Three months before his death, Joseph Smith established the
Council of Fifty, a confidential group that he believed would protect
the Latter,day Saints in their political rights and one day serve
as the government of the kingdom of God. The Council of Fifty
operated under the leadership of Joseph Smith and then Brigham
Young, playing a key role in Joseph Smiths presidential campaign
and in preparing for the Mormon exodus to the West. The councils
minutes had never been available until they were published by the
Joseph Smith Papers in September 2016, meaning that the council
has been the subject of intense speculation for 160 years.
This book of about fifteen short essays will give a broad audience
of Latter,day Saints an initial view of how the councils minutes
enhance our understanding of Mormon history. Some fifteen
leading Mormon scholars narrate and analyze the contributions of
the records of the council to key questions, such as Joseph Smiths
views of earthly and heavenly governments the presidential
campaign Mormon relationships with American Indians
explorations of possible settlements sites, such as Texas and
California thelost teachings of Church leaders of that era and
the leadership styles of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young.
