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This article is about the organization described by Joseph Smith in early 19th century Mormon theology. For the Mormon fundamentalist sect known and the Council of Friends and the Woolley Group, see Council of Friends (Woolley).

The Council of Friends was an organization described by Joseph Smith in early 19th-century Mormon theology. He viewed the organisation as being part of a world government which would guide and direct the Kingdom of God (Zion) on earth during the end times as a theodemocracy.

Vision

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Smith envisioned this council as serving in an advisory capacity to both the Priesthood authorities of his church and a Council of Fifty. This group of three organizations was expected to rule as a world government just prior to the Millennium.[1][2] As advisers, the Council of Friends would serve as the base of the governing body, but possessed no real political power. Although claims to priesthood authority preceded the official organization of Smith's church in 1830, and a Council of Fifty was organized on March 11, 1844, no Council of Friends was ever organized by Smith.[3]

Mormon fundamentalism

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Mormonism and polygamy
Portrait of five caucasian Latter-day Saints, married to each other in nineteenth-century Latter-day Saint polygamy, against the backdrop of what may be a hedge. All seem to be posing; none face the camera. Leftmost is a woman, seated, her hair done in a high, braided bun, wearing a dress with buttons down the middle; in her hands are an open book. Center-left, standing furthest to the back (though still very much with the portraited group) is a woman, her hair done up but resting low, in a polka-dotted top and a scarf or ascot around her neck and a skirt. She carries a hat, held to her waist. Center is a woman, sort of kneeling or seated (perhaps there is an unseen stool she's sitting on?). She wears a white dress, her hair is done up in a high and large bun and she wears a headband. In her right arm she holds a hat, over her knees; her left arm rests on the lap of the man sitting center right. She may be leaning against his legs. Center-right is a man, wearing a suit jacket of some kind and a high-collared shirt. He is balded and bearded. His left hand is placed over the left arm of the center woman. Rightmost is a woman, her hair done up but resting low, sitting in a visibly wooden (likely handcrafted) chair. She wears a dress with buttons going down the middle. She holds a hat, which looks very like center's hat, over her knees.
A Mormon "Saint" and Wives by Charles Weitfle (c. 1878–1885)
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Main article: Council of Friends (Woolley)

The concept of a Council of Friends or Priesthood Council is central to the Mormon fundamentalist theology developed by Lorin C. Woolley and others in the late 1920s, wherein it was said to consist of seven "High Priest Apostles" holding higher authority than the Quorum of the Twelve of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).[4] Early fundamentalists believed that the council had been restored in secret by Joseph Smith before the LDS Church itself, and dated back to the time of Adam.[5] Various Mormon fundamentalist leaders were said to have been members of the Council at one time. When fully organized, Woolley taught that the Council would function as the presidency of a larger, seventy-one member Sanhedrin.[6]

The authority of the Council of Friends pertained to the Priesthood and not to the church, early Mormon fundamentalists. Most members of the original members of the Council of Friends had been excommunicated from the LDS Church. They felt that its existence gave them the right to continue solemnizing plural marriages even after LDS Church President Wilford Woodruff's 1890 Manifesto discountenancing the practice.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Andrus, Hyrum Leslie (1958). Joseph Smith and World Government. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book. OCLC 4146522.
  2. ^ Riggs, Robert E. (Winter 1959), "Joseph Smith and World Government", Book Reviews, BYU Studies, 1 (1): 71–73, archived from the original on 2010-08-26
  3. ^ Bradley, Don (April 2006), "The Grand Fundamental Principles of Mormonism: Joseph Smith's Unfinished Reformation" (PDF), Sunstone: 32–41, archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-04, retrieved 2012-02-06
  4. ^ Musser, Joseph W. (1948), A Priesthood Issue.
  5. ^ Musser, Joseph W. (1939) Michael, Our Father and Our God, Truth Publications, 122–23.
  6. ^ Zitting, Laura Tree. (1988) Charles F. Zitting: One of God's Noble Men.
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