In 1862, Congress passed a law against bigamy (having more than one wife) in the U.S. territories. The Utah Territory was populated mostly by people of the Mormon religion. The Mormons believed it was a man’s religious duty to have several wives to continue the religion. George Reynolds, a Mormon living in the Utah Territory, married Amelia Jane Schofield while still married to Mary Ann Tuddenham. Reynolds was arrested for bigamy.