Proclamation of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

In Short

This proclamation serves as an official manifesto of the Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, issued in 1845. It functions as both a theological declaration and an urgent invitation to the world’s leaders and citizens. The text asserts that God has restored the ancient High Priesthood to earth to organize the kingdom of God, gather the remnants of Israel, and establish a millennial reign of peace. It remains a foundational document for understanding the movement’s mid-19th-century missionary zeal and its belief in a literal, impending divine transformation of global governance.

The Story

The narrative begins with a formal greeting to the rulers and people of the earth, announcing that the silence between heaven and earth has been broken. The Apostles declare that the "great Eloheem Jehovah" has restored the High Priesthood, granting them the keys to administer the ordinances of salvation. This restoration is framed not as a new invention, but as the fulfillment of ancient prophecy meant to prepare humanity for the second coming of the Son of Man. The text posits that the world is currently in a state of spiritual disarray, and only by humbling themselves, repenting, and receiving the gospel in its "fulness"—accompanied by the gift of the Holy Spirit—can the nations survive the coming upheavals.

The arc of the argument expands from the individual to the global. The authors explain that the "Indians" of the Americas are a remnant of Israel, destined to be gathered, civilized, and made a righteous nation. Simultaneously, they command the Jewish people to return to Palestine, rebuild their temple, and establish their own government, signaling that the keys of the priesthood have been restored to facilitate this national homecoming. The text then shifts to a stark ultimatum for the Gentiles: the world cannot remain neutral. As the kingdom of God gains political and religious prominence, all individuals must choose whether to emulate figures like the noble Cyrus and support the movement, or follow the path of Pharaoh and perish through their opposition.

The climax of this prophecy involves a literal, physical transformation of the earth. The Apostles describe a future siege of Jerusalem, where the Jewish people—empowered by divine aid—triumph over the gathered armies of the nations. Following this victory, the Messiah descends, the Mount of Olives splits, and Jerusalem becomes the seat of empire for the Eastern Hemisphere. In the West, a similar process occurs, with the establishment of a holy city and temple—Zion—on the American continent. These two capitals, Jerusalem and Zion, become the twin centers of a new global order where war ceases and the Lord reigns as King of all the earth.

The document concludes with a practical, earthly appeal. The Apostles describe the history of the Latter-day Saints as a record of persecution, imprisonment, and the martyrdom of their founder, Joseph Smith, and his brother Hyrum. They ask the rulers of the United States and other nations to grant the Saints protection, legal redress for their lost property, and support for the building of their temple in Nauvoo. The closing sections serve as a tactical manual for global distribution, instructing various church leaders to translate and disseminate the message across continents and languages. It ends with the resolute conviction that the work is divine, inescapable, and destined to triumph regardless of human resistance.

How It Unfolds

The divine summons The Apostles open with a formal, authoritative greeting to all kings and rulers, announcing that the kingdom of God has been established on earth through the restoration of the ancient Priesthood. They define the gospel as the only path to salvation and declare that the time for preparation for the second coming is short.

The call to the remnants of Israel The focus turns to the gathering of the tribes of Israel, specifically the "Indians" of the Americas and the Jewish people in Palestine. The text asserts that these groups must be restored to their ancient heritage and political sovereignty to fulfill scriptural promises.

The ultimatum of neutrality The authors argue that the world is moving toward a binary conflict where no one can remain an idle spectator. Rulers and citizens are urged to assist in this "greatest of all revolutions" or face the consequences of opposing a work that is sanctioned by divine oath.

The millennial transformation A graphic vision of the future is painted, where the Messiah descends to Jerusalem and Zion, turning the world toward a thousand years of peace. This section details the literal physical changes to the earth and the reorganization of human governance under a single, divine sovereign.

The appeal for protection The narrative shifts from the prophetic to the immediate, documenting the history of persecution the Saints have faced. It calls upon American political leaders to uphold the Constitution and provide the financial and legal protection necessary to complete their mission.

The global dissemination plan The document ends with a practical directive for the wide circulation of the proclamation. By instructing specific missionaries in various countries to translate and publish the text, the Apostles move to ensure their message reaches the broadest possible audience.

The People

The text is driven by the collective voice of the Council of the Twelve Apostles, who speak as authoritative messengers. They see themselves as the stewards of a divine mandate, tasked with the heavy burden of preparing a skeptical world for the return of the Messiah. They are defined by their unwavering conviction and their willingness to endure "privation, hunger, [and] imprisonment" for their faith.

Joseph Smith and his brother Hiram Smith are cast as the foundational martyrs of this era. Their "cruel martyrdom" acts as the moral weight behind the Apostles' plea, as the authors suggest the movement is fueled by the blood of those who died for their testimony. The "Indians" and the Jews are described as the central figures of the restoration; they are the "remnant of Israel" whose return to spiritual and political prominence is the essential mechanism of the coming millennial age.

Finally, the kings, rulers, and people of the world represent the target audience, cast in the roles of either potential allies—like the biblical Cyrus or Ruth—who will protect and join the movement, or, conversely, as enemies—like Pharaoh or Balaam—who will fight against the inevitable progress of the kingdom. These figures are not just historical references but archetypes that the Apostles use to challenge the modern reader’s response to their message.

In Its Own Voice

"The great Eloheem Jehovah has been pleased once more to speak from the heavens; and also to commune with man upon the earth, by means of open visions, and by the ministration of HOLY MESSENGERS."

The Apostles introduce the theological basis for their authority by stating that the veil between God and humanity has been removed.

"The Latter-day Saints, since their first organization in the year 1830, have been a poor, persecuted, abused, and afflicted people."

This line provides the historical context for the movement, framing their suffering as a testament to their devotion to the truth.

"And we now bear witness that his coming is near at hand; and not many years hence, the nations and their kings shall see him coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."

The document culminates in this central, urgent assertion, framing the entirety of their work as a vital preparation for a literal, visible second advent.

What It's Really About

At its core, this document is an argument for the necessity of a single, divine standard to resolve the political and religious chaos of the 19th century. It posits that human institutions—governments, churches, and creeds—are inherently "powerless" and prone to strife. The text offers the restoration of the Priesthood as the only mechanism to unite the world under a common, peaceful covenant. It is fundamentally concerned with the concept of "gathering": the literal and spiritual return of dispersed peoples to their ancestral lands and the unification of all humanity under a divine government. The questions beneath the text are urgent: Can a nation truly claim to be free if it ignores the divine order? And can the world survive without the authoritative guidance of God?

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the history of American religious movements will find this text to be a primary window into the intense, eschatological mindset of the 1840s. It captures the specific, urgent tone of a group that believed they were living in the final years before a global transformation. The prose is powerful, rhythmic, and uncompromising, reflecting the Victorian-era oratorical style that favored bold declarations and high-stakes stakes.

However, a modern reader must be prepared for the challenges of the text. It contains period-specific attitudes, particularly regarding the indigenous peoples of the Americas—whom the authors refer to as "Indians" and "sons of the forest"—that reflect the paternalistic and essentialist views of the mid-19th century. The document is also heavily weighted by a belief in the literal, physical manifestation of biblical prophecy, which may feel alien or difficult to process from a contemporary perspective. Despite these hurdles, the work is a vital historical artifact. It provides an honest look at the defensive, yet bold, posture of a community that felt itself to be an embattled minority. What stays with the reader is the sheer tenacity of the authors—their absolute refusal to be deterred by social or political hostility, and their unshakable belief that their message, whether heard today or centuries later, would eventually reshape the course of human history.