The Government of God

In Short

This book serves as a foundational exposition of Latter Day Saint political theology during the mid-1800s. It argues that human history is a long record of failed governance, driven by greed and the rejection of divine authority. The author contends that existing political and religious systems are fundamentally incapable of achieving lasting peace or righteousness. Instead, he asserts that God will soon intervene to establish a literal, global kingdom. Written with urgent conviction, the text provides a window into the visionary and millenarian worldview that shaped early Mormon identity and communal expectations.

The Story

The narrative arc of the book functions as a diagnosis of a world in terminal decline, followed by a prescription for its ultimate renewal. It opens by surveying the state of human society, which the author describes as a "howling wilderness" of misery, war, and corruption. He posits that humanity has abandoned its original relationship with God, choosing instead to pursue "private, jarring interests" and the hollow acquisition of territory and fame. Through a series of chapters, he methodically dismantles the legitimacy of existing powers—kings, statesmen, and religious institutions alike—arguing that their failure is inevitable because they rely on human wisdom rather than the direct, revealed governance of the Almighty.

The argument deepens as the author addresses the destiny of mankind and the earth itself. He challenges the prevailing Christian notion that heaven is a distant, non-physical realm, insisting instead that the earth is man’s eternal inheritance. He envisions a future where the earth is purified and restored to a paradisiacal state, becoming the literal throne of God. The history of the world is portrayed not as a series of random events, but as a long period of probation during which man has abused his "moral agency."

The climax of this argument lies in the inevitability of divine intervention. The author asserts that because human efforts to achieve peace have signally failed, God must—and will—act to "take the reins of government into his own hands." This establishment of the Kingdom of God is not described as a purely spiritual awakening, but as a concrete, administrative, and political transformation. He details the mechanics of this future, including the gathering of the "saints" to specific locations, the restoration of the house of Israel, and the ultimate judgment that will root out wickedness from the earth.

The ending provides a vision of the "restitution of all things." The author describes a state where the righteous, having overcome the effects of the fall, are granted the ability to "eat of the tree of life" and reign with Christ. This is not a passive existence in a nebulous afterlife, but an active, glorious state of being. The book concludes by emphasizing that the purposes of God are immutable. Just as surely as the sun rises, he insists, the "long night of darkness, ignorance, crime, and error" will be superseded by a global reign of equity. The "saints of the Most High" will inherit the earth, bringing to fruition the promises made to the ancients.

How It Unfolds

The diagnosis of discord The author begins by painting a stark portrait of a world divided by jealousy and greed, where history is little more than a chronicle of bloodshed and destruction. He argues that human ambition and the pursuit of power have plunged the earth into a state of "irremediable misery."

The failure of human systems Moving to a critique of contemporary institutions, the text dismisses the capacity of secular governments, political ideologies, and conventional religions to restore order. He asserts that all human attempts to "regenerate the world" are fundamentally incompetent because they lack the necessary divine source.

The promise of a literal kingdom The narrative shifts to a defense of the idea that God’s kingdom is a tangible reality rather than a metaphor. By interpreting scripture as a promise that the "meek shall inherit the earth," the author argues that the planet will become a purified, celestial residence for the righteous.

The mechanism of restoration The final movement describes the concrete steps of the coming kingdom, including the gathering of peoples and the eventual removal of the wicked. The author insists that this transformation is an absolute necessity, as the world cannot remain indefinitely in its current state of corruption and rebellion against its creator.

The People

The central "figure" in this work is the God of the Bible, who is portrayed not as a distant observer but as a concerned Father and the only legitimate sovereign over human affairs. His desire is to restore the earth to its "pristine excellence." Standing in his way is fallen humanity, specifically those who have usurped authority, prioritized their own "craving desires" for wealth and fame, and rejected divine guidance. The author also features the "saints"—those who recognize these truths and wait for the establishment of the kingdom. These individuals are characterized by their patience and their hope for a literal inheritance on a purified earth. Finally, the "wicked" are defined as those who persist in the "abuse of their agency" and the "breaking of the everlasting covenant." These figures are not granted a role in the coming kingdom; instead, they are destined to be "rooted out" to make way for the righteous reign of peace.

In Its Own Voice

"No power on this side of heaven can correct the evil."

This statement sets the stage for the author’s argument that human systems are inherently incapable of solving the world's problems.

"The earth is man's eternal inheritance, where he will exist after the resurrection, for it is destined to be purified and become celestial."

Here, the author clarifies his controversial stance that the earth, not a distant heaven, is the final destination for the righteous.

"The Lord, after trying man's rule for thousands of years, now takes the reins of government into his own hands, and makes use of the only possible means of asserting his rights."

This serves as the core summary of the book’s central thesis regarding the inevitability of divine political intervention.

What It's Really About

At its core, this book is an exploration of legitimacy and sovereignty. It asks: Who truly owns the earth, and by what authority do current governments rule? The author argues that human governance is a form of usurpation—a departure from an original, divine order. The work is deeply concerned with the tension between individual moral agency and the necessity of submission to a higher power. It addresses the question of why the world remains filled with suffering despite the presence of religion, concluding that peace is impossible as long as God is "lost sight of" in the halls of political and social administration. It is a treatise on the transition from human to divine rule.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the history of religious thought, political philosophy, or the origins of Latter Day Saint doctrine will find this a fascinating document. It offers a clear, unapologetic view of a 19th-century worldview that viewed the American continent as a stage for divine drama and expected an imminent, literal transformation of world order.

The prose is vigorous, confident, and frequently polemical, reflecting the fervor of the era’s religious debates. However, a modern reader must be prepared for the book's period-specific attitudes, including its stark binary view of society and its reliance on a specific, literalist interpretation of prophecy. The language is formal and sometimes dense with 19th-century theological jargon, which can make for slow reading. Yet, for those who seek to understand the intellectual and emotional foundations of a movement that transformed the American West, this book is essential. What stays with the reader is the author's unwavering conviction—a sense that the world is not merely drifting toward an uncertain future, but is actively being prepared for a divine, inescapable destiny. It is a challenging, singular work that forces the reader to confront, regardless of their own beliefs, the power of a vision that completely subordinates the temporal to the eternal.