The Latter-day Saints had been repeatedly denied protection and redress by officers of government at all levels, and the newest crop of presidential candidates in 1844 promised not to do any better. Therefore, Joseph Smith allowed himself to be declared a candidate for President of the United States in 1844. With such matters upon his mind, we come to March 11, 1844, in Nauvoo, Illinois, Joseph Smith organized a council that he and others saw as the beginning of the government of the literal kingdom of God on earth. The council, known as the Council of the Kingdom of God, or, as more commonly called, The Council of Fifty, because it had roughly fifty members, operated under the Prophet's direction until his martyrdom less than four months later. Why was it formed? To protect the rights of all men!