Confederate Nations of Israel
Encyclopedia
The Confederate Nations of Israel is a hybrid church–political organization with roots in Mormon fundamentalism that was organized in 1977 by Alex Joseph
. Like Mormonism's
Council of Fifty
, after which it was patterned, the Confederate Nations of Israel is multi-denominational and combines ecumenical spiritual doctrines with ultimate aspirations of quasi-theocratic
political control.
Although it is often classified as a sect within the Latter Day Saint movement
and Mormon fundamentalism that practices plural marriage
, the Confederate Nations of Israel is in fact a loosely organized confederation of individuals affiliated from many denominations who may or may not practice polygamy
. Of its 400 members, approximately one-fourth practice polygamy, and very few of these individuals have ever been a member of any Latter Day Saint denomination. In addition to independent Mormon fundamentalists, the organization includes "Catholics, Protestants, Eastern religionists, atheists, and sexually-active homosexuals".
Alex Joseph
, the founder of the Confederate Nations of Israel, was mayor
of Big Water
, Utah
from 1983 to 1994. Another member of the organization, Willy Marshall
, was elected mayor of Big Water in 2001 and became the first openly-gay
mayor in Utah history.
After Alex Joseph
died in 1998, polygamy practically ceased to exist with in Big Water
, Utah
. Their children attend public school and women were encouraged to live freely, obtain an education. The Alex Joseph family tended to be involved with the media and speak openly about their polygamous lifestyle because they felt the media provided protection for the group.
Alex Joseph
Alex Joseph was an outspoken polygamist and founder of the Confederate Nations of Israel, Mormon fundamentalist sect...
. Like Mormonism's
Mormonism
Mormonism is the religion practiced by Mormons, and is the predominant religious tradition of the Latter Day Saint movement. This movement was founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. beginning in the 1820s as a form of Christian primitivism. During the 1830s and 1840s, Mormonism gradually distinguished itself...
Council of Fifty
Council of Fifty
The Council of Fifty was a Latter Day Saint organization established by Joseph Smith, Jr...
, after which it was patterned, the Confederate Nations of Israel is multi-denominational and combines ecumenical spiritual doctrines with ultimate aspirations of quasi-theocratic
Theocracy
Theocracy is a form of organization in which the official policy is to be governed by immediate divine guidance or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided, or simply pursuant to the doctrine of a particular religious sect or religion....
political control.
Although it is often classified as a sect within the Latter Day Saint movement
Latter Day Saint movement
The Latter Day Saint movement is a group of independent churches tracing their origin to a Christian primitivist movement founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. in the late 1820s. Collectively, these churches have over 14 million members...
and Mormon fundamentalism that practices plural marriage
Plural marriage
Polygamy was taught by leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for more than half of the 19th century, and practiced publicly from 1852 to 1890.The Church's practice of polygamy has been highly controversial, both within...
, the Confederate Nations of Israel is in fact a loosely organized confederation of individuals affiliated from many denominations who may or may not practice polygamy
Polygamy
Polygamy is a marriage which includes more than two partners...
. Of its 400 members, approximately one-fourth practice polygamy, and very few of these individuals have ever been a member of any Latter Day Saint denomination. In addition to independent Mormon fundamentalists, the organization includes "Catholics, Protestants, Eastern religionists, atheists, and sexually-active homosexuals".
Alex Joseph
Alex Joseph
Alex Joseph was an outspoken polygamist and founder of the Confederate Nations of Israel, Mormon fundamentalist sect...
, the founder of the Confederate Nations of Israel, was mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Big Water
Big Water, Utah
Big Water is a town in Kane County, Utah, United States. The population was 417 at the 2000 census, a modest increase over the 1990 figure of 326. It is located 17 miles north of Page, Arizona on US-89 near Lake Powell and the Glen Canyon Dam. It was originally called Glen Canyon City and housed...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
from 1983 to 1994. Another member of the organization, Willy Marshall
Willy Marshall
Willy Marshall became, in 2001, the first openly gay man to be elected mayor of a Utah town.Marshall is a Libertarian and his town of Big Water was the first town in the United States to have a Libertarian mayor when a previous mayor switched to the party in 1986. In keeping with his Libertarian...
, was elected mayor of Big Water in 2001 and became the first openly-gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
mayor in Utah history.
After Alex Joseph
Alex Joseph
Alex Joseph was an outspoken polygamist and founder of the Confederate Nations of Israel, Mormon fundamentalist sect...
died in 1998, polygamy practically ceased to exist with in Big Water
Big Water, Utah
Big Water is a town in Kane County, Utah, United States. The population was 417 at the 2000 census, a modest increase over the 1990 figure of 326. It is located 17 miles north of Page, Arizona on US-89 near Lake Powell and the Glen Canyon Dam. It was originally called Glen Canyon City and housed...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. Their children attend public school and women were encouraged to live freely, obtain an education. The Alex Joseph family tended to be involved with the media and speak openly about their polygamous lifestyle because they felt the media provided protection for the group.
See also
- Factional breakdown: Mormon fundamentalist sects
- List of Mormon fundamentalist churches
- List of Mormon fundamentalist leaders