List of members of the Council of Fifty explained

In 1844, Joseph Smith, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, established the Council of Fifty, a Latter Day Saint 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 sects.

Members of the Council of Fifty of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
NameBirthDeathAdmittedReleased/DroppedNotes
center|70pxAfter Joseph Smith's death, Adams joined with James Strang and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite). He broke away from Strang and formed the Church of the Messiah, a sect that traveled to and settled in Palestine in the late 1850s.[1]
center|70pxBabbitt was the first secretary and treasurer of the Territory of Utah. He was killed in a raid by Cheyenne Native Americans in Nebraska Territory while traveling on government business between Utah and Washington, D.C.[2] [3]
Readmitted to Council and attended its 1851 meetings. Dropped again in 1867–1868 period.
Bent also served as a colonel in the Nauvoo Legion.[4]
center|70pxWas a Delegate to U.S. House of Representatives from Utah twice, from March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1859 and March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1863
One of only three members of the Council who was not a member of the Latter Day Saint movement.[5] Known for his investigation of the "Banditti of the Prairie", which resulted in an investigation of the torture-murder of George Davenport.
One of only three members of the Council who was not a member of the Latter Day Saint movement. After his expulsion from the Quorum, he returned to Utah in the 1850s and demonstrated an invention of "liquid fireworks" to the Council of fifty.
center|70pxAttended provisional meeting of March 10, 1844
center|70pxAttended provisional meeting on March 10, 1844, and appointed clerk. Officially reappointed Clerk of the Kingdom on March 13, 1844.
center|70pxAttended provisional meeting of March 10, 1844
One of only three members of the Council who was not a member of the Latter Day Saint movement.
Attended provisional meeting of March 10, 1844
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center|70pxAttended provisional meeting of March 10, 1844
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center|70pxPossibly dropped after January 25, 1867; otherwise technically remained a member until death.
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Attended provisional meeting of March 10, 1844
Released due to old age
center|70pxAttended provisional meeting of March 10, 1844
center|70pxAttended provisional meeting of March 10, 1844
center|70pxAttended provisional meeting of March 10, 1844
center|70pxReleased due to old age
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center|70pxAttended provisional meeting on March 10, 1844, and appointed chairman. Released as provisional chairman and made recorder on March 13, 1844.
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center|70pxAttended provisional meeting of March 10, 1844
center|70pxAttended provisional meeting of March 10, 1844
center|70pxUncle to Joseph Smith Jr. Later Ordained Patriarch to the Church.
center|70pxAttended provisional meeting on March 10, 1844. Appointed standing chairman March 13, 1844. Ordained and anointed Prophet, Priest, and King over Israel on Earth on April 11, 1844.
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center|70pxAttended provisional meeting on March 10, 1844. Elected standing chairman April 10, 1880. Anointed and ordained as King, Priest, and Ruler over Israel on Earth on February 4, 1885.
Attended provisional meeting of March 10, 1844
center|70pxAttended provisional meeting of March 10, 1844
center|70pxWas voted on April 18, 1844
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center|70pxAttended provisional meeting on March 10, 1844. Appointed standing chairman February 4, 1845. Anointed and ordained King, Priest, and Ruler over Israel on Earth, probably in 1848–1849 period.

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.

Members of the Council of Fifty of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
NameBirthDeathAdmittedReleased/DroppedNotes
center|70pxBenson was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from July 16, 1846, to September 3, 1869.[6]
center|70pxConsidered April 10, 1880. Was voted on June 24, 1882. A member of the Idaho Legislature.[7]
center|70pxReleased due to old age. Reporter for the Council meetings from 1848. Was a clerk in the Church Historian's Office of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[8]
center|70pxA member of the presiding bishopric and a principal officers in the Nauvoo Legion during its Utah reconstitution (including the Utah War)[9] and led the territorial militia against the Morrisites during the 1862 Morrisite War.
center|70pxA delegate to the United States House of Representatives from the Territory of Utah.[10] |-| center|70px| | | | | | A member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from October 7, 1889, to July 19, 1896.[11] |-| center|70px| | | | | | Cannon was the appellant in the case of Cannon v. United States, which was decided by the United States Supreme Court after Cannon was convicted under the Edmunds Act of unlawful cohabitation and sentenced to six months' imprisonment and a $900 fine.[12] |-| center|70px| | | | | | Elected recorder January 23, 1867. George Q. Cannon was early member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and a member of First Presidency under four Presidents of the church.[13] |-| center|70px| | | | | | Editor-in-chief of the Deseret News in Salt Lake City, Utah and Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric.|-| center|70px| | | | | | Reporter for Council meetings in 1848.|-| center|70px| | | | | | |-| | | | | | | |-| | | | | | | |-| center|70px| | | | | | |-| | | | | | | |-| | | | | | | |-| | | | | | | |-| center|70px| | | | | | |-| | | | | | | |-| center|70px| | | | | | |-| | | | | | | |-| center|70px| | | | | | |-| center|70px| | | | | | Released due to old age|-| | | | | | | Appointed reporter, but not member, on April 5, 1882.|-| | | | | | | |-| center|70px| | | | | | Was voted on June 26, 1882|-| center|70px| | | | | | |-| center|70px| | | | | | |-| center|70px| | | | | | Released due to old age|-| center|70px| | | | | | |-| center|70px| | | | | | Was voted on January 23, 1867|-| center|70px| | | | | | |-| | | | | | | Was voted on January 23, 1867|-| | | | | | | Was voted on January 23, 1867|-| center|70px| | | | | | Was voted on January 23, 1867|-| center|70px| | | | | | |-| center|70px| | | | | | Acted as council clerk 1846 meetings.|-| center|70px| | | | | | |-| center|70px| | | | | | |-| center|70px| | | | | | Was voted on March 1, 1845. |-| center|70px| | | | | | Considered April 10, 1880|-| center|70px| | | | | | Elected clerk April 10, 1880|-| center|70px| | | | | | Released due to old age|-| | | | | | | |-| center|70px| | | | | | |-| center|70px| | | | | | Was voted on June 27, 1882.|-| center|70px| | | | | | |-| center|70px| | | | | | |-| center|70px| | | | | | |-| | | | | | | |-| center|70px| | | | | | |-| center|70px| | | | | | |-| | | | | | | |-| center|70px| | | | | | |-| center|70px| | | | | | |-| center|70px| | | | | | |-| center|70px| | | | | | |-| center|70px| | | | | | Released due to old age|-| center|70px| | | | | | |-| center|70px| | | | | | Grandson of (Uncle) John Smith. Made an Apostle in 1880.|-| center|70px| | | | | | Was voted on January 23, 1867|-| center|70px| | | | | | |-| center|70px| | | | | | |-| center|70px| | | | | | |-| center|70px| | | | | | |-| center|70px| | | | | | |-| center|70px| | | | | | Was voted on March 1, 1845|-| center|70px| | | | | | |-| | | | | | | |-| center|70px| | | | | ||-| center|70px| | | | | | Elected assistant clerk on April 10, 1880.|-| center|70px| | | | | | Was voted on June 26, 1882|-| center|70px| | | | | | |-| center|70px| | | | | June 12, 1870 | |-| center|70px| | | | | | |-| | | | | | | |-| center|70px| | | | | | |-| center|70px| | | | | | |-| | | | | | | Brother of Brigham Young|-| | | | | | | |-| center|70px| | | | | | |-| center|70px| | | | | | |-| center|70px| | | | | | "Fellowship" in the council was challenged on August 22, 1851, but reconciled with the council on that date|-| center|70px| | | | | ||}

References

Notes and References

  1. Peter Amann, "Prophet in Zion: The Saga of George J. Adams", New England Quarterly, vol. 37, no. 4 (1964) pp. 477–500
  2. http://www.utahwar.org/pdf/chronology_printable.pdf "Utah War Chronology"
  3. http://josephsmithpapers.org/person?name=Almon+Whiting+Babbitt Biography
  4. [Andrew Jenson]
  5. Book: Givens, George W.. 500 Little Known Facts in Mormon History. 2002. 1. Cedar Fort. 1555176518. 113. 10 September 2013.
  6. Web site: Ezra T. Benson Family Web Site.
  7. [Andrew Jenson]
  8. Bullock worked in the Church Historian's Office, but was not an official "Assistant Church Historian". The first "Assistant Church Historian" was Wilford Woodruff called in 1856, after Bullock left in 1854. See Arrington . Leonard J. . Leonard J. Arrington . The Search for Truth and Meaning in Mormon History . . 3 . 2 . 56–66 . Summer 1968 . 10.2307/45227258 . 45227258 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110614014907/http://content.lib.utah.edu/u/?%2Fdialogue%2C1554 . 2011-06-14 .
  9. http://www.gapages.com/burtort1.htm Grampa Bill's G.A. Pages: Robert T. Burton
  10. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress: 1774- Present, Caine, John Thomas, (1829 - 1911)
  11. Book: Jenson, Andrew . Latter-day Saint biographical encyclopedia: A compilation of biographical sketches of prominent men and women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints . December 6, 2011 . 1 . 1901 . The Andrew Jenson History Company (Printed by The Deseret News) . Salt Lake City, Utah . 167–168.
  12. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1885/12/15/103092194.pdf "The Anti-Polygamy Law; Ex-Delegate Cannon's Sentence Affirmed. The Supreme Court Upholds the Decisions of the Territorial Judges; Opinions in Other Cases"
  13. Book: Jenson, Andrew . Latter-day Saint biographical encyclopedia: A compilation of biographical sketches of prominent men and women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. September 10, 2013 . 1 . 1901 . The Andrew Jenson History Company (Printed by The Deseret News Press) . Salt Lake City, Utah . 42–43.

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