[Elsie]

This period marked an important transition for the nascent Mormon Church, as polygamy began to be phased out in deference to U.S. laws banning the practice but also via internal pressure from the Mormons themselves.

Now THIS is something I had not heard about before!

[Colofornian]

This period marked an important transition for the nascent Mormon Church, as polygamy began to be phased out in deference to U.S. laws banning the practice but also via internal pressure from the Mormons themselves. (article)

Now THIS is something I had not heard about before!

I think the "internal pressure" were some of the wives telling their husbands to start keeping their roaving eyes to themselves and their own harem -- minus expansion.

Plus in the 1880s, I'm sure even a few of the "we're-OK-with-polygamy-because-we-don't-know-anything-else" wives didn't like their polygamous husbands spending time in the federal pokey for 6 mos. Hence, more "internal pressure" that was initiated externally.