John W Taylor: Mormon Rebel Inside
John W. Taylor was a prominent 19th-century Latter-day Saint apostle whose name became tied to the church's struggle over plural marriage after the 1890 Manifesto, his resignation from the Quorum of the Twelve in 1905, and his excommunication in 1911. His story matters in Mormon church history because it sits at the center of the transition from openly practicing polygamy to the institutional enforcement of its abandonment.
Who John W. Taylor was
John Whittaker Taylor was born on May 15, 1858, in Provo, Utah, the son of John Taylor, who later became the third president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was ordained an apostle on April 9, 1884, at age 25, making him one of the youngest men ever called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Before the controversy that defined his later reputation, Taylor served as a missionary in the United States, Canada, England, Mexico, and the American South, and he was known in church accounts as an effective speaker and organizer. He also participated in civic life in Utah and was part of a generation of leaders who moved easily between church, politics, and frontier society.
The polygamy crisis
The central issue in John W. Taylor's church history is plural marriage. The LDS Church officially issued the 1890 Manifesto under President Wilford Woodruff, signaling that new plural marriages would stop, but the practical end of the practice took years and remained contested among some leaders and members. Taylor continued to support plural marriage after the Manifesto, and that stance eventually put him at odds with church leadership.
By the early 1900s, pressure intensified as the church leadership moved toward stricter enforcement, especially after the 1904 Second Manifesto. Taylor's refusal to fully align with the new policy was the decisive factor that pushed him out of the Quorum.
Resignation and excommunication
Taylor resigned from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in October 1905, a major rupture in Mormon institutional history. He was later excommunicated in 1911, with sources differing slightly on the exact date, but agreeing that the action stemmed from his continued opposition to the church's anti-polygamy policy.
He died in Salt Lake City on October 10, 1916, after years in private life. His posthumous standing changed later, when the church restored blessings by proxy and officially re-baptized him in 1965, reflecting a broader pattern of historical reassessment within Latter-day Saint memory.
Why he matters
John W. Taylor is important because he shows that the end of polygamy was not a simple switch flipped in 1890. His case illustrates the long, uneven, and sometimes painful process by which church leaders moved from public accommodation to enforcement, while individuals who disagreed faced institutional consequences.
He also represents the tension between prophetic authority and personal conviction in LDS history. To supporters, he was a loyal believer trying to preserve what he understood as divine commandment; to church authorities, he was resisting an official policy that was becoming central to the church's survival in the United States.
Timeline
| Date | Event | Historical significance |
|---|---|---|
| May 15, 1858 | Born in Provo, Utah | Son of John Taylor, linking him to elite early LDS leadership. |
| April 9, 1884 | Ordained apostle | Became a member of the Quorum of the Twelve at age 25. |
| 1890 | First Manifesto | Marked the church's formal retreat from new plural marriages. |
| 1904 | Second Manifesto | Strengthened disciplinary action against continued polygamy. |
| October 1905 | Resigned from the Twelve | Public break with church leadership. |
| 1911 | Excommunicated | Formal removal from church membership. |
| October 10, 1916 | Died in Salt Lake City | End of a career shaped by faith, conflict, and institutional change. |
Key facts
- He was the son of John Taylor, the third president of the LDS Church.
- He became an apostle at age 25.
- His downfall was tied to continued support for plural marriage after the 1890 Manifesto.
- He resigned in 1905 and was excommunicated in 1911.
- His case remains one of the clearest examples of the church's difficult transition away from polygamy.
Historical interpretation
Historians generally read Taylor's case as part of the church's broader institutional effort to secure legal and political legitimacy in the United States while still managing internal loyalty to earlier teachings. The conflict was not just theological; it was also about survival, reputation, and the practical realities of federal pressure in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
That tension made Taylor's defiance especially consequential. Because he had apostolic authority and family ties to previous leadership, his resistance carried symbolic weight well beyond his personal circumstances.
Notable details
- He was closely associated with the old guard of Mormon leadership and inherited that legacy through his father's prominence.
- He reportedly remained committed to plural marriage even as official policy hardened against it.
- His resignation showed that apostolic rank did not exempt someone from discipline when policy changed.
- His later posthumous restoration reflects the LDS Church's willingness to revisit contested figures in its past.
Frequently asked questions
What readers should remember
John W. Taylor's life is best understood as a clash between personal conviction and changing institutional policy. In Mormon church history, he stands as a major figure in the story of how the LDS Church moved out of the polygamy era and into a more modern American religious identity.
What are the most common questions about John W Taylor Mormon Rebel Inside?
Was John W. Taylor a Mormon apostle?
Yes. He was ordained to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on April 9, 1884, at age 25, and served for more than two decades before resigning.
Why was John W. Taylor excommunicated?
He was excommunicated because he continued to oppose the LDS Church's move away from plural marriage and did not fully comply with the Second Manifesto era discipline.
Did John W. Taylor practice polygamy?
Yes. Sources identify him as a defender of plural marriage who remained committed to it even after the church formally ended the practice for new marriages.
Was he ever restored in the church?
Yes. His blessings were restored posthumously, and he was re-baptized by proxy in 1965.
Why is he important in Mormon history?
He is important because his case captures the church's transition from openly practicing polygamy to enforcing its abandonment, one of the most consequential shifts in LDS institutional history.