The brand new Church chosen next to disregard regulations


The brand new Church chosen next to disregard regulations

Whilst it y is a very common habit in the Mormon faith, hence the Mormon faith possess supported polyandry during records, the fact remains your Mormon consumers don’t routine polygamy, but think it over are a critical offense from the regulations of belongings, and additionally resistant to the laws of your own gospel.

Polyandry Example you to definitely Set Legal Precedent

George Reynolds belonged to your Church from God Christ out-of Latter-Go out Saints (the newest “Mormon” Church) when he is actually charged with bigamy inside 1874. The new LDS Church felt during the time your Morrill Anti-Bigamy Operate regarding 1862 is unconstitutional, since it rejected this new Church’s people the legal right to habit the faith easily by allowing these to keeps several spouses, that has been section of their religion. The fresh Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act are a laws, signed because of the Chairman Abraham Lincoln, one blocked polygamy, and you will minimal the degree of chapel- and you may non-profit-possessed regions so you’re able to a max property value $fifty,one hundred thousand.

S. Lawyer multiple witnesses whom you will testify to the fact that Reynolds performed indeed has actually a few wives, and therefore he was indicted having bigamy because of the a huge Jury in the October off 1874

As Utah is actually a much-flung nest, and you can Lincoln had their give complete with the strong Civil Combat, regulations wasn’t implemented. The main cause of the latest fees facing Reynolds is actually which he elia Jane Schofield as he had been .

Reynolds try being employed as a secretary to your president of the LDS Church during the time. Meanwhile, brand new Church’s governing muscles offered to assist the U.S. Supreme Legal with a test circumstances who would help determine the new constitutionality of your anti-bigamy law by providing the new Court having an excellent offender. Reynolds accessible to act as you to defendant, to check on whether or not the legislation descripción violated the newest people’s Basic Modification rights. Then provided to the U.

Reynolds tried to have the demonstration legal show the fresh jury you to definitely when they felt he had the time bigamy with the just goal from following their faith, he then have to be discovered simple. Although not, the newest legal declined his demand and as an alternative trained new jury you to if they unearthed that Reynolds, under the influence of their faith:

“… deliberately hitched a moment go out, that have a first wife living, brand new need regarding awareness from evil intent-the newest require out-of expertise to your their part that he was committing crime-didn’t excuse your, however the rules inexorably, in such instances, ways violent intention.”

  • That it was his obligation, depending on his religion, so you’re able to endment secure his spiritual methods
  • One their huge jury had not been lawfully constituted (good under the laws)
  • One demands that have been raised from the certain jurors were poorly overruled from the legal
  • You to any testimony provided are inadmissible due to the fact that it was offered right up below another indictment

New Utah Territorial Supreme Courtroom disagreed, however, and kept Reynolds’ sentence in 1876. From the Court’s unanimous decision, it actually was stated that:

“Every person that have a wife or husband life, who marries some other, whether or not partnered or single, inside a territory, or other put more that United states enjoys private legislation, is actually accountable for bigamy, and you can is going to be punished by the a fine off not more than $500, and also by imprisonment to own an expression from only five ages.”

Brand new Court performed take notice on even when Reynolds could use his religion because a safety, while the Reynolds got contended one, just like the a good Mormon, it absolutely was their spiritual obligations to rehearse polygamy.

Brand new Legal did realize that Congress dont admission a laws you to definitely forbids anyone of freely training their faith. But not, the latest they stored that the law one forbids bigamy doesn’t see you to definitely basic, and therefore the theory that a person need one mate could well be traced entirely back into English law not as much as Queen James I out-of England, upon which You.S. legislation is founded.