Mormons & polygamy: defying the Supreme Court ruling...

AI notes: Reynolds v. United States (98 U.S. 145, 1878) was a landmark Supreme Court case addressing the conflict between religious freedom and federal law. George Reynolds, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints in Utah Territory, had entered into a plural marriage and was convicted under federal anti‑bigamy laws. He argued that his First Amendment right to freely exercise his religion should exempt him from prosecution, since polygamy was a tenet of his faith. The Supreme Court unanimously rejected this claim, ruling that while religious beliefs are absolutely protected, religiously motivated actions that violate general laws are not. The Court emphasized that allowing otherwise would enable every citizen to become “a law unto himself,” undermining the rule of law. Reynolds’ conviction was upheld, establishing a crucial legal precedent that distinguished between protected religious beliefs and regulable conduct, a principle that continues to influence U.S. free-exercise jurisprudence.