There Are Plenty More
In 1854, Jedediah M. Grant taught that a righteous man, if asked by the Prophet for his wife, should reply: 'here she is; there are plenty more.'
The following documents teachings on plural marriage that may be disturbing, particularly for women, survivors of religious trauma, or those affected by historical polygamy practices. These views are presented for historical accountability, not endorsement.
Audio coming soon
The Quote
“What would a man of God say, who felt aright, when Joseph asked him for his money? He would say, ‘Yes, and I wish I had more to help to build up the kingdom of God.’ Or if he came and said, ‘I want your wife?’ ‘O yes,’ he would say, ‘here she is; there are plenty more.’” — Jedediah M. Grant, JoD 2:14 (February 19, 1854)
Lyrics
Coming Soon
Historical Context
The Setting: February 19, 1854 — Salt Lake Tabernacle. Jedediah M. Grant, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, delivers a sermon on absolute obedience to priesthood authority.
The Speaker: Jedediah M. Grant (1816-1856) — Known as “Brigham’s Sledgehammer” for his fiery rhetoric. He would later become a key figure in the Mormon Reformation of 1856-57, which emphasized confession and rebaptism.
The Context: Grant is arguing that the Prophet has unlimited authority over all temporal and spiritual matters. He uses the example of Joseph Smith asking for a man’s wife as a test of faithfulness, framing wives as property that should be surrendered as readily as money.
The Doctrine: Grant explicitly states this was a test — “Did the Prophet Joseph want every man’s wife he asked for? He did not” — but the underlying premise that wives could be asked for and given away like property reveals the power dynamics of early Mormon polygamy.
Lyric-to-Source Mapping
Coming Soon
Addressing Apologetic Responses
“It was just a test, not actual practice”
Grant admits Joseph didn’t want every wife he asked for — but he did ask, and men were expected to comply. The “test” defense doesn’t address why wives were treated as transferable property in the first place.
“This was one man’s opinion”
Grant was Second Counselor in the First Presidency, speaking in the Tabernacle. This was published in the Journal of Discourses as official teaching. This isn’t fringe doctrine.
“You’re taking it out of context”
The full context makes it worse: Grant compares giving your wife to giving your money, placing women in the same category as livestock and gold. The “plenty more” phrasing reveals the disposability of individual women in this system.
“Different time, different culture”
Even in 1854, treating wives as transferable property was not universally accepted. This was a distinctly Mormon innovation justified by priesthood authority.
“There are plenty more.”