Amasa Lyman

1813–1877 (63 years)

Hometown: Lyman, New Hampshire

Apostle

Biography

Amasa Mason Lyman was an early apostle who was excommunicated in 1870 for apostasy, becoming one of the most significant church leaders to leave the faith. A native of New Hampshire, Lyman joined the church in 1832 and became close to Joseph Smith, even briefly serving as a counselor in the First Presidency.

Lyman was a practicing polygamist with nine wives. He served as a leader in the San Bernardino colony in California and later presided over the European mission. However, his theological views began to drift from mainstream Mormonism.

In the 1860s, Lyman began teaching that Christ’s atonement was not necessary for salvation and that salvation came through individual progression and good works. These teachings contradicted core LDS doctrine. He was initially dropped from the Quorum of the Twelve in 1867, then excommunicated in 1870.

After excommunication, Lyman joined the Godbeite movement, a group of intellectual dissenters who rejected Brigham Young’s authoritarian leadership and embraced spiritualism. He remained affiliated with this group until his death in 1877. His blessings were posthumously restored in 1909.

Served Under

Church presidents during this leader's apostolic service:

Joseph Smith

Brigham Young

Wives (11)

Amasa Lyman was a polygamist with 11 wives. Note these are simultaneous marriages — married to multiple living spouses at the same time. 5 of these wives were a teenager (18 or less) at the time of marriage.

11 wives · Lifespan: 1813–1877

Louisa Maria Tanner

1835–1877 (42 yrs)

Caroline Ely Partridge

1844–1877 (33 yrs)

Eliza Maria Partridge

1844–1877 (33 yrs)

Cornelia Eliza Leavitt

1844–1864 (20 yrs)

Dionitia Walker

1845–1877 (32 yrs)

Paulina Eliza Phelps

1846–1877 (31 yrs)

Priscilla Rebecca Turley

1846–1877 (31 yrs)

1846–1877 (31 yrs)

1846–1877 (31 yrs)

1853–1875 (22 yrs)

1853–1877 (24 yrs)

1813 (born) 1829 1845 1861 1877 (died)

Wife

47 children from 8 wives · Lifespan: 1813–1877

Louisa Maria Tanner

8 children

Caroline Ely Partridge

6 children

Eliza Maria Partridge

5 children

Cornelia Eliza Leavitt

3 children

Paulina Eliza Phelps

9 children

Priscilla Rebecca Turley

7 children

Maria Louisa Tanner

5 children

Lydia Partridge

4 children

1813 (born) 1829 1845 1861 1877 (died)

Wife Child born

11 wives · Ages at marriage

Her age His age Teenage bride (<18)

#	Name	Born	Died	Married	Her Age	His Age	Age Diff	Children
1	Louisa Maria Tanner ⚠	Nov 28, 1818	May 3, 1906	Jun 10, 1835	16	22	6	12
2	Caroline Ely Partridge ⚠	Jan 8, 1827	May 5, 1908	Sep 6, 1844	17	31	14	6
3	Eliza Maria Partridge	Apr 20, 1820	Mar 2, 1886	Sep 28, 1844	24	31	7	5
4	Cornelia Eliza Leavitt	Jan 5, 1825	Dec 14, 1864	Nov 14, 1844	19	31	12	3
5	Dionitia Walker	Mar 10, 1816	Jul 11, 1894	Jul 28, 1845	c. 29	32	3	5
6	Paulina Eliza Phelps	Mar 20, 1827	Oct 11, 1912	Jan 16, 1846	18	32	14	9
7	Priscilla Rebecca Turley ⚠	Jun 1, 1829	Sep 20, 1904	Jan 16, 1846	16	32	16	7
8	Maria Louisa Tanner ⚠	Apr 10, 1830	Aug 17, 1923	Jan 17, 1846	15	32	17	5
9	Laura Lucinda Reed ⚠	May 22, 1829	Nov 22, 1903	Jan 28, 1846	16	32	16	0
10	Lydia Partridge	May 8, 1830	Jan 16, 1875	Feb 7, 1853	22	39	17	7
11	Eliza Ann Neff	Jul 17, 1833	Apr 11, 1922	Apr 20, 1853	19	40	21	0