The Council of Fifty
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This page is based on an answer to a question submitted to the FAIR web site, or a frequently asked question.
Contents |
Question
Some people claim that Joseph Smith had himself anointed king over the whole world, and that this shows he was some sort of megalomaniac. What can you tell me about this?
Source(s) of the criticism
- Fawn M. Brodie, No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1945) 356. ( Index of claims )
- Jerald and Sandra Tanner, The Changing World of Mormonism (Moody Press, 1979), 456-457. ( Index of claims )
Answer
Background
On 7 April 1842, Joseph Smith received a revelation titled "The Kingdom of God and His Laws, With the Keys and Power Thereof, and Judgement in the Hands of His Servants, Ahman Christ," which called the for the organization of a special council separate from, but parallel to, the Church. Since its inception, this organization has been generally been referred to as "the Council of Fifty" because of its approximate number of members.
Latter-day Saints believe that one reason the gospel was restored was to prepare the earth for the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Just as the Church was to bring about religious changes in the world, the Council of Fifty was intended to bring a political transformation. It was therefore designed to serve as something of a preparatory legislature in the Kingdom of God. Joseph Smith ordained the council to be the governing body of the world, with himself as chairman, Prophet, Priest, and King over the Council and the world (subject to Jesus Christ, who is "King of kings"[1]).
The Council was organized on 11 March 1844, at which time it adopted rules of procedure, including those governing legislation. One rule included instructions for passing motions:
- To pass, a motion must be unanimous in the affirmative. Voting is done after the ancient order: each person voting in turn from the oldest to the youngest member of the Council, commencing with the standing chairman. If any member has any objections he is under covenant to fully and freely make them known to the Council. But if he cannot be convinced of the rightness of the course pursued by the Council he must either yield or withdraw membership in the Council. Thus a man will lose his place in the Council if he refuses to act in accordance with righteous principles in the deliberations of the Council. After action is taken and a motion accepted, no fault will be found or change sought for in regard to the motion.[2]
What is interesting about this rule is that it required each council member, by covenant, to voice his objections to proposed legislation. Those council members who dissented and could not be convinced to change their minds were free to withdraw from the council without repercussions. Thus, full freedom of conscience was maintained by the council — not exactly the sort of actions a despot or tyrant would allow.
The Council never rose to the stature Joseph intended. Members (which included individuals that were not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) were sent on expeditions west to explore emigration routes for the Saints, lobbied the American government, and were involved in Joseph Smith's presidential campaign. But only three months after it was established, Joseph was killed, and his death was the beginning of the Council's end. Brigham Young used it as the Saints moved west and settled in the Great Basin, and it met annually during John Taylor's administration, but since that time the Council has not played an active role among the Latter-day Saints.
Conclusion
Joseph was never anointed King over the earth in any political sense. The Council of Fifty, while established in preparation for a future millenial government under Jesus Christ (who is the King of Kings) was to be governed on earth during this preperatory period by the highest presiding ecclesiastical authority, which at the time was the Prophet Joseph Smith. Joseph had previously been anointed a King and Priest in the Kingdom of God by religious rites associated with the fullness of the temple endowment, and was placed as a presiding authority over this body in his most exalted position within the kingdom of God (as a King and a Priest). The fact that Joseph's prior anointing was referenced in his position as presiding authority over this body creates the confusion that he had been anointed King of the Earth. He was in fact only anointed as the presiding authority over an organization that was to prepare for the future reign of Jesus Christ during the millenium. The fact that Joseph had submitted his name for consideration as President of the United States during this same period adds fodder for critics seeking to malign the character of the Prophet.
Endnotes
- [back] See 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 17:14; 19:16
- [back] Andrew F. Ehat, "'It Seems Like Haven Began on Earth,'" pp. 260–61.
Further reading
FAIR wiki articles
| Political issues in Church history wiki articles |
- Authoritarianism and Church leaders?
- Church involvement in politics [needs work]
- The Council of Fifty
- Joseph Smith and politics
FAIR web site
| Political issues in Church history FAIR articles |
- FAIR Topical Guide: Political Issues FAIR link
External links
| Political issues in Church history on-line articles |
Authoritarianism?
- Eric A. Eliason, "Review of: Forgotten Kingdom: The Mormon Theocracy in the American West, 1847–1896," FARMS Review of Books 12/1 (2000): 95–112. off-site PDF link
Council of Fifty
- Michael D. Quinn, "The Council of Fifty and Its Members, 1844 to 1945," Brigham Young University Studies 20:2 (Winter 1980): 163–97. off-site
- Andrew F. Ehat, "'It Seems Like Heaven Began on Earth': Joseph Smith and the Constitution of the Kingdom of God," Brigham Young University Studies 20:3 (Spring 1980): 253–79. off-site
- J. Stapley, "Theodemocracy," ByCommonConsent.com (accessed 20 August 2006) off-site
- Edward G. Thompson, "A Study of the Political Involvements in the Career of Joseph Smith," Master's thesis, Brigham Young University, 1966). off-site
Joseph Smith and politics
- James B. Allen, "I Have A Question: Was Joseph Smith a Serious Cnadidate for the Presidency of the United States, or Was He Only Attempting to Publicize Gospel Views on Public Issues," Ensign (September 1973): 21–22. off-site
- Martin B. Hickman, "The Political Legacy of Joseph Smith," Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 3:3 (Autumn 1968): 22–27. off-site
- Richard D. Poll, "Joseph Smith and the Presidency, 1844," Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 3:3 (Autumn 1968): 17–21. off-site
- Margaret C. Robertson, "The Campaign and the Kingdom: The Activities of the Electioneers in Joseph Smith's Presidential Campaign," Brigham Young University Studies 39:3 (2000): 147–180. off-site (Key source)
- Joseph Smith, General Smith's Views of the Powers and Policy of the Government of the United States (Nauvoo, Illinois: John Taylor, 1844). Republished in Dialogue 3/3 (Autumn 1968): 29–34. off-site
Printed material
| Political issues in Church history printed materials |
Authoritarianism?
Council of Fifty
- James R. Clark, "The Kingdom of God, the Council of Fifty, and the Star of Deseret," Utah Historical Quarterly 26 (April 1958): 130–48.
- G. Homer Durham, Joseph Smith: Prophet-Statesman (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1944).
- Klaus J. Hansen, Quest for Empire (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1967).
Joseph Smith and politics
- James B. Allen, Trials of Discipleship: The Story of William Clayton, a Mormon (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1987), 101–103.
- James B. Allen and Glen M. Leonard, Story of the Latter-day Saints, 2nd edition revised and enlarged, (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1992[1976]), 189–190. ISBN 087579565X. GospeLink
- Ivan J. Barrett, Joseph Smith and the Restoration, revised edition, (Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Press, 1973), 572–579.
- G. Homer Durham, Joseph Smith: Prophet-Statesman (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1944). (Key source)
- Arnold K. Garr, "Joseph Smith: Candidate for President of the United States," in Regional Studies in the Latter-day Saint Church History: Illinois, edited by H. Dean Garret (Provo, Utah: Department of Church History and Doctrine, Brigham Young University, 1995), 151–168. GospeLink GL direct link
- Francis M. Gibbons, Joseph Smith, Martyr, Prophet of God (Salt Lake City: Desert Book, 1977), 315–318.
- Clark V. Johnson, "Government Responses to Mormon Appeals, 1840–1846," in Regional Studies in the Latter-day Saint Church History: Illinois, edited by H. Dean Garret (Provo, Utah: Department of Church History and Doctrine, Brigham Young University, 1995), 183–198. GospeLink GL direct link
- Brigham H. (B.H.) Roberts, The Rise and Fall of Nauvoo (Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1900), 250–254. GospeLink
- John A. Widtsoe, Joseph Smith: Seeker after Truth, Prophet of God (Salt Lake City: Deseret News, 1951), 217–219. GospeLink
