Joe For President

"Somewhere along the way, probably during the six months he languished in a Missouri jail awaiting trial, Smith seems to have decided that a political kingdom of God (under his rule) would precede the apocalyptic kingdom of God (under Christ's rule).... "White Horse" Prophecy, Smith pronounced almost certain destruction upon America due to the government's continued unwillingness to grant reparations for Saints' losses in Missouri. He prophesied: "[I]f Congress will not hear our petition and grant us protection, they shall be broken up as a government. When Congress ignored him once more, he wrote an angry letter to Senator and former vice-president John C. Calhoun. It was brimming with threats of divine retribution: "[I]f the Latter Day Saints are not restored to all their rights, and paid for all their losses, according to the known rules of justice and judgment, reciprocation and common honesty among men, that God will come out of his hiding place and vex this nation with a sore vexation-yea, the consuming wrath of an offended God shall smoke through the nation." But again, Joseph's words had little effect. And so, after careful deliberation, Joseph Smith decided his only recourse was to actually become U.S. president. Moreover, the highest political office in the land certainly would further the establishment of Zion. He chose as his vice-presidential running mate none other than Sidney Rigdon, then ordered the elders of the church to campaign for him. Brigham Young stated: "It is now time to have a President of the United States. Elders will be sent to preach the Gospel and electioneer. In possible preparation for the day when he would be president, Smith actually petitioned Congress in med 1843 for the right to raise a 100,00-man army! Although the petition was denied, Smith continued pursuing his dream of establishing an earthly kingdom by setting up a shadow-government on March 11, 1844. He called his body of behind-the-scenes rulers his Council of Fifty, which according to one member was created as "the Municipal department of the Kingdom of God set up on the Earth, and from which all Law emanated, for the rule, government & control of all Nations, Kingdoms & towns, and People under the whole Heavens." (One Nation Under Gods, Richard Abanes, Four Walls Eight Windows, pgs. 186-187)