Includes bibliographical references (pages [217]-232) and index.
Contents
Welcome -- Settling Utah Territory : polygamous yet monogamous. I was perfectly willing ... but still it was hard -- I had admired his conduct on the plains -- Interlude: justifying polygamy -- It is a heart history -- Making sense of sisterhood : relations between wives. The drudge and tail of such women -- Interlude: sometimes sisterhood -- Many nights my pillow would be wet with grief -- I could not say that I loved the man as lovers love -- Abandoning polygamy : weariness. Word came the marshalls were coming, so I skipped out -- Interlude: the 1890 Manifesto -- I grew rebellious -- I heard a voice say you are away from Mr Chestnut -- Farewell.
Summary
The author delves deep into the diaries and autobiographies of twenty-nine polygamous women of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, providing a rare window into the lives they led and revealing their views and experiences of polygamy, including their well-founded belief that their domestic contributions would help to build a foundation for generations of future Mormons.