In 1844,
Joseph Smith,
president of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a nontrinitarian Christian church that considers itself to be the restoration of the original church founded by Jesus Christ. The chu ...
, established the
Council of Fifty, a
Latter Day Saint
The Latter Day Saint movement (also called the LDS movement, LDS restorationist movement, or Smith–Rigdon movement) is the collection of independent church groups that trace their origins to a Christian Restorationist movement founded by Jo ...
organization, in order to symbolize and represent a future
theocratic or
theodemocratic "Kingdom of God" on the earth.
Following Smith's death, his successor,
Brigham Young, as President of
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), hoped to continue the Council of Fifty in order to create this Kingdom in preparation for the
Millennium and the
Second Coming of Jesus. 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.
Following the
death of Smith, some members of the council continued on as members of the Council of Fifty, under the leadership of
Brigham Young and within
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, while some members left to join or form various other
sects in the Latter Day Saint movement.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
This table includes individuals who joined the Council of Fifty prior to June 27, 1844, under the leadership of Joseph Smith,
president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (as named in 1844). However, all the included individuals are regarded as early leaders of the church by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the
Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (now the Community of Christ) and other
Latter Day Saint
The Latter Day Saint movement (also called the LDS movement, LDS restorationist movement, or Smith–Rigdon movement) is the collection of independent church groups that trace their origins to a Christian Restorationist movement founded by Jo ...
sects.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
This table includes individuals were joined the Council of Fifty following after June 27, 1844, and under the leadership of
Brigham Young,
president of the LDS Church. Generally they are only regarded as early leaders of the church by the LDS Church.
Notes
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Council Of Fifty
History of the Latter Day Saint movement
Latter Day Saint hierarchy
Religious organizations established in 1844
Council of Fifty
Lists of Christian religious leaders
Mormonism and politics
Council of Fifty