Did LDS leaders once split their congregations in half by political party?

The "story" that LDS leaders once split their congregations in half by political party is a popular historical anecdote based on actual events from the 1890s. While it is often simplified in retelling, the core of the story is rooted in the strategic efforts of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to transition Utah from a theocratic territory to a U.S. state.

Here are the facts regarding that period:

1. The Dissolution of the "People’s Party"

For decades, Utah’s politics were split between the People’s Party (mostly Latter-day Saints) and the Liberal Party (mostly non-members or "Gentiles"). This "bloc voting" was a major barrier to statehood because the U.S. government viewed it as a theocracy. In 1891, the People’s Party was officially dissolved to allow members to join the national Democratic and Republican parties.

2. The Strategic "Division" of Wards

Because most Church members at the time leaned toward the Democratic Party (the national Republicans had been the ones most aggressively campaigning against polygamy), Church leaders feared that a lopsided shift to the Democrats would keep Utah from being accepted by the Republican-led federal government.

• The "Half and Half" Legend: To achieve a visible two-party system, leaders urged members to divide "about evenly" between the two parties. In some local units, this was reportedly literal; bishops or stake presidents occasionally stood before congregations and suggested that those on one side of the aisle become Republicans and those on the other become Democrats to ensure a balance.

• Encouragement of Republicanism: High-ranking leaders like George Q. Cannon specifically encouraged prominent members to join the Republican party to show the federal government that Latter-day Saints could be loyal to both sides of the American political spectrum.

3. The 1896 "Political Manifesto"

The transition was not without conflict. In 1896, the Church issued a policy known as the Political Manifesto (or the "Political Rule of the Church"). This required high-ranking Church officials (General Authorities) to get permission from the First Presidency before running for political office. This was intended to avoid the appearance of the Church "sponsoring" candidates, though it led to the high-profile dismissal of Apostle Moses Thatcher, who refused to sign it.

4. Modern Political Neutrality

While the 1890s involved active engineering of the political landscape, the Church’s official stance has evolved into one of strict political neutrality. Today, the Church:

• Does not endorse, promote, or oppose political parties or candidates.

• Prohibits the use of Church buildings or membership lists for partisan purposes.

• Encourages members to be active citizens and vote according to their own conscience.

Despite this official neutrality, demographic data from the late 20th and early 21st centuries shows a strong trend of Latter-day Saints in the U.S. affiliating with the Republican Party, a shift that occurred largely in the 1970s and 80s over social issues rather than by administrative decree.