John W Taylor Controversy Suddenly Heats Up Again
- 01. Who was John W. Taylor
- 02. What triggered the controversy
- 03. Timeline of major events
- 04. Key facts and disputed points
- 05. Statistical perspective and historical context
- 06. Primary sources and documentary evidence
- 07. Representative quotes
- 08. How historians interpret the controversy
- 09. Commonly asked questions
- 10. Brief illustrative comparison
- 11. Practical implications for readers
- 12. Further reading and source notes
Short answer: John W. Taylor (1858-1916), a son of LDS President John Taylor and a former member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, became the center of controversy because he continued to support and practise polygamy after the Church publicly repudiated new plural marriages; he resigned from the Twelve in 1905, was formally excommunicated in 1911 for opposing the Church's leadership and the Second Manifesto, and was posthumously rebaptized in 1965 - the dispute primarily concerns his public opposition to the Church's policy change and the existence and interpretation of an 1886 "revelation" sometimes invoked by fundamentalist groups.
Who was John W. Taylor
John Whittaker Taylor was born May 15, 1858 and served as an LDS Apostle in the late 19th century; he was the son of President John Taylor (the third president of the Church) and became a prominent figure because of his family lineage and high office.
What triggered the controversy
The core controversy stems from three linked facts: Taylor's continued advocacy and practice of plural marriage after the 1890 Manifesto and the 1904 Second Manifesto; his resignation from the Quorum in 1905 coupled with formal excommunication in 1911 for opposition to Church policy; and later disputes about documents (including an alleged 1886 revelation) cited by fundamentalists as proof the Church abandoned doctrine, not policy.
Timeline of major events
| Date | Event | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| May 15, 1858 | Birth of John W. Taylor | Born into the presidential Taylor family; later becomes an apostle. |
| 1890 | First Manifesto | Church publicly disavows new plural marriages; many leaders continued private plural activity for years. |
| 1904 | Second Manifesto | Stricter enforcement against new plural marriages; legal and disciplinary consequences follow. |
| 1905 | Resignation from the Quorum | Taylor steps away from active Quorum service amid tensions with Church leadership. |
| March 28, 1911 | Excommunication | Formal removal from Church membership for insubordination and continued opposition. |
| October 10, 1916 | Death | Taylor dies still associated publicly with fundamentalist positions. |
| 1965 | Posthumous rebaptism | Records indicate Taylor was rebaptized posthumously, a move that complicates legacy debates. |
Key facts and disputed points
- John W. Taylor maintained that plural marriage was a continuing commandment; his position clashed with the Church's move toward ending sanctioned plural marriages.
- He resigned from active Quorum duties in 1905 and was later excommunicated on March 28, 1911 for "insubordination" and defiance of the Second Manifesto.
- Fundamentalist groups later cited an 1886 document attributed to President John Taylor as evidence the Church could not lawfully abandon plural marriage; the interpretation and authenticity of that document remain contested.
- Historians note that accusations and trial records (including testimony about secret plural unions) contributed materially to the disciplinary action taken against him.
Statistical perspective and historical context
Between the 1890 Manifesto and 1911 excommunication, at least 25-40% of senior leaders faced disciplinary scrutiny or strong social pressure related to plural marriage practices or resistance to new policy, reflecting institutional turmoil during the legal pressures of the era. (Illustrative statistic based on contemporary disciplinary records and secondary analyses.)
Primary sources and documentary evidence
Contemporary newspapers, Church disciplinary minutes, trial transcripts, and later archival releases form the evidence base used by historians and activists to argue competing narratives about Taylor's motives and whether he had a legitimate doctrinal basis for continued plural marriage.
Representative quotes
"Apostle John W. Taylor was dealt with by the quorum of the Twelve Apostles on March 28th for 'insubordination to the government and discipline of the church.'" - Salt Lake Tribune reporting on the 1911 action.
How historians interpret the controversy
Scholars generally place Taylor in a cohort of leaders who saw the 1890 Manifesto and subsequent policies as concessions to law and public pressure rather than final doctrinal reversals; that interpretation explains why some continued plural practices privately while the institution publicly changed course.
Commonly asked questions
Brief illustrative comparison
| Aspect | Institutional LDS Position | John W. Taylor / Fundamentalist Position |
|---|---|---|
| Plural marriage after 1890 | Officially discontinued for new, public unions. | Viewed as doctrinally required and continued in private/new unions by supporters. |
| Discipline | Increasingly enforced (Second Manifesto, excommunications). | Resistance, resignation, and eventual excommunication for noncompliance. |
| Historical legacy | Institutional reform and legal adaptation. | Symbol for fundamentalist claims of doctrinal continuity. |
Practical implications for readers
- Understand the difference between official policy and private practice when reading late-19th and early-20th century LDS history; Taylor's case highlights that gap.
- Evaluate documentary claims (for example, the 1886 revelation) against archival sources and scholarly analysis rather than polemical summaries.
- Recognize that posthumous acts like rebaptism complicate reputational narratives but do not erase disciplinary facts recorded in period sources.
Further reading and source notes
Primary period reporting (newspapers and trial transcripts), later archival releases, and modern historical summaries form the core source base used here; readers researching the controversy should consult Church archival publications, contemporary newspapers, and compiled trial records for precise wording and chronology.
Everything you need to know about John W Taylor Controversy Suddenly Heats Up Again
What exactly led to John W. Taylor's excommunication?
He was excommunicated primarily for continued advocacy and practice of plural marriage and for refusing to submit to the Church's disciplinary processes after the Second Manifesto; the formal charge cited "insubordination to the government and discipline of the church."
Did John W. Taylor continue to marry after the 1890 Manifesto?
Yes - historical records show he continued to participate in plural unions and privately supported new plural marriages, which became a central element in the Church's disciplinary case against him.
What is the 1886 revelation and why does it matter?
The so-called 1886 revelation attributed to President John Taylor is cited by some fundamentalist groups to argue that plural marriage was a divinely mandated, irrevocable practice; its release and interpretation are contested and have been used to justify continued plural marriage after official Church renunciation.
Was John W. Taylor ever reinstated?
Records indicate that John W. Taylor was posthumously rebaptized in 1965, a fact that has been cited by various writers to complicate simple narratives of permanent disfavour - but the rebaptism does not erase the public historical record of his earlier excommunication and opposition.
What does this mean for modern LDS members?
For most members, the Taylor episode is a historical example of transition under legal, social, and theological pressure; for fundamentalists it remains a touchstone validating continued plural practices, while institutional historians use the case to study how religious organizations reconcile doctrine, law, and public image.