The Council of Fifty (also known as the Living Constitution, the Kingdom of God, or its name by revelation, The Kingdom of God and His Laws with the Keys and Power thereof, and Judgment in the Hands of His Servants, Ahman Christ^[1]) was a Latter Day Saint organization established by Joseph Smith, Jr. in 1844 to symbolize and represent a future theocratic "Kingdom of God" on the earth (Quinn 1980, p. 165). Smith and his successor Brigham Young hoped to create this Kingdom in preparation for the Millennium and the Second Coming of Jesus. Latter-day Saint theology holds that the Second Coming would be a time of great violence and natural disasters in which the governments of the world would collapse into universal anarchy. The political Kingdom of God, organized around the Council of Fifty, was meant to be a force of peace and order in the midst of this chaos. According to Mormon teachings, while Jesus himself would be king of this new world government, its structure was in fact to be quasi-republican and multi-denominational; therefore, the early Council of Fifty included both Mormons and non-Mormons (Ehat 1980, pp. 256–57). Although the Council played a significant role during the last few months of Joseph Smith's life, particularly in his campaign for President of the United States, the Council's role was mostly symbolic throughout the 19th century within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This was largely because the Council was primarily meant for a time when secular governments had ceased to function. Regular meetings of the Council ended in the 1880s after the church abandoned its theocratic aspirations. The organization was technically extinguished when its last member died in 1945 (Quinn 1980, p. 185). The term Latter Day Saint most commonly refers to (but is not limited to) members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which, its members believe, was founded under the direction of Jesus Christ by the prophet Joseph Smith, Jr. ... In the Latter Day Saint movement, a quorum is a group of people ordained or endowed with priesthood authority, and organized to act together as a body. ... Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Jan. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... See also, Brigham Young University Brigham Young (June 1, 1801 – August 29, 1877) was the second prophet and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... Millennialism (or chiliasm), from millennium, which literally means thousand years, is primarily a belief expressed in some Christian denominations, and literature, that there will be a Golden Age or Paradise on Earth where Christ will reign prior to the final judgment and future eternal state, primarily derived from the book... The Second Coming refers to the Christian belief in the return of Jesus Christ, an event that will fulfill aspects of Messianic prophecy such as the resurrection of the dead, last judgment and full establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth (also called the Reign of God), including the... Anarchy (from Greek: anarchía, no authority) has a popular meaning of disorder[1]. However it has a more precise meaning in political philosophy to describe any human society which exists without a state. ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ... The presidential seal is a well-known symbol of the presidency. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the largest attraction in the citys Temple Square. ...

Establishment

In Mormonism, God's Kingdom is thought of as an amalgation between two distinct yet intimately related parts. The first is the Spiritual Kingdom of God which is represented on earth by the Church of Christ. This, Mormons believe, is described in the Book of Daniel 2:44–45 as the stone "cut out of the mountain without hands" that will roll forth to fill the whole earth. In Daniel, this kingdom was never to "be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever." Daniel 2:44. However, in conjunction with this Spiritual Kingdom, Joseph Smith, Jr. and other early Latter Day Saint leaders believed that Jesus would establish a Political Kingdom of God in the turbulent times leading up to His second coming. See J.D. 1:202–3, 2:189, and 17:156–7. God's Political Kingdom was to be centered around the Council of Fifty. Book of Mormon, see Latter Day Saint movement. ... The Church of Christ was the original name given to the church formally organized by Joseph Smith, Jr. ... For other uses, see Book of Daniel (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Book of Daniel (disambiguation). ... Joseph Smith, Jr. ... The term Latter Day Saint most commonly refers to (but is not limited to) members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which, its members believe, was founded under the direction of Jesus Christ by the prophet Joseph Smith, Jr. ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ... The Second Coming refers to the Christian belief in the return of Jesus Christ, an event that will fulfill aspects of Messianic prophecy such as the resurrection of the dead, last judgment and full establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth (also called the Reign of God), including the... The Journal of Discourses (often abbreviated J.D.) is a 26-volume collection of public sermons by early leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ...

While little is known for sure about the Council, records indicate that its organization was to be based upon the principles extant in the United States Constitution, and in theory God's Political Kingdom was to be a modified republic. In fact, as mentioned below, evidence suggests that membership in the Council was not meant to be exclusive to Mormons. Thus, while many use the term "theocracy" to describe Latter-day Saint theories of a perfect millennial government, perhaps more accurate is the concept of "THEODEMOCRACY," a term coined by Joseph Smith. He described Theodemocracy as as system wherein God and the people held the power to rule in righteousness. This reflects the deeply held LDS belief in moral agency, which on a theological and philosophical level requires earthly governments to allow for individual decision making processes. In essence, the existence of choice is a moral requirment and a religious tyranny would be antithetical to Mormon beliefs. Yet this concept also reflects God's divine right to rule His people as "king of kings" and "lord of lords." The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. ... in particular, for the archaizing senses of republic, as a translation of politeia or res publica Forms of government Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A republic is a form of government maintained by a state or country whose sovereignty is based on popular consent and whose... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Theodemocracy is a political system theorized by Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Agency (also referred to as free agency or moral agency), in Latter-day Saint theology, is the privilege of choice which was introduced by God the Eternal Father to all of his spirit children in the premortal state.[1] Mortal life is viewed as a test of faith, where our...

Like many Restorationists in the mid-19th century, the Mormons believed that that the second coming of Jesus was imminent, and would be attended by great destruction. After this destruction occurred, some structure would be necessary to politically organize the survivors. Joseph Smith received a revelation on April 7, 1842 calling for the establishment of an organization called the Living Constitution, or later the Council of Fifty. This would serve as the foundation for the establishment of Christ's Millennial government. The organization was formally established by Joseph Smith in Nauvoo, Illinois on March 11, 1844. The "clerk of the Kingdom", William Clayton, recorded that exactly one month later, Joseph Smith was "chosen as our Prophet, Priest, and King by Hosannas" (Clayton 1844–1846, pp. 265, 267), and then an ordinance was performed in which Smith was "ordained to be a king, to reign over the house of Israel forever" (Quinn 1994, pp. 124, 643). However hyberbolic and misstated rumors associated with this occurrence likely contributed to Joseph Smith's assassination in June of 1844. Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      For other usages, see... Millennialism (or chiliasm), from millennium, which literally means thousand years, is primarily a belief expressed in some Christian denominations, and literature, that there will be a Golden Age or Paradise on Earth where Christ will reign prior to the final judgment and future eternal state, primarily derived from the book... , There is also a Nauvoo, Alabama, and a Nauvoo, Pennsylvania Nauvoo (נָאווּ to be beautiful, Sephardi Hebrew NÃ¥vu, Tiberian Hebrew Nâwû) is a city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. ...

According to John D. Lee, the official scribe of the Council, the organization was meant to be the "Municipal department of the Kingdom of God set upon the earth, and from which all law emanates, for the rule, government & controle of all Nations Kingdoms & toungs and People under the whole Heavens." John Doyle Lee (September 12, 1812 – March 23, 1877) was a prominent, early Latter-day Saint (LDS or Mormon) and came to be known as the central figure in the Mountain Meadows Massacre. ...

Composition and organization

Unlike other purely religious organizations formed by Joseph Smith, members of the Council of Fifty were not necessarily Latter Day Saints. At its formation, there were at least three non-Mormon members. This reflects Mormon teachings that the Millennial theocracy would be multi-denominational, though Jesus himself would be king.^[2] Though Brigham Young did not admit non-Mormons to the Council during his administration, he invited both Mormons and non-Mormons to be part of the theocracy (Clayton 1846–1847, p. 196), and even part of the theocratic government. Joseph Smith, Jr. ... The term Latter Day Saint most commonly refers to (but is not limited to) members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which, its members believe, was founded under the direction of Jesus Christ by the prophet Joseph Smith, Jr. ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ...

Smith served as the president of the Council during his lifetime, after which Brigham Young presided, and then John Taylor. The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who each were members of the Council, had a special leadership role. However, all actions by the body were officially to be taken only after unanimous vote. During Smith's lifetime, meetings of the Council were held in secret. See also, Brigham Young University Brigham Young (June 1, 1801 – August 29, 1877) was the second prophet and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... John Taylor (November 1, 1808 – July 25, 1887) was the third President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1880 to 1887. ... The current Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the LDS Church. ...

There are forty-six known members of the pre-martyrdom Council of Fifty. It included all members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles at the time in which is was active both in Nauvoo and in Utah. Notably, it did not include the two counselors to the First Presidency in Nauvoo, Sidney Rigdon and William Law. Other members included: The current Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the LDS Church. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... William Law (1686 – April 9, 1761), English divine, was born at Kings Cliffe, Northamptonshire. ...

Dr. John Milton Bernhisel (June 23, 1799 - September 28, 1881) was an American physician, politician and early member of the Latter Day Saint movement. ... William Clayton (1814 - 1879) was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and acted as a clerk and scribe to the Mormon religious leader Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Alpheus Cutler (1784–1864), an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement, and reorganizer of the Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerite). ... David Fullmer David Fullmer (July 7, 1803 – October 21, 1879) was an American politician and farmer. ... Benjamin Franklin Johnson (July 28, 1818 – 1905) was a prominent early member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and a member of the Council of Fifty. ... John Doyle Lee (September 12, 1812 – March 23, 1877) was a prominent, early Latter-day Saint (LDS or Mormon) and came to be known as the central figure in the Mountain Meadows Massacre. ... Cornelius Peter Lott (1798 - 1850) was an early member of the Latter Day Saint movement, father of one of Joseph Smiths plural wives, a member of the Council of Fifty and a Danite leader. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Isaac Morley (1786 - 1865) was an early member of the Latter Day Saint movement and a contemporary of both Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. ... John Edward Page (February 25, 1799–1867) was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement. ... William Wines Phelps (also W.W. Phelps, and William W. Phelps) (February 17, 1792–March 7, 1872) was an important early leader of the Latter Day Saint movement. ... Charles C. Rich Charles Coulson Rich (August 21, 1809–November 17, 1883) (commonly known as Charles C. Rich) was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and served as the 21st apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ...

Role of the Council in Joseph Smith's administration

Many historians assert that the Council of Fifty had little practical power during its existence. Rather, it functioned as a "government in exile." The Mormons believed that in the build-up to the Millennium that earthly governments would essentially destroy themselves as a result of their own wickedness. The Council was designed to be the organization which could step into the political vacuum and pick up the pieces of a ruined world. It was not meant to dominate, but it was believed that the system would be freely chosen by all (Mormons and non-Mormons alike) who survived the calamities heaped upon the world. However, the Council did perform some actual duties.

One duty of the Council was to assist in Joseph Smith's 1844 campaign for President of the United States. Smith ran on a platform among church members of bringing restitution for land and property lost in Missouri, eliminating slavery, compensating slave-owners with the sale of private lands, reducing the salaries of members of Congress, eliminating debt imprisonment, etc. Members of the Council campaigned throughout the United States. Besides sending out hundreds of political missionaries to campaign for Smith throughout the U.S., they also appointed fellow members of the Fifty as political ambassadors to Russia, the Republic of Texas, Washington D.C., England, and France. However, Smith was murdered my a large mob in the midst of his presidential campaign.^[4] The campaign was meant to bring greater notoriety the plight of the Mormons who had received no state or federal restitution for hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of property lost to mob violence in relation to the Mormon War. However, Smith's Presidential campaign, the Nauvoo Expositor incident, and even hyperbolic and innacurate rumors about the Council of Fifty helped create the local unrest that led to his assassination. Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Jan. ... The presidential seal is a well-known symbol of the presidency. ... Official language(s) English Capital Jefferson City Largest city Kansas City Largest metro area St Louis Metro[1] Area  Ranked 21st  - Total 69,709 sq mi (180,693 km²)  - Width 240 miles (385 km)  - Length 300 miles (480 km)  - % water 1. ... Slave redirects here. ... The Congress of the United States is the legislative branch of the federal government of the United States of America. ... Capital Washington-on-the-Brazos, Harrisburg, Galveston, Velasco, Columbia (1836) Houston (1837–1839) Austin (1839–1845) Language(s) English (de facto) Spanish, French, German and Native American languages regionally Government Republic President1  - 1836-1838 Sam Houston  - 1838-1841 Mirabeau B. Lamar  - 1841-1844 Sam Houston  - 1844-1845 Anson Jones Vice... The Mormon War is a name sometimes given to the 1838 conflict which occurred between Latter-day Saints (Mormons) and their neighbors in the northwestern region of the U.S. state of Missouri. ... The Nauvoo Expositor was a newspaper in Nauvoo, Illinois that published only one issue on June 7, 1844. ...

Role of the Council in the Utah Territory and state of Utah

After Smith's death, the Council anointed Brigham Young its leader, and as the "king and pres[iden]t" of the Kingdom of God.^[5] Under Young, however, the Council continued to have relatively little power Quinn 1997, p. 238–39. In the Latter Day Saint movement, the President of the Church is generally considered to be the highest office of the church. ...

However, the Council assisted in the exodus from Nauvoo, Illinois and the eventual migration to the Great Basin area of what is now Utah. Young relied upon the results of scouting missions by members of the Council in choosing the Great Basin as a destination for their exodus from Nauvoo, over several alternate possibilities including Texas, California, and Oregon. A commemorative statue of mormon pioneers. ... , There is also a Nauvoo, Alabama, and a Nauvoo, Pennsylvania Nauvoo (נָאווּ to be beautiful, Sephardi Hebrew NÃ¥vu, Tiberian Hebrew Nâwû) is a city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. ... Drainage map showing the Great Basin in orange Various Definitions of the Great Basin (NPS) The Great Basin is a large, arid region of the western United States. ... Official language(s) English Capital Salt Lake City Largest city Salt Lake City Area  Ranked 13th  - Total 84,889 sq mi (219,887 km²)  - Width 270 miles (435 km)  - Length 350 miles (565 km)  - % water 3. ... Official language(s) No Official Language See languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 261,797 sq mi (678,051 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... Official language(s) (none)[1] Capital Salem Largest city Portland Area  Ranked 9th  - Total 98,466 sq mi (255,026 km²)  - Width 260 miles (420 km)  - Length 360 miles (580 km)  - % water 2. ...

The council was to act as a legislative body in the Kingdom of God (Melville 1960, p. 33), and in Utah, the Council became a provisional legislative body in the government. This continued until September 1850 when Congress organized the Territory of Utah upon petition by the LDS Church. See State of Deseret; Territory of Utah. After Utah became a territory, the Constitutional requirements of separation between church and state sharply diminished the Council's official role in government. The Council then suspended meetings in October 1851. Official language(s) English Capital Salt Lake City Largest city Salt Lake City Area  Ranked 13th  - Total 84,889 sq mi (219,887 km²)  - Width 270 miles (435 km)  - Length 350 miles (565 km)  - % water 3. ... For the game, see: 1850 (board game) 1850 (MDCCCL) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday [1] of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... The boundaries of the provisional State of Deseret (orange) as proposed in 1849. ... The Utah Territory was an organized territory of the United States that existed between 1850 and 1896. ... 1851 (MDCCCLI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

Briefly, the Council resurfaced during the administration of John Taylor, in an advisory role on the issue of polygamy. The Council's last recorded meeting was in 1884. John Taylor (November 1, 1808 – July 25, 1887) was the third President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1880 to 1887. ... Year 1884 (MDCCCLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

See also

• Theocracy
• Theodemocracy
• Millennialism

This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Theodemocracy is a political system theorized by Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Millennialism (or chiliasm), from millennium, which literally means thousand years, is primarily a belief expressed in some Christian denominations, and literature, that there will be a Golden Age or Paradise on Earth where Christ will reign prior to the final judgment and future eternal state, primarily derived from the book...

Notes

1. ^ Quinn 1980, p. 167; Ehat 1980, p. 256.
2. ^ Millennial Star 10:81-88
3. ^ Quinn, D. Michael. Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power (Salt Lake City: Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, 1994).
4. ^ Quinn, Origins of Power, pp. 132–141.
5. ^ See minutes of meeting of Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, 12 Feb. 1849, p. 3 [LDS Archives], cited in Quinn 1997, p. 238.

References

1. Andrus, Hyrum L., Joseph Smith and World Government, (Salt Lake City 1958).
2. Clayton, William (1844–1846), Excerpts from the Journals of William Clayton, in Ehat, Andrew F., "It Seems Like Heaven Began on Earth: Joseph Smith and the Constitution of the Kingdom of God", BYU Studies 20: 253–79.
3. Clayton, William (1846–1847), William Clayton's Journal: A Daily Record of the Journey of the Original Company of "Mormon" Pioneers from Nauvoo, Illinois, to the Valley of the Great Salt Lake, Salt Lake City: Deseret News.
4. Ehat, Andrew F. (1980), "It Seems Like Heaven Began on Earth: Joseph Smith and the Constitution of the Kingdom of God", BYU Studies 20: 253–79.
5. Firmage, Edwin Brown and Mangrum, Richard Collin, Zion in the Courts: A Legal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-1900. (University of Illinois Press 1988).
6. Godfrey, Kenneth W., "Council of Fifty", Encyclopedia of Mormonism (Macmillan Publishing Co. 1992).
7. Hansen, Klaus J., Quest for Empire, (East Lansing, Mich., 1967).
8. Quinn, D. Michael (1980), "The Council of Fifty and Its Members, 1844 to 1945", BYU Studies 20 (2): 163–98.
9. Melville, J. Keith (1960), "Theory and Practice of Church and State During the Brigham Young Era", BYU Studies 3 (1): 33–55.
10. Quinn, D. Michael (1994), The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of, Salt Lake City: Signature Books, ISBN 1-56085-056-6.
11. Quinn, D. Michael (1997), The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, Salt Lake City: Signature Books, ISBN 1-56085-060-4.