Unpacking Polygamy: Polygamy from Nauvoo to Utah, with Brittany Chapman Nash & Patrick Mason

Today we’re welcoming back Patrick Mason for a conversation with author and historian Brittany Chapman Nash.

In this episode, Patrick and Brittany explore what plural marriage looked like in the early Utah period—how it was lived, how it was taught, and why so many Latter-day Saints practiced it with such deep conviction. Brittany shares stories from women whose voices often go unheard, and helps us understand not just the spiritual and theological motivations behind polygamy, but the complexity, nuance, and sometimes heartbreak that came with it.

She offers a window into the hopes, sacrifices, and faith of those who lived this principle—and reflects on what that legacy means for us today.

You can learn more in Brittany’s book Let’s Talk about Polygamy, which was published by Deseret Book. 

This episode is part of a five-part series on polygamy. We invite you to listen to all five episodes for a range of perspectives and voices on this important topic. You can find even more resources on our website, faithmatters.org.