Polygamy, or the principle of plural marriage, was first introduced by Joseph Smith to a few associates in the Spring of 1841. Quietly, hesitatingly, in private conversations with each apostle, Joseph explained that he now believed plural marriage to be a divine requirement. Brigham Young later described his emotions on first learning about plural marriage:"Some of these my brethern know what my feelings were at the time Joseph revealed the doctrine; I was not desirous of shrinking from any duty, nor of failing in the least to do as I was commanded, but it was the first time in my life that I had desired the grave, and I could hardly get over it for a long time. And when I saw a funeral, I felt to envy the corpse its situation, and to regret that I was not in the coffin, knowing the toil and labor that my body would have to undergo; and I have had to examine myself, from that day to this, and watch my faith, and carefully meditate, lest I should be found desiring the grave more than I ought to do."
[page 100 of "Brigham Young - American Moses" by Leonard J. Arrington]
Note: The term Mormon is a nickname for "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints".
WAM BAM NWM CBY Notes Birth Date Marriage Date Death Date
Brigham Young 57 June 1, 1801 August 29, 1877
1. Miriam Works ?18 22 1 2 1806 October 8, 1824 September 8, 1832
2. Mary Ann Angell 30 32 1 6 June 8, 1803 February 16, 1834 June 27, 1882
3. Lucy Ann Decker 20 41 2 7 May 17, 1822 June 15, 1842 January 24, 1890
4. Harriet Elizabeth Cook Campbell 18 42 ?3 1 November 7, 1824 November 2, 1843 November 5, 1898
5. Augusta Adams ?41 42 ?4 1802 November 2, 1843 1886
6. Clarissa Decker 15 42 5 5 July 22, 1828 May 8, 1844 January 5, 1889
7. Clarissa Ross 30 43 6 4 June 16, 1814 September 10, 1844 October 17, 1858
8. Emily Dow Partridge 20 43 7 7 *JS February 28, 1824 September, 1844 Dec, 1899
9. Susan Snively 29 43 8 October, 1815 November 2, 1844 November 20, 1892
10. Olive Grey Frost 28 43 9 *JS July 24, 1816 February, 1845 October 6, 1845
11. Emmeline Free ?19 43 10 10 1826 April 30, 1845 July 17, 1875
12. Margaret Pierce ?22 ?44 11 1 April 19, 1823 1845 January 16, 1907
13. Maria Lawrence 44 11 *JS January, 1846 1847
14. Ellen Rockwood ?16 44 12 1829 January, 1846 January 6, 1866
15. Martha Bowker 23 44 13 January 24, 1822 January 21, 1846 September 26, 1890
16. Naamah Kendel Jenkins Carter 24 44 14 March 20, 1821 January 26, 1846 1909
17. Zina Diantha Huntington 25 44 15 1 *JS January 31, 1821 February 2, 1846 August 29, 1901
18. Louisa Beaman ?31 ?45 16 5 *JS February 7, 1815 1846 May 15, 1850
19. Margaret Maria Alley 20 45 17 2 December 19, 1825 October 14, 1846 November 5, 1852
20. Lucy Bigelow 16 45 ?18 3 October 3, 1830 March, 1847 February 3, 1905
21. Mary Jane Bigelow 19 45 ?19 *S-1851 October 15, 1827 March 20, 1847 September 26, 1866
22. Eliza R. Snow 45 48 19 *JS January 21, 1804 June 29, 1849 December 5, 1888
23. Eliza Burgess ?23 49 19 1 1827 October 3, 1850 Aug, 1915
24. Harriet Barney ?25 54 18 1 1830 March 14, 1856 February 14, 1911
25. Harriet Amelia Folsom 24 61 18 August 23, 1838 January 24, 1863 December 11, 1910
26. Mary Van Cott 22 63 19 1 February 2, 1844 January 8, 1865 January 15, 1884
27. Ann Eliza Webb 23 66 18 *D-1876 September 13, 1844 April 6, 1868
(Column Descriptions) WAM: Wife's Age at Marriage.
BAM: Brigham Young's Age at Marriage.
NWM: Number of Wives after Marriage.
CBY: Children of Brigham Young.
*D: Divorced Brigham Young.
*S: Separated from Brigham Young.
*JS: Married Joseph Smith (Martyred in 1844).