John W. Taylor

1858–1916 (58 years)

Hometown: Provo, Utah

Biography

John W. Taylor was an apostle and son of President John Taylor who was excommunicated in 1911 for continuing to perform and enter into plural marriages after the 1890 Manifesto. His case illustrates the complicated transition away from polygamy.

Taylor was ordained an apostle in 1884 at just 26 years old, promoted by his father. He was a strong advocate for continuing polygamy and believed the Manifesto was merely a political document, not a true revelation. He continued to marry plural wives and perform plural marriages for others well into the 20th century.

In 1905, amid the Reed Smoot Senate hearings that put intense scrutiny on the church, Taylor resigned from the Quorum of the Twelve rather than appear before the Senate. In 1911, he was excommunicated for “insubordination to the church”—specifically for contracting a plural marriage after the Second Manifesto of 1904.

Taylor had six wives and never reconciled with the church, dying in 1916. He and Matthias Cowley (who was disfellowshipped but not excommunicated) represent the tension within church leadership over abandoning polygamy. Taylor’s blessings were posthumously restored in 1965.

Served Under

Church presidents during this leader's apostolic service:

John Taylor John Taylor 1808–1887 (78 years) Wilford Woodruff Wilford Woodruff 1807–1898 (91 years) Lorenzo Snow Lorenzo Snow 1814–1901 (87 years) Joseph F. Smith Joseph F. Smith 1838–1918 (80 years)

Wives (8)

John W. Taylor was a polygamist with 8 marriages.

Marriage Age Comparison

8 wives · Ages at marriage

Her age His age Teenage bride (<18)
#NameMarriage DateHer AgeHis AgeAge DiffChildren
1 May Louise Rich Dec 4, 1879 192127
2 Janet Maria Woolley Aug 30, 1883 212548
3 Nellie Elvira Todd Apr 16, 1888 1829115
4 Mary Ann Tenney Sep 15, 1890 233293
5 Ellen Annette Sandberg Feb 12, 1897 2538132
6 Roxana Walser Feb 20, 1901 2342193
7 Rhoda Welling Aug 29, 1901 2943142
8 Janet McQueen Dec 17, 1901 3143120

Children (30)

With May Louise Rich (7 children)

With Janet Maria Woolley (8 children)

  1. Raymond Woolley Taylor (b. Apr 18, 1904)
  2. Samuel Woolley Taylor (b. Feb 5, 1907)
  3. Child 3
  4. Child 4
  5. Child 5
  6. Child 6
  7. Child 7
  8. Child 8

With Nellie Elvira Todd (5 children)

With Mary Ann Tenney (3 children)

With Ellen Annette Sandberg (2 children)

With Roxana Walser (3 children)

With Rhoda Welling (2 children)

Related Images

“As to this pretended revelation it should be said that the archives of the Church contain no such revelation; the archives contain no record of any such revelation, nor any evidence justifying a belief that any such revelation was ever given. From the personal knowledge of some of us, from the uniform and common recollection of the presiding quorums of the Church, from the absence in the Church archives of any evidence whatsoever justifying any belief that such a revelation was given, we are justified in affirming that no such revelation exists.” - Official Statement from the First Presidency (Heber J. Grant, Anthony W. Ivins, J. Reuben Clark) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Deseret News, June 17, 1933. | wasmormon.org “My father received a revelation which, however, was never presented to the Church, and I refer to this not because it is a revelation to my father, I don't think a revelation because it came through him was any greater than one received through any other president of the Church, but because it seems to pertain to this question... This revelation is either true or it is false. Assuming that it is true, it seems to me that it would be better to offer leniency on the side of the Lord” - John W. Taylor, Son of President John Taylor, Resigned LDS Apostle, Excommunication Trial 1911 for continued opposition to ending polygamy. | wasmormon.org “The revelation is clear in its purpose... President Taylor’s God declares, when “my everlasting covenants cannot be abrogated nor done away with.” All who wish to enter into God’s highest glory “must and shall obey my law.” ... it raises thorny issues for Latter-day Saints. Was Taylor’s revelation true, and were the prophets who followed him traitors? And what does it mean for Latter-day Saint authority if revelations — and revelators — are fallible?” - Benjamin Park, Teacher, Author, President of the Mormon History Association | wasmormon.org “My son John, you have asked me concerning the New and Everlasting Covenant how far it is binding upon my people. Thus saith the Lord: All commandments that I give must be obeyed by those calling themselves by my name unless they are revoked by me or by my authority, and how can I revoke an everlasting covenant, for I the Lord am everlasting and my everlasting covenants cannot be abrogated nor done away with, but they stand forever. ... I have not revoked this law, nor will I, for it is everlasting, and those who will enter into my glory must obey the conditions thereof; even so, Amen.” - John Taylor, LDS Church President, 1886 Revelation | wasmormon.org Church leaders prayerfully sought guidance from the Lord and struggled to understand what they should do. Both President John Taylor and President Wilford Woodruff felt the Lord directing them to stay the course and not renounce plural marriage. This inspiration came when paths for legal redress were still open. The last of the paths closed in May 1890... President Woodruff saw that the Church’s temples and its ordinances were now at risk. Burdened by this threat, he prayed intensely over the matter. “The Lord showed me by vision and revelation,” he later said, “exactly what would take place if we did not stop this practice,” referring to plural marriage. “All the temples [would] go out of our hands.” God “has told me exactly what to do, and what the result would be if we did not do it.” - LDS Church Website > Gospel Topics Essay > The Manifesto and the End of Plural Marriage | wasmormon.org “Sister Emma came to me & asked me how I would like to be adopted to them as a child. I did not comprehend her & she came again. I was so green I did not give her a decided answer & Joseph died & I remain as I am. If I could be adopted to him as a child my soul would be satisfied.” - Jane Manning James, Letter to John Taylor, December 27, 1884 | wasmormon.org “I realize my race & color & can't expect my endowments as others who are white. My race was handed down through the flood & God promised Abraham that in his seed all the nations of the earth should be blessed & as this is the fullness of all dispensations. Is there no blessing for me?” - Jane Manning James, Letter to John Taylor, December 27, 1884 | wasmormon.org "Brother Joseph snapped the pistol six successive times. Two or three were wounded by these discharges, two of whom died."- John Taylor. "I am going like a lamb to the slaughter" - Joseph Smith. wasmormon.org We want nothing secret nor underhanded, and for one I want no association with things that cannot be talked about and will not bear investigation." John Taylor, President of Mormon Church, As President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles