were in plural marriages, but this number declined significantly by the 1880s. 🔹 Women in plural marriages during this period often lived in separate households from their sister wives, contrary to popular depictions of large families sharing one home. 🔹 The author discovered that the median age for first marriages in Manti was significantly lower than in non-Mormon communities - just 18 years old for women and 23 for men. 🔹 The book won the Mormon History Association's Best Book Award and demonstrates how federal anti-polygamy legislation ultimately transformed Mormon marriage patterns to match mainstream American practices.