Monogamy Is Robbery
Brigham Young called monogamy 'a system established by robbers' and 'no part of the economy of Heaven.' Today, every LDS temple marriage is monogamous.
Audio coming soon
The Quote
“Monogamy, or restrictions by law to one wife, is no part of the economy of Heaven among men. Such a system was commenced by the founders of the Roman Empire… Rome became combated by a barbarous and warlike people, who had been nourished in adultery from their infancy. They knew not their fathers, for they were the sons of a multitude who all ranged the forest, destitute of any order save in their predatory expeditions against their neighbours. They kidnapped their wives from the Sabine nation. Thus monogamy originated in crime, and has been sustained by crime… This monogamic order of marriage, so esteemed by modern Christians as a holy sacrament and divine institution, is nothing but a system established by a set of robbers.” — Brigham Young, JoD 9:322-323 (July 6, 1862)
Lyrics
[Intro - Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica]
[Verse 1]
July, eighteen sixty-two
The prophet stood and spoke the truth
While Congress passed their anti-bigamy law
He shook his fist at Washington
Said "You can't dictate the Almighty One
Those who insult the Great I Am will fall"
[Pre-Chorus]
He traced it back to ancient Rome
Founded by brigands far from home
They stole their wives from the Sabine land
And when the women were too few
They made a law for me and you
Monogamy, he said, was not God's plan
[Chorus]
Monogamy is robbery
A system of the wandering thieves
No part of the economy of Heaven among men
Not a holy sacrament, not divine
Just a robbers' Valentine
Established when the brigands held the pen
Monogamy is robbery
[Verse 2]
Christians call it holy ground
A sacred institution, heaven-bound
But Brigham Young knew the truth untold
Born in crime, sustained in crime
Roman robbers, one at a time
Nothing but a thief's tale, bought and sold
[Bridge]
Fast forward to today
What does the temple say?
One wife, one husband, sealed for time
The same church, the same name
The same ceremony, different game
Monogamy is now the party line
[Final Chorus]
Monogamy was robbery
A system of the wandering thieves
No part of the economy of Heaven among men
Now every temple, every seal
Monogamous—is that the deal?
Did Heaven change, or was the prophet wrong again?
[Outro]
Monogamy is robbery
(That's what the prophet said)
Monogamy is robbery
(Now it's the only way to wed)
Historical Context
The Setting: July 6, 1862 — Just five days after Congress passed the Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act, the first federal law against polygamy.
The Speaker: Brigham Young was directly responding to federal legislation by doubling down on polygamy and attacking monogamy as criminal in origin.
The Irony: Today, every LDS temple marriage is monogamous. Polygamy is grounds for excommunication. The “system established by robbers” is now the only system the church performs.
The Modern Practice
The LDS Church now:
- Performs only monogamous temple sealings
- Excommunicates members who practice polygamy
- Distances itself from the term “Mormon fundamentalist”
D&C 132, which commands polygamy, remains canonized scripture.
Addressing Apologetic Responses
“He was criticizing forced monogamy, not monogamy itself”
The quote explicitly calls monogamy “no part of the economy of Heaven” and traces it to criminal origins. He’s not just criticizing laws — he’s attacking monogamy as a practice.
“The church can receive new revelation”
If polygamy was “the economy of Heaven” and monogamy was “robbery,” then the reversal means either: (1) Heaven’s economy changed, or (2) the prophet was wrong about Heaven’s economy.
“Times and circumstances change”
Brigham didn’t present this as circumstantial — he presented it as the eternal order of Heaven vs. a criminal human invention.
Did Heaven change its economy, or was the prophet wrong?