Mormon church explains polygamy in early days

FILE - In this undated file photo provided by TLC, Kody Brown, center, poses with his wives, from left, Janelle, Christine, Meri, and Robyn in a promotional photo for TLC's reality TV show, "Sister Wives." Advocacy groups for polygamy and individual liberties on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013, hailed a federal judge's ruling that key parts of Utah's polygamy laws are unconstitutional, saying it will remove the threat of arrest for those families. The ruling was a victory for Brown and his four wives and other fundamentalist Mormons who believe polygamy brings exaltation in heaven. (AP Photo/TLC, Bryant Livingston, File)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – The Mormon church has posted a new <a href=”http://www.lds.org/topics/plural-marriage-and-families-in-early-utah?lang=eng” target=”_blank”>historical narrative on its website</a> that officially acknowledges that some plural marriages were performed following an 1890 ban.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints says the polygamy ended after leaders reiterated the ban in 1904. Mormon scholars say they have long known about the historical details in the new post, but they may be new to many of the 15 million Mormons worldwide.

The article about polygamy in the early days of the religion was posted Monday on the church website. It is part of a series of postings to explain or expand on certain gospel topics for its members.

The article comes just days after a federal judge in Utah struck down key parts of the state’s polygamy law.

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