World Government (Mormonism)

Early 19th century Mormon theology, under the direction of founder Joseph Smith, and other prominent Mormon leaders such as Brigham Young, taught a World Government - would guide and direct the Kingdom of God, a.k.a. Zion upon the earth - during the end times.[1]

On March 11th, 1844, Smith organized a Council of Fifty, who were to work under the direction of the Priesthood authority of the church (which authority was restored to the earth on April 3, 1836),[2] along with a Council of Friends. This three member body was destined to rule - as the "Political Kingdom of God", a.k.a. 'World Government' - just prior to the return of Jesus Christ near the beginning of the Millennium.[3]

The political and spiritual kingdoms were to be distinct entities, with “a constitutional separation of powers between Zion and the political government.”[3] The Council of Fifty was organized: "for the maintenance, promulgation and protection of civil and religious liberty." The council was intended to act in a legislative capacity as a theodemocracy. The Councils decisions could be vetoed by the Priesthood authority.[4] The third leg of this government, the 'Council of Friends,[5] would act as advisors to both the 'Council of Fifty', and the 'Priesthood body' of the church. All three bodies were to be composed of righteous men.

The priesthood authority would yield veto power over the Council of Fifty. With ultimate power held by a single anointed individual. In the Doctrine and Covenants Chapter 132, Section 7, it states in part: "...I have appointed unto my servant Joseph to hold this power in the last days, and there is never but one on the earth at a time on whom this power and the keys of this priesthood are conferred." Smith was also ordained king on 11 April 1844, and was set to preside over the political kingdom of God and take charge of its directing body, the Council of Fifty. Smith was killed just over two months later (June 27th, 1844). [6]

While the current instantiation LDS (Mormon) leadership has downplayed the dogma, many current Mormon Fundamentalist groups, still actively support the doctrine and promulgate the belief.[7]

Smith's concept was that a city - a New Jerusalem (Zion) - would be the local of the Kingdom of God on the earth. The founding of this millennial Zion was so important for early Church members, that thousands of converts from several different countries sacrificed their homes, careers, families, native lands, comfort, health, and even their lives to aid in the realization Joseph Smith’s vision.[8]

It was taught that this Kingdom would eventually rule over all the people of the earth, and would allow each individual to live under true freedom and liberty.[9]

References

  1. ↑ Andrus, Hyrum Leslie (1958). Joseph Smith and World Government. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book. OCLC 4146522.
  2. ↑ Pratt, John P. (June 1985), "The Restoration of Priesthood Keys on Easter 1836, Part 1: Dating the First Easter", Ensign
  3. 1 2 Riggs, Robert E. (Winter 1959), "Book Reviews", BYU Studies 1 (1): 71–73 |contribution= ignored (help)
  4. ↑ http://books.google.com/books?id=57oTAQAAMAAJ&q=joseph+smith+and+world+government&dq=joseph+smith+and+world+government&hl=en&sa=X&ei=nDQrT8e6IMLUgAef4bjwAQ&ved=0CGkQ6AEwCTgK
  5. ↑ Bradley, Don (April 2006), "The Grand Fundamental Principles of Mormonism: Joseph Smith's Unfinished Reformation" (PDF), Sunstone: 32– 41
  6. ↑ Andrew F. Ehat, Joseph Smith’s Introduction of Temple Ordinances and the 1844 Mormon Succession Question, master’s thesis, Brigham Young University, 1982; D. Michael Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power (Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1994), 491–520. ; Andrew F. Ehat, “It Seems Like Heaven Began on Earth: Joseph Smith and the Constitution of the Kingdom of God,” BYU Studies 20 (Spring 1980): 253–79 ; Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy, 120–32. (Quinn documents Masonic connections to the Council of Fifty)
  7. ↑ E.g. Confederate Nations of Israel
  8. ↑ Olsen, Stephen L. (1993). "Joseph Smith’s Concept of the City of Zion". In Black, Susan Easton; Tate, Charles D., Jr. (eds). Joseph Smith: The Prophet, The Man. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University. p. 203–211.
  9. ↑ http://books.google.com/books?id=jXQtAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA126&lpg=PA126&dq=brigham+young+god+called+organized+church+kingdom+of+god&source=bl&ots=4Ws9GEr0mx&sig=WeLAN3t1ExtOjqE0TgXcC9uc-w4&hl=en&sa=X&ei=N2QrT4jJNu_W2wWj8eWWDw&ved=0CCMQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=brigham%20young%20god%20called%20organized%20church%20kingdom%20of%20god&f=false
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