[Hemidakota]

Part-5

the anointing and ordination of john taylor in 1885 as "king, priest and ruler over israel on the earth--over zion & the kingdom of christ" is important as a verifying evidence. First, it corroborates the accuracy of earlier statements that joseph smith received the same ceremony at the hands of the council of fifty some forty years before. Second, it clarifies that heber c. Kimball was alluding to brigham young's having received the same ordinance when heber stated:

The church and kingdom to which we belong will become the kingdom of our god and his christ, and brother brigham young will become president of the united states.

(voices responded, "amen.")

and i tell you he will be something more; but we do not now want to give him the name: But he is called and ordained to a far greater station than that, and he is foreordained to take that station, and he has got it. 98

although the exact date on which brigham young obtained the theocratic ordination of king, priest, and ruler over israel is not presently known, he undoubtedly received it in the same manner that joseph smith did on 11 april 1844 and john taylor did on 4 february 1885. Also, the ceremony performed for john taylor in 1885 further corroborates that the first presidency and the quorum of the twelve apostles did not require the presence of the rest of the council of fifty to conduct crucial matters of the theocratic kingdom of god.

Although the council of fifty did not convene after 1884, members of the first presidency and the quorum of the twelve may have performed this theocratic ordinance for the presidents of the church who followed john taylor. At any rate, john w. Taylor, former member of the quorum of the twelve apostles and one of the last men admitted to the council of fifty, addressed president joseph f. Smith in 1911 as "prophet, president and king" in a letter regarding the council of fifty. 99

the 1885 ordinance for john taylor also verifies the exclusively symbolic nature of the office of "king, priest and ruler over israel on earth" which joseph smith, brigham young, and john taylor received in succession as presidents of the church. When the apostles conferred this office upon john taylor in 1885, the political kingdom of god among the mormons was in disarray. Polygamists (accounting for most of the prominent political leaders of mormonism) had been disfranchised for three years and were either in prison or in hiding to avoid arrest. After a four-year renaissance of limited significance, the council of fifty could no longer convene because of the federal "raid," and the council had started its final slide into oblivion. Only days before the theocratic ordinance, president taylor himself began a permanent exile in hiding from federal authorities.

The 1885 theocratic ordinance was really a magnificent gesture of resignation, similar to the orchestra on the titanic playing "nearer my god to thee" as the ship plunged into the icy atlantic. John taylor was anointed a theocratic king, priest, and ruler in the absence of pomp, in a simple ceremony witnessed by a very few trusted associates, and at a time it was obvious that mormon theocracy in utah was in its death throes. As god's representative on earth as prophet and president of the church, it was sufficient to john taylor that he had witnessed to god spiritually through a symbolic ordinance that it was the right of government under christ to reign on the earth. Like the council of fifty itself, the office of prophet--king was an ultimate symbol in mormonism of the heavenly kingdom of god which could only be foreshadowed on a corrupt world and in a temporal church. 100 101

finale
during the years of its sporadic activity, the council of fifty was an open secret among the mormons. Some of this knowledge came from unauthorized sources, such as the 1844 disclosures in the anti-mormon press. 102 more often, however, knowledge of the council of fifty came to the latter-day saints through official sources. On 13 january 1846, the council openly identified itself in a meeting with many others who were appointed to lead the exodus from nauvoo. 103 on 17 june 1857 the deseret news first published the account of joseph smith's organizing the "special council," and on 26 november 1857 president brigham young gave his concent [sic] for us to publish an account of it so that the saints might understand it." 104 in 1858, church publications began referring to the council of fifty by this name. 105 general authorities of the church gave sermons explaining that the kingdom of god was an organization that had already been established among the saints, and john pack, a member of the council of fifty, instructed the women of the salt lake city seventeenth ward relief society about the organization and purposes of the council of fifty. 106 by the 1870s, deseret news obituaries were referring to membership in the council of fifty, and in 1901 assistant church historian andrew jenson matter-of-factly identified men as members of the council in his published biographies. 107 the council of fifty was secretive in the same way in which the quorum of twelve apostles guarded the minutes of its own meetings, but the council of fifty was hardly a secret among the latter-day saints of the nineteenth century.

Even more latter-day saints would have known of the organization, if the council had functioned in a regular or lasting manner. After decades of sporadic activity, it last convened on 9 october 1884. This is evident from the diaries of men like robert t. Burton, abraham h. Cannon, heber j. Grant, franklin d. Richards, john henry smith, wilford woodruff, and brigham young, jr., who regularly recorded their attendance at council of fifty meetings through 1884 but made no mention of attending such meetings during the decades after 1884.

The council of fifty's inactivity troubled apostles john w. Taylor, who had barely entered the council on its last meeting date in 1884. On 25 october 1887, while the quorum of the twelve was in the midst of seeking statehood for utah, john w. Taylor expressed it as his opinion that it would be much better if all of our business in relation to a state was transacted through the council of fifty.

Prest woodruff said it would be all right for the council of fifty to meet and attend to this matter but under existing circumstances it would not be safe to have them do so. 108

after 1884, members of the council of fifty had ad hoc meetings with the presidency and the quorum of the twelve concerning the quest for statehood, but that practice was simply a repetition of earlier periods in which the council itself was nonfunctioning.

By the time the first presidency and the quorum of the twelve shephered utah to statehood in 1896, safety was no longer the factor for ignoring the council of fifty: The council of fifty was obsolete even as a symbol. The voluntary theocracy of mormon utah had given way to factional politics which divided church leaders and members alike along national party lines.

This placed mormonism even further from the theocratic ideals of the kingdom of god than it was during the imperfect theocracy of territorial utah. Therefore, when john w. Taylor desperately petitioned joseph f. Smith to convene the council of fifty in 1911 to protect elder taylor from being disciplined by the quorum of the twelve apostles, president joseph f. Smith wrote on taylor's letter: "not granted i think the demand most absurd." 109

a year before john w. Taylor's request, president joseph f. Smith had made a statement that illuminates the spasmodic history of the council of fifty. On 7 april 1910, president smith stated: "this body of men, this council of presidency and apostles, compose the living constitution of the church, with power to legislate, judge and decide." 110 the use of the council of fifty's name "living constitution" to designate the council of the first presidency and the quorum of the twelve apostles is a crucial insight into the kingdom of god within mormonism. In theory, theology, and reality, the lds presidency and apostles always governed the council of fifty when it was functioning, and in the absence of the council of fifty, they continue as the apex of both church and kingdom on earth until the perfect world order of the millennium is established. On 3 january 1932, heber j. Grant recorded that he and franklin s. Richards were the only surviving members of the council, and with the death of president grant on 14 may 1945 the technical survival of the council of fifty ended. 111

legacy
although the council of fifty no longer exists as an organized body, there remains one of its contributions which historically outweighs any practical influences the council may have exerted. After 1845, the council of fifty focused primarily on immediate issues of the mormon community--from exterminating wolves to preparing for elections. By contrast, in 1844 and on occasion thereafter, the council meetings departed from the immediate, often humdrum concerns of the temporal struggles of the church. These minutes contain numerous discourses and instructions by joseph smith and others concerning the role of the u.s. Constitution in the present and millennial existence of the latter-day saints, the nature of the all-encompassing kingdom of god which the council signified, and other crucial teachings that are in no other records than council of fifty minutes. For example, benjamin f. Johnson reported that in the council of fifty meetings, joseph smith taught of "adopting the god given constatution [sic] of united states as a paladium of liberty & eaqual [sic] rights--but this of itself would require a long chapter." 112 both benjamin f. Johnson and orson hyde affirmed that in a meeting of the council of fifty, joseph smith gave his famous charge to the quorum of the twelve to carry forth the church and the kingdom of god, which charge became the basis for the apostolic succession established after the death of joseph smith. 113

these teachings of joseph smith to the council of fifty, found nowhere else, fill hundreds of pages. On 16 march 1880, nearly 200 pages of the council's minutes concerning only its "origin and organization" were read to president john taylor, joseph f. Smith, and franklin d. Richards. Elder richards recorded that the "whole reading was exceedingly interesting & wonderful to contemplate." 114 joseph f. Smith wrote that the prophet's 1844 instructions to the council of fifty were "grand & god like." 115

when joseph smith went to carthage, illinois, for his last imprisonment, the church nearly lost these voluminous teachings of the prophet to the council of fifty. Joseph smith had already been charged by anti-mormons with the ridiculous crime of treason for destroying the nauvoo expositor as a public nuisance. He knew that the frenzied anti-mormons of june 1844 were incapable of understanding the symbolic nature of the prophet-king ordinance or the millennial context of his teachings about the kingdom of god. Therefore, joseph smith told william clayton to either burn or bury the records of the council of fifty. William clayton trusted that calmer, more reasonable and more secure times would come for the latter-day saints and therefore preserved the records for future generations. 116 though not available at this time, those teachings of joseph smith and of his successors in the council of fifty are a far greater legacy to the latter-day saints than the often-mundane activities of the council itself.

council of fifty members, 1844-1945 117
adams, george j. (1810-1880). Admitted between 14 march and 11 april 1844. Dropped 4 february 1845.
Babbitt, almon w. (1812-1856). Admitted between 14 march and 11 april 1844. Remained a member until his death.
Badlam, alexander (1808-1894). Admitted 11 march 1844. Dropped 4 february 1845. Readmitted to council and attended its 1851 meetings. Dropped again in 1867-1868 period.
Benson, ezra t.(1811-1869). Admitted 25 december 1846.
Bent, samuel (1778-1846). Admitted 19 march 1844.
Bernhisel, john m. (1799-1846). Admitted 11 march 1844.
Bonney, edward (1807-1864). Admitted between 14 march and 11 april 1844. Dropped 4 february 1845.
Brown, uriah(1784- ). Admitted 19 march 1844. Dropped 4 february 1845. Council voted on 25 august 1851 to readmit him but rescinded that vote on 13 september 1851.
Budge, william (1828-1919). Considered 10 april 1880. Was voted in 24 june 1882. Admitted 26 june 1883.
Bullock, thomas (1816-1885). Admitted 25 december 1846. Reporter for the council meetings from 1848. Released due to old age 24 june 1882.
Burton, robert t. (1821-1907). Admitted 25 january 1867.
Cahoon, reynolds (1790-1861). Attended provisional meeting of 10 march 1844. Admitted 11 march 1844.
Caine, john t. (1829-1911). Admitted 8 april 1881.
Cannon, abraham h. (1834-1915). Admitted 9 october 1884.
Cannon, angus m. (1834-1915). Admitted 10 april 1880.
Cannon, george q. (1827-1901). Admitted 23 january 1867. Elected recorder 23 january 1867.
Cannon, john q. (1857-1931). Admitted 9 october 1884.
Carrington, albert (1813-1889). Admitted 18 or 22 april 1845. Reporter for council meetings in 1848.
Clawson, hiram b. (1826-1912). Admitted 27 june 1882.
Clayton, william (1814-1879). Attended provisional meeting on 10 march 1844. Appointed clerk on 10 march 1844. Officially admitted on 11 march 1844. Officially reappointed clerk of the kingdom on 13 march 1844.
Clinton, jeter (1813-1892). Admitted 25 january 1867.
Cluff, william w. (1813-1892). Admitted 10 april 1880.
Coolidge, joseph w. (1814- ). Admitted 18 april 1844. Dropped after 1848.
Cutler, alpheus (1784-1864). Attended provisional meeting on 10 march 1844. Admitted 11 march 1844. Possibly dropped in 1848-1849 period.
Dana, lewis (1805-1885). Admitted 1 march 1845. Dropped after 1848.
Daniels, cyrus (1803-1846). Admitted 11 march 1845.
Dunham, jonathan (1800-1845). Admitted 1 march 1845.
Eaton, marenus g. (1811- ). Admitted between 14 march and 11 april 1844. Dropped 4 february 1845.
Eldredge, horace s. (1816-1888). Admitted 9 december 1848.
Emmett, james (1803-1852). Admitted 13 march 1844. Dropped 4 february 1845.
Farnham, john w. (1794- ). Admitted 18 or 22 april 1845.
Farr, lorin (1820-1909). Admitted 12 october 1880.
Fielding, amos (1792-1875). Attended provisional meeting on 10 march 1844. Admitted 11 march 1844.
Fielding, joseph (1797-1863). Admitted between 14 march and 11 april 1844.
Foster, lucien r. (1806- ). Admitted 1 march 1845. Dropped 12 november 1846.
Fullmer, david (1803-1879). Admitted 1 march 1845.
Fullmer, john s. (1807-1883). Admitted 18 or 22 april 1845. Released due to old age 24 june 1882.
Gibbs, george f. (1846-1924). Appointed reporter, but not member, on 5 april 1882. Admitted 24 june 1882.
Grant, george d. (1812-1876). Admitted 9 september 1845.
Grant, heber j. (1856-1945). Was voted in 26 june 1882. Admitted 27 june or 10 october 1882.
Grant, jedediah m. (1816-1856). Admitted 6 may 1844.
Greene, john p. (1793-1844). Admitted 26 march 1844.
Hardy, leonard w. (1805-1884). Admitted 27 june 1882.
Hatch, abram (1830-1911). Admitted 29 june 1883.
Haws, peter (1796- ). Admitted 11 march 1844. Dropped sometime after 13 november 1846.
Heywood, joseph l. (1815-1910). Admitted 6 december 1848. Released due to old age on 24 june 1882.
Hollister, david s. (1808-1858). Admitted 18 april 1844. Possibly dropped after 25 december 1846.
Hooper, william h. (1813-1882). Was voted in 5 october 1867. Admitted 10 october 1867.
Hunter, edward (1793-1883). Was voted in 23 january 1867. Admitted 25 january 1867.
Hyde, orson (1805-1878). Admitted 13 march 1844.
James, samuel (1806- ). Admitted 19 march 1844. Dropped 4 february 1845.
Jennings, william (1823-1886). Admitted 10 april 1880.
Johnson, benjamin f. (1818-1905). Admitted between 14 march and 11 april 1844.
Kimball, charles s. (1843-1925). Was voted in 23 january 1867. Admitted 25 january 1867.
Kimball, david p. (1839-1883). Was voted in 23 january 1867. Admitted 25 january 1867.
Kimball, heber c. (1801-1868). Attended provisional meeting on 10 march 1844. Admitted 11 march 1844.
Kimball heber p. (1835-1885). Was voted in 23 january 1867. Admitted 5 april 1867.
Layton, christopher (1821-1898). Admitted 29 june 1883.
Lee, john d. (1812-1877). Admitted between 14 march and 11 april 1844.
Little, feramorz (1820-1887). Admitted 21 april 1880.
Lott, cornelius p. (1798-1850). Admitted between 14 march and 11 april 1844.
Lyman, amasa m. (1813-1877). Admitted between 14 march and 11 april 1844. Possibly dropped after 25 january 1867; otherwise technically remained a member until death.
Lyman, francis m. (1840-1916). Admitted 10 april 1880.
Marks, william (1792-1872). Admitted 19 march 1844. Dropped 4 february 1845.
Miller, george (1794-1856). Attended provisional meeting on 10 march 1844. Admitted 11 march 1844. Dropped after 26 december 1846.
Morley, isaac (1786-1865). Was voted in 1 march 1845.
Murdock, john (1826-1913). Considered 10 april 1880. Admitted 28 june 1883.
Nuttall, l. John (1834-1905). Admitted 10 april 1880. Elected clerk 10 april 1880.
Pack, john (1809-1885). Admitted 1 march 1845. Released due to old age 24 june 1882.
Page, john e. (1799-1867). Admitted 1 march 1845. Dropped 12 november 1846.
Parker, john d. (1799-1891). Admitted 19 march 1844. Released due to old age 24 june 1882.
Penrose, charles w. (1832-1925). Admitted 26 june 1882.
Peterson, canute (1824-1902). Was voted in 27 june 1882. Admitted 10 october 1882.
Phelps, john (1800- ). Attended provisional meeting on 10 march 1844 but not admitted to council once formal meetings began on 11 march 1844.
Phelps, william w. (1792-1872). Attended provisional meeting on 10 march 1844. Admitted 11 march 1844.
Pratt, orson (1811-1881). Attended provisional meeting on 10 march 1844. Admitted 11 march 1844.
Pratt, parley p. (1807-1857). Attended provisional meeting on 10 march 1844. Admitted 11 march 1844.
Pratt, parley p., jr. (1837-1897). Admitted 25 january 1867.
Preston, william b. (1830-1908). Admitted 10 april 1880.