Mormons, also known as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), do not practice polygamy or having more than one wife. In fact, the LDS Church officially banned polygamy in 1890, and anyone who practices it today is excommunicated from the Church.
However, there are still some individuals and groups who claim to be Mormon but continue to practice polygamy. These groups are not affiliated with the LDS Church and are often referred to as fundamentalist Mormons or Mormon fundamentalists.
One such group is the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), which was led by Warren Jeffs until his arrest in 2006. The FLDS is known for practicing polygamy and has been the subject of controversy and legal action. In 2011, Warren Jeffs was sentenced to life in prison for sexually assaulting two underage girls whom he claimed as his spiritual wives.
It is important to note that the practice of polygamy is not unique to Mormons or Mormon fundamentalists. Polygamy has been practiced by various cultures and religions throughout history, including some forms of Islam and Christianity.
Despite the fact that the LDS Church no longer practices polygamy, the history of polygamy within the Church is complex and often misunderstood. Polygamy was introduced into the Church in the 1830s under the direction of its founder, Joseph Smith, who claimed to have received a revelation from God commanding him to practice it.
The practice of polygamy was not widely accepted within the Church and led to conflict and controversy. Many members of the Church opposed it, and some even left the Church over the issue. In 1852, Brigham Young, who succeeded Joseph Smith as the leader of the Church, announced that polygamy was a doctrine of the Church and encouraged its practice.
Polygamy continued to be practiced within the Church for several decades, but it was always controversial and led to conflict with the U.S. government. In 1890, the Church issued a manifesto declaring an end to the practice of polygamy. This was partly a response to pressure from the U.S. government, which had passed laws making polygamy illegal and had threatened to seize Church property and imprison Church leaders.
Since the manifesto, the LDS Church has officially banned the practice of polygamy, and any member of the Church who practices it is excommunicated. The Church also encourages its members to obey the laws of their respective countries and to be good citizens.
In conclusion, Mormons do not have more than one wife. The LDS Church officially banned the practice of polygamy in 1890, and anyone who practices it today is excommunicated from the Church. While there are still some groups who claim to be Mormon but practice polygamy, they are not affiliated with the LDS Church and are often referred to as Mormon fundamentalists. The history of polygamy within the Church is complex and often misunderstood, but the LDS Church today is a strong advocate of monogamy and encourages its members to be good citizens and obey the laws of their respective countries.