free law journal - volume 3, number 1 (18 january 2007)

FREE LAW JOURNAL - VOLUME 3, NUMBER 1 (18 JANUARY 2007)trusted individuals and local organizations. 29Under the pressure of United States, Wilford Woodruff, thesuccessor of Mormon Church President John Taylor, changed thechurch’s policy. In 1890, he issued the Manifesto, which stated,“Inasmuch as laws have been enacted by Congress forbiddingplural marriages, which laws have been pronouncedconstitutional by the court of last resort, I hereby declare myintention to submit to those laws, and to use my influence withmembers of the Church over which I preside to have them dolikewise...”. Nevertheless, Wilford Woodruff didn’t announce thatpolygamy was wrong, only said that he declared his intention tosubmit to the law of the land. In return , the Church could protectits assets; arrests and prosecutions reduced. Finally, statehoodcame in 1896. 30 However, Utah Constitution of 1896 prohibitedpolygamous marriages forever. 31Throughout these years, some women were affected frompolygamous marriages badly. Many first wives consented to theirhusbands’ plural marriages; some women had to accept; someothers weren’t informed of the second marriages until they tookplace. A few shared their experiences about the abuses publicly.Congress formed funds to supply a home for women who wantedto escape from such marriages. However, large numbers ofMormon women came together to support plural marriage sincethey believed that their husbands were practicing therequirements of their religions. 3229303132Chambers, p.65Altman-Ginat, p.36For the related article of Utah Constitution, seehttp://www.polygamyinfo.com/law.htm; Altman-Ginat, p.37Chambers, p.66124DIDEM ÖZALPAT - LEGAL AND JUDICIAL STRUGGLES WITHPOLYGAMOUS MARRIAGES IN MORMON SOCIETY (1830-1887)