List of members of the Council of Fifty


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, 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. 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 and other Latter Day Saint sects.
NameBirthDeathAdmittedReleased/DroppedNotes
After Joseph Smith's death, Adams joined with James Strang and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. 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.
Babbitt 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..
Readmitted to Council and attended its 1851 meetings. Dropped again in 1867–1868 period.
Bent also served as a colonel in the Nauvoo Legion.
Was 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. 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.
Attended provisional meeting of March 10, 1844
Attended provisional meeting on March 10, 1844 and appointed clerk. Officially reappointed Clerk of the Kingdom on March 13, 1844.
Attended 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
Attended provisional meeting of March 10, 1844
Possibly dropped after January 25, 1867; otherwise technically remained a member until death.
Attended provisional meeting of March 10, 1844
Released due to old age
Attended provisional meeting of March 10, 1844
Attended provisional meeting of March 10, 1844
Attended provisional meeting of March 10, 1844
Released due to old age
Attended provisional meeting on March 10, 1844 and appointed chairman. Released as provisional chairman and made recorder on March 13, 1844.
Attended provisional meeting of March 10, 1844
Attended provisional meeting of March 10, 1844
Uncle to Joseph Smith Jr. Later Ordained Patriarch to the Church.
Attended 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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Attended 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
Attended provisional meeting of March 10, 1844
Was voted in April 18, 1844
Attended 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 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Generally they are only regarded as early leaders of the church by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
NameBirthDeathAdmittedReleased/DroppedNotes
Benson was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from July 16, 1846 to September 3, 1869.
Considered April 10, 1880. Was voted in June 24, 1882. A member of the Idaho Legislature.
Released 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.
A member of the presiding bishopric and a principal officers in the Nauvoo Legion during its Utah reconstitution and led the territorial militia against the Morrisites during the 1862 Morrisite War.
A delegate to the United States House of Representatives from the Territory of Utah.
A member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from October 7, 1889 to July 19, 1896.
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.
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.
Editor-in-chief of the Deseret News in Salt Lake City, Utah and Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric.
Reporter for Council meetings in 1848.
Released due to old age
Appointed reporter, but not member, on April 5, 1882.
Was voted in June 26, 1882
Released due to old age
Was voted in January 23, 1867
Was voted in January 23, 1867
Was voted in January 23, 1867
Was voted in January 23, 1867
Acted as council clerk 1846 meetings.
Was voted in March 1, 1845.
Considered April 10, 1880
Elected clerk April 10, 1880
Released due to old age
Was voted in June 27, 1882.
Released due to old age
Grandson of John Smith. Made an Apostle in 1880.
Was voted in January 23, 1867
Was voted in March 1, 1845
Elected assistant clerk on April 10, 1880.
Was voted in June 26, 1882
Brother of Brigham Young
"Fellowship" in the council was challenged on August 22, 1851, but reconciled with the council on that date