Item Detail
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13990
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0
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0
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English
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The Web of Membership : The Consonance and Conflict of Being American and Latter-day Saint
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Journal of Law and Religion
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1998-1999
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13
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no.2
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567-602
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During the 19th-century, committed Mormons found it difficult to be both American and Mormon. Their belief in and practice of plural marriage conflicted with their American citizenship. On the Mormon frontier, in the absence of civil courts, ecclesiastical courts were used to govern all aspects of life. With the establishments of civil courts, the practice of turning to ecclesiastical courts continued and was even encouraged by the leaders. This didn't end until the late 1890s. The author contrasts the differences between secular and LDS church courts. Some Mormons have been critical of the church court system because it differs from the procedures of the American court system. These include David Wright, Ed Decker, and Janice Allred