Courtship is widespread among world cultures and encompasses how, when, and where prospective partners meet, explore their potential match, become committed to eventual marriage, and participate in various activities prior to marriage. It is also customary in many cultures for family and kin, friends and peers, and others to participate in courtships. We focus on dyadic and communal aspects of courtship in contemporary Mormon plural families, with a view to determining how prospective partners and other wives participate in courting activities. We also describe the roles of families and the religious hierarchy, and compare pioneer and present-day Mormon polygynous courtships.

Courtship and culture

Courtship varies across cultures in several ways. First, in some cultures courtship is primarily a function of the families, not the prospective partners (Stephens, 1963). In other cases, especially Western cultures, courtship is largely the business of couple members, with families playing a secondary, albeit sometimes significant role. Likewise, the two Mormon fundamentalist groups with whom we worked vary in this regard. In the urban and somewhat less conservative Church of Latter-day Apostles, courting activities are couple-oriented once families and religious authorities sanction the process. In the ultraconservative United Fundamentalist Church many marriages are arranged by the prophet (sometimes in collaboration with families or potential partners).

Second, some cultures have short courtships, whereas others stretch them out over months or even years, and marriage does not occur until the betrothed pair has achieved maturity (or even borne a child).