John W Taylor LDS Church Role Raises A Question Few Ask
- 01. John W. Taylor LDS Church Role: Apostle Who Resigned Over Polygamy
- 02. Early Life and Calling to the Apostleship
- 03. The Polygamy Controversy That Changed Everything
- 04. Excommunication and Posthumous Restoration
- 05. Key Timeline of John W. Taylor's Church Service
- 06. Comparison: John W. Taylor vs. His Father John Taylor
- 07. Common Misconceptions About His Role
- 08. Matthias Cowley: The Fellow Apostle Who Resigned With Him
- 09. Historical Significance in Modern LDS Church History
John W. Taylor LDS Church Role: Apostle Who Resigned Over Polygamy
John W. Taylor served as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from April 9, 1884, until his resignation on October 28, 1905, but he is not remembered as a church president or prophet-his defining role was becoming one of the few apostles ever excommunicated for opposing the church's official abandonment of plural marriage.
Early Life and Calling to the Apostleship
John Whittaker Taylor was born on May 15, 1858, in Provo, Utah Territory, to John Taylor, who would become the third president of the LDS Church. His father ordained him a deacon around 1872 and a teacher in 1874, following the standard priesthood progression of the era. Taylor served missions in the United States, Canada, and England, baptizing more than 250 converts during his ministry.
At just 26 years old, Taylor was called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles by his own father, President John Taylor, and ordained on April 9, 1884-his 26th birthday. This made him one of the youngest apostles in church history at the time. For over 21 years, he served faithfully in this highest apostolic calling, traveling extensively and representing the church in diplomatic meetings with leaders including President Grover Cleveland of the United States, President Porfirio Díaz of Mexico, and Premier McDonald of Canada.
The Polygamy Controversy That Changed Everything
Taylor's role in the LDS Church took a dramatic turn when he resigned from the Twelve in October 1905 over the practice of plural marriage. While the church had officially ended new plural marriages with the 1890 Manifesto issued by President Wilford Woodruff, Taylor and fellow apostle Matthias F. Cowley believed the church should continue practicing polygamy, particularly in Mexico where church members had fled to avoid U.S. antipolygamy laws.
The resignation date is precisely documented: October 28, 1905, when both Taylor and Cowley stepped down from their apostolic positions. This was not a voluntary departure for health or personal reasons-it was a principled stand against church leadership that would ultimately cost Taylor his membership.
Excommunication and Posthumous Restoration
After standing by his opposition to the church's position on polygamy for six years, John W. Taylor was excommunicated on March 29, 1911, though some sources cite 1912 as the year. He died at his home in Forest Dale, Salt Lake County, Utah, on October 10, 1916, at age 58.
Remarkably, Taylor was posthumously re-baptized in 1965 and reinstated to his position in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, a rare honor that acknowledges his historical significance despite his excommunication. This restoration occurred 49 years after his death and 54 years after his excommunication.
Key Timeline of John W. Taylor's Church Service
| Date | Event | Age | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 15, 1858 | Born in Provo, Utah | 0 | Son of future church president John Taylor |
| c. 1872 | Ordained a deacon | ~14 | Started priesthood pathway |
| 1874 | Ordained a teacher | 16 | Advanced in priesthood |
| 1880s | Served missions (U.S., Canada, England) | 22-28 | Baptized 250+ converts |
| April 9, 1884 | Ordained Apostle | 26 | Called by his father, President John Taylor |
| October 28, 1905 | Resigned from Twelve | 47 | Over polygamy disagreement |
| March 29, 1911 | Excommunicated | 52 | For opposing church's polygamy stance |
| October 10, 1916 | Died in Salt Lake City | 58 | After 5 years as ex-member |
| 1965 | Posthumously re-baptized & reinstated | N/A | Rare historical restoration |
Comparison: John W. Taylor vs. His Father John Taylor
| Attribute | John Taylor (Father) | John W. Taylor (Son) |
|---|---|---|
| Church Presidency | 3rd President (1880-1887) | Never served as president |
| Apostle Ordination | 1838 | April 9, 1884 |
| Birthplace | Milnthorpe, England (1808) | Provo, Utah (1858) |
| First President Born Outside U.S. | Yes | No (born in Utah Territory) |
| Exit from Church | Died as church president | Excommunicated (1911) |
| Polygamy Stance | Defended polygamy as president | Opposed abandoning polygamy |
Common Misconceptions About His Role
Many people mistakenly believe John W. Taylor became church president like his father, but this is factually incorrect. His role was strictly as an apostle in the Quorum of the Twelve, never as a member of the First Presidency or as church president.
Another common misunderstanding is that Taylor left the church voluntarily for peaceful reasons. In reality, he was excommunicated after refusing to recant his support for continuing plural marriage, making him one of only a handful of apostles ever removed from membership through excommunication.
- Taylor was never a prophet or seer in church leadership
- He served 21 years and 6 months as an apostle (1884-1905)
- His excommunication remained in effect for 49 years posthumously
- He was the son of a church president but never became one himself
- His reinstatement in 1965 was exceptional and historically significant
Matthias Cowley: The Fellow Apostle Who Resigned With Him
John W. Taylor did not resign alone-Matthias F. Cowley joined him in the October 1905 resignation from the Quorum of the Twelve. Cowley was called to the Twelve in 1897 and had been Taylor's close friend for over eight years before their shared disagreement with church leadership.
However, Cowley's story ended differently: he was never excommunicated and was later reinstated to the Quorum of the Twelve in 1910, serving until 1911 before resigning again for health reasons. This contrast highlights how Taylor's stubborn opposition to church policy led to his permanent excommunication while Cowley eventually reconciled with leadership.
- October 1905: Both Taylor and Cowley resign from the Twelve
- 1906-1910: Taylor maintains his position against church policy
- 1910: Cowley is reinstated to the Quorum
- March 1911: Taylor is excommunicated for refusing to recant
- 1916: Taylor dies as an ex-member
- 1965: Taylor is posthumously restored
Historical Significance in Modern LDS Church History
John W. Taylor's story remains significant because it illustrates the intense internal conflict over polygamy that shaped the early 20th-century LDS Church. His case demonstrates how deeply divisive the issue was even among the highest leadership, with apostles willing to sacrifice their positions and membership rather than abandon what they believed was a divine commandment.
The fact that Taylor was posthumously reinstated in 1965-during a period when the church was actively rehabilitating historical figures who had been excommunicated for polygamy-related reasons-suggests the church's evolving approach to its polygamy-era history. His story continues to be studied by church historians and members interested in understanding the complex transition away from plural marriage.
"For over twenty years he served in the Quorum of the Twelve, being joined there by his friend Matthias Cowley in 1897. The closeness of these two men continued through a disagreement with the presidency of the Church and the other members of the Twelve concerning the cessation of plural marriage."
Today, John W. Taylor is remembered not as a prophet or church president, but as the apostle who chose principle over position-a figure whose legacy spans excommunication and restoration, controversy and historical reconciliation.
Everything you need to know about John W Taylor Lds Church Role Raises A Question Few Ask
What exactly was John W. Taylor's role in the LDS Church?
John W. Taylor served as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from April 9, 1884, until his resignation on October 28, 1905. He was ordained an apostle at age 26 by his father, President John Taylor, and served for over 21 years as a General Authority representing the church internationally.
Why was John W. Taylor excommunicated from the LDS Church?
Taylor was excommunicated on March 29, 1911, because he opposed the church's official abandonment of plural marriage and refused to recant his belief that polygamy should continue, particularly in Mexico where church members had relocated to avoid U.S. antipolygamy laws.
Did John W. Taylor become president of the LDS Church?
No, John W. Taylor never became president of the LDS Church. While his father John Taylor served as the church's third president (1880-1887), John W. Taylor's highest role was as an apostle in the Quorum of the Twelve, and he was ultimately excommunicated.
When was John W. Taylor posthumously reinstated to the church?
John W. Taylor was posthumously re-baptized and reinstated to his position in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1965, 49 years after his death and 54 years after his excommunication, in a rare historical restoration.
How long did John W. Taylor serve as an LDS apostle?
Taylor served as an apostle for 21 years and 6 months, from his ordination on April 9, 1884, until his resignation on October 28, 1905. This represents one of the longer apostolic service periods before resignation in church history.