Documents, Volume 5: October 1835-January 1838 covers nearly two and a half years of Latter-day Saint history as it documents some of the highest and lowest points of Joseph Smith's life. The fall and winter of 1835-1836 saw a flurry of activity to finish the House of the Lord in Kirtland as well as Joseph Smith's work to unify the priesthood quorums. In March 1836, the Saints dedicated the new temple to God and experiences tremendous outpourings of His Spirit, many of which are documented here. The story of the next twenty-two months is one of financial hardship and challenges to the Prophet's leadership. The establishment and failure of the Kirtland Safety Society Bank loom large. The volume ends with Joseph Smith, fearful for his life, departing Kirtland to move his family to Missouri.

The Joseph Smith Papers Documents, Volume 5, October 1835 - January 1838

RONALD K. ESPLIN

Matthew J. Grow

Matthew C. Godfrey

Religion & Spirituality

The Church Historian's Press

Saints, The Standard of Truth, 1815-1846

Richard E. Turley Jr.

Steven C. Harper

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

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 Smith's presidential campaign and in preparing for the Mormon exodus to the West. The council's 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 170 years. In this book of short essays, fifteen leading Mormon scholars explore how the newly available minutes alter and enhance our understanding of Mormon history. The scholars narrate and analyze the contributions of the records of the council to key questions, such as Joseph Smith's views of earthly and heavenly governments; the presidential campaign; Mormon relationships with American Indians; explorations of possible settlements sites, such as Texas and California; the "lost teachings" of Latter-day Saint leaders of that era; and the leadership style of Brigham Young. The fifteen essays in this collection are as follows: Richard Lyman Bushman, "The Separatist Impulse in the Nauvoo Council of Fifty"; Richard E. Turley Jr., "Injustices Leading to the Creation of the Council of Fifty"; Spencer W. McBride, "The Council of Fifty and Joseph Smith's Presidential Ambitions"; Patrick Q. Mason, "God and the People Reconsidered: Further Reflections on Theodemocracy in Early Mormonism"; Benjamin E. Park, "The Council of Fifty and the Perils of Democratic Governance"; Nathan B. Oman, "'We the People of the Kingdom of God': Constitution Writing in the Council of Fifty"; Gerrit J. Dirkmaat, "Lost Teachings of Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, and Other Church Leaders"; R. Eric Smith, "Insights into Mormon Record-Keeping Practices from the Council of Fifty Minutes"; Matthew J. Grow and Marilyn Bradford, "'To Carry Out Joseph's Measures Is Sweeter to Me Than Honey': Brigham Young and the Council of Fifty"; Jeffrey D. Mahas, "American Indians and the Nauvoo-Era Council of Fifty"; Matthew C. Godfrey, "A Monument to the Saints' Industry: The Nauvoo House and the Council of Fifty, 1845-46"; Christopher James Blythe, "'With Full Authority to Build Up the Kingdom of God on Earth': Lyman Wight on the Council of Fifty"; Richard E. Bennett, "'We Are a Kingdom to Ourselves': The Council of Fifty Minutes and the Mormon Exodus West"; Jedediah S. Rogers, "The Council of Fifty in Western History"; and W. Paul Reeve, "The Council of Fifty and the Search for Religious Liberty."

The Council of Fifty: What the Records Reveal about Mormon History

R. Eric Smith

Religious Studies Center/Brigham Young University

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