On 11 March 1844 in Nauvoo, Illinois, Joseph Smith organized a council that he and his closest associates saw as the beginning of the literal kingdom of God on earth. The council, which eventually became known as the Council of Fifty because it had roughly fifty members, operated under Smith’s leadership until his death less than four months later. Following Smith’s death, the council met in Nauvoo under Brigham Young’s leadership from February 1845 to January 1846.
The following is a list of the men who were members of the Council of Fifty during the Nauvoo period. Most of these individuals have biographies in the People section of this website. Biographies for the remaining individuals (other than Joseph Smith) will be added soon.