Without Disclosing My True Identity
into being a secret organization called the “Council of Fifty.”^30 The facts show that the group
consisted of more than just members and leaders of the LDS Church. There were also non-
Mormons commissioned by the council to help organize a presidential campaign. The truth
is, it was not a secret group and was never supposed to be anything but a political campaign
committee. However, the committee was continued and expanded in its designed purpose
until, years later, it ultimately became an arm of Brigham Young to further his purposes in
establishing himself as a dictator and perpetuating his Utah theocracy.^31
Purposely Creating a Divided People
As often as he could, Joseph kept Sidney Rigdon and Brigham Young apart. The two
men hated each other. Joseph believed that the chasm between the two LDS leaders would
be an even greater stumbling block for the Church, something he well intended. Because
many of the new members of the Church came from England and were otherwise
ingratiated to Brigham Young and his missionary cohorts, Joseph felt that by keeping Young
away from Nauvoo and giving the people “their Sidney” he would even out the people’s
loyalty between the two men. Rigdon often gave lengthy sermons that would mesmerize the
people with his oratory skill. Young, on the other hand, was much brasher and less
charismatic than his rival. Joseph’s object in doing this was to divide the loyalties of the LDS
Church members so evenly that neither man, nor any other, would be able to command
clear allegiance of the Church after his certain demise. Joseph knew the people would
stumble terribly after his death as they fought over who should succeed him.
James J. Strang
The conversion of James J. Strang brought another important part of Joseph’s
intended plan into effect. When Joseph first met him, Strang bowed low to the ground
before him and kissed Joseph’s feet. Strang was a Baptist minister and moonlighted as a
lawyer and newspaper editor from New York. He read the Book of Mormon and was
convinced after one reading that it was a truer and better-composed narration of God’s
word than the Bible.
Strang treated Joseph like he was more than a prophet of God, as if he were divine
royalty. Of course, other leaders who had been around Joseph for years, particularly Rigdon
and Young, thought James’ last name, slightly altered, suited him well: “Strange.” Strang
attempted to form some intimacy with the established LDS leaders, but by this time, most of
them were far from accepting Joseph as any type of divine messenger; rather, they thought
him a fallen prophet who was simply a man with passions, like the rest of them.
Joseph found more hope of continuing the Mormon experiment by using Strang. After
a few months of getting to know him, and using the Urim and Thummim to ascertain more
information about his personal life, Joseph determined that Strang would be a good
candidate for Church leadership. Joseph, however, knew that Strang would never be
accepted by the established church councils, so he encouraged Strang to move to another
state and reside within the Church’s branches found outside of Nauvoo. Strang eventually
became a member of a branch in Burlington, Wisconsin. Once there, Strang pressed upon
Joseph incessantly to be appointed as a Stake President over the people. Joseph did not give
in to Strang’s desires until near his death.