Mormon pioneers suffered much physical hardship even after settling in the Great Basin. In addition to the rigors of famine and climatological extremes, some endured trials provided by plural marriages. This assessment frankly examines some of the historical data concerning the prevalence and distribution of polygamous marriages and catalogs some of the personal experiences of the participants.
Lecture given at the Harold B. Lee Library auditorium, Brigham Young University, 11 December 2003, as part of the House of Learning Lecture series.