The main idea of this passage is best expressed in which of the following sentences from the passage?
Arguing Their Position
Few major American religions have had to collectively argue their positions before the US Supreme Court, but the Mormon faith has had to do so twice: in Reynolds v. United States (1878) and LDS Church v. United States (1890).
Prior to Reynolds, Mormon leaders in Utah had been indicted for ignoring the Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act, a law passed in response to the furor over the prevalence of bigamy in Utah, which had become something of a cause célèbre throughout the nation (anti-polygamists labeled the act (along with slavery) as one of the “twin relics of barbarism”). Mormon leaders believed the Constitution was in their favor and sought to fight the law in the courts, arguing that the Morrill Act infringed on their First Amendment rights. To that end, they put forth George Reynolds as a test case and argued that a law outlawing polygamy was essentially a law stripping them of the right to practice the tenets of their faith. The court disagreed with the Mormons, citing a letter from the late Thomas Jefferson in which he separated religious belief from action that resulted from religious belief. Thus, the court argued that religious thought was protected by the Constitution but not necessarily action (even sensationally suggesting that polygamy could lead to the protection of human sacrifice).
Though the decision in Reynolds is far from the most opprobrious ruling in the court’s history, it is not without controversy. The Constitution does not discuss nor outline legitimate and illegitimate forms of marriage any more than it separates religion from irreligion. This was at the core of the Mormon’s argument before the court, but the court disagreed. The church would ultimately ban polygamy in 1890, only after its argument was again rejected in the case of the LDS Church v. United States.
A. "The court disagreed with the Mormons, citing a letter from the late Thomas Jefferson in which he separated religious belief from action that resulted from religious belief."
B."Though the decision in Reynolds is far from the most opprobrious ruling in the court’s history, it is not without controversy."
C."Few major American religions have had to collectively argue their positions before the US Supreme Court, but the Mormon faith has had to do so twice."
D."The church would ultimately ban polygamy in 1890, only after its argument was again rejected in the case of the LDS Church v. United States."
E."To that end, they put forth George Reynolds as a test case and argued that a law outlawing polygamy was essentially a law stripping them of the right to practice the tenets of their faith."