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Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite)
Encyclopedia
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite) is a denomination of the Latter Day Saint movement
with around three hundred members as of 1998. It is an entirely separate organization from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is considerably larger and better-known, although both churches claim to be the original organization established by Joseph Smith, on April 6, 1830. The Strangite church is headquartered in Voree, Wisconsin
, just outside Burlington
, and accepts the claims of James Strang
as successor to Joseph Smith, as opposed to those of Brigham Young
, Sidney Rigdon
, Joseph Smith III
, or any other Mormon
leader.
, several early Mormon leaders asserted claims to succeed Smith, including Sidney Rigdon
, Brigham Young
and James Strang. Rigdon's claim rested on his status as the sole surviving member of Smith's First Presidency
, the church's highest leadership quorum. Rejected by the main church body in Nauvoo, Rigdon and his followers moved to Pittsburgh
, Pennsylvania
, where his organization faltered. A descendant of the Rigdonite church lives on today as the Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite)
, which is not recognized as legitimate by Strangites.
Brigham Young initially argued that Smith could have no immediate successor, but rather that the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
(of which he was president
) should be sustained as the presiding body of the church. Young and his followers migrated west to the Salt Lake Valley
in what became the Utah Territory
, continuing to use Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as their name until incorporating in 1851, when the spelling was standardized as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This organization has become the largest Latter Day Saint body in the world today. Both the Utah LDS and the Strangite churches posit themselves as the sole legal continuation of Joseph Smith's organization; neither considers the other to be legitimate, nor do they accord licitness to any of the hundreds of other Latter Day Saint sects.
Although he was a relatively recent convert at the time of Smith's death, James Strang posed a formidible--and initially quite successful--challenge to the claims of Young and Rigdon. Strang was a Mormon elder charged with establishing a stake
or "place of refuge" in Wisconsin, should the Mormons be forced to abandon their headquarters in Nauvoo
. He possessed a document that came to be known as the Letter of Appointment
, alleged to have been written by Smith prior to his death. The wording of this missive was rather ambiguous; some insist that it only appointed Strang to be president of the new Voree Stake of the church, while Strang and his followers interpreted it as a call to follow Smith as Church president. Strang also claimed that at the moment of Smith's death, he was visited by angel
s who ordained him to be Smith's successor, though he claimed no human witnesses to the event.
Strang's assertion appealed to many Latter Day Saints who were attracted to Mormonism's doctrine of continuing revelation through a living prophet
. In the face of protracted Mormon anguish at the death of Joseph Smith, Strang insisted that there still was, indeed, a Mormon seer who communed with God and conversed with angels. Strang's claim was bolstered by his discovery of the Voree Plates
, purporting to contain the last testament of an ancient Native American
, one "Rajah Manchou of Vorito". These plates were found in the so-called Hill of Promise, which would become the temple site in the new Strangite town of Voree. This event may have reminded some Saints of Smith's translation of the Golden Plates
(the Book of Mormon
) and the Book of Abraham
, and encouraged them to accept Strang over any of his competitors, who had not produced any such "records".
Many prominent Latter Day Saints believed in Strang's "Letter of Appointment" and accepted him as Mormonism's second "Prophet, Seer, Revelator and Translator"–at least for short term. These included the early church's Presiding Patriarch and Apostle William Smith
(Joseph's only surviving brother); Book of Mormon
witness
Martin Harris (who left and later rejoined the LDS Church in Utah); Nauvoo Stake President William Marks
; second Bishop of the Church
and church trustee-in-trust George Miller
, Apostle John E. Page
; former Apostle William M'Lellin; and many others.
Another adherent was John C. Bennett
, former mayor of Nauvoo and a former member of the First Presidency
. Bennett had been in Smith's innermost circle but had broken with the founding prophet and had written an Anti-Mormon
exposé. Bennett founded a secretive Strangite fraternal society known as the Order of Illuminati, but his presence disrupted Strang's church and ultimately led to his excommunication
. His "order" fell by the wayside, and no longer exists among the Strangites.
All of these persons, with the exception of George Miller (who would remain loyal to Strang until death), would leave the Strangite church by 1850. Many of these defections were due to Strang's seemingly abrupt "about-face" on the turbulent subject of polygamy. Violently opposed to the practice at first, Strang reversed course in 1849 to become one of its strongest advocates. Since many of his early disciples had looked to him as a monogamous counterweight to Brigham Young's polygamous version of Mormonism, Strang's decision to embrace plural marriage proved costly to him and his church.
Strang found his greatest support among the scattered outlying branches of Mormonism, which he frequently toured. His followers may have numbered as many as 12,000, at a time when Young had perhaps 50,000 or so altogether. After Strang won a debate at a conference in Norway, Illinois
, he converted the entire branch. While in Voree, the Strangites published a periodical known as the Voree Herald. Strang's church also fielded a mission to England
, one of the primary sources of converts to Mormonism. This mission was led by Martin Harris, the financier of the Book of Mormon
and one of its Three Witnesses
. Harris proved a poor spokesman, however, and the English missions sided with the LDS church led by Brigham Young.
in Lake Michigan
. Here his disciples founded a town known as St. James (now St. James Township
), and in 1850, openly established an ecclesiastical monarchy with Strang as the spiritual "king" of his church. The date of his coronation
, July 8th, is still mandated as one of the two most important days in the Strangite church calendar (the other is April 6th, the anniversary of the founding of Joseph Smith's church).
Contrary to popular misconception, Strang never claimed to be king over Beaver Island, or any other geographical entity. Rather, he asserted that he was king over his church, which he saw as the one, true "Kingdom of God
" prophesied in Scripture and destined to spread over all the earth. The constitution of this kingdom was contained within the Book of the Law of the Lord
, which Strang claimed to have translated from the Plates of Laban
mentioned in The Book of Mormon. Originally published in 1851, this new book of Strangite scripture would be republished in a greatly expanded edition in 1856, just after Strang's untimely murder. It is still revered by Strangites today, remaining a vital part of their corpus of scripture.
In addition to printing religious materials, the Strangite printing press on Beaver Island became the source of a new periodical, the Northern Islander, which was the first real newspaper in all of northern Michigan. As St. James became an entrepôt
for Great Lakes
shipping, the Strangites began to compete with more established commercial lake ports such as Mackinac Island
. Tensions grew between Mormons on Beaver and their non-Mormon neighbors, frequently exploding into violence. Accusations of thuggery and thievery were leveled by both parties against each other, compounded by ever-increasing dissension among some of Strang's own disciples, who chafed at what they saw as his increasingly tyrannical rule.
In 1854 Strang published Ancient and modern Michilimackinac, including an account of the controversy between Mackinac and the Mormons. Dale Morgan
, a notable historian of the Latter Day Saint movement, writes: "Strang surveys the geography and history of Mackinac and the surrounding region, particularly the islands of Lake Michigan, and after giving an account of the Mormon settlement upon Big Beaver Island, addresses himself to the bitter controversies between the people of Mackinac and the Mormons. Although dealing with controverted matters and colored by Strang's indignation at the outrages he and his people had to endure, the pamphlet is a responsible source on the events of which it treats, and is also interesting for the considerable measure of learning it reveals in Strang".
Tensions finally came to a head on June 20, 1856, when two Strangite malcontents shot their "king" in the back, leading to his death three weeks later. Since Strang refused to appoint a successor, and insisted that the next Strangite prophet must be ordained by angels just as he and Joseph Smith had been, Strang's church was left leaderless and vulnerable. One day before his death, vigilantes from Mackinac Island
and other Lake Michigan communities converged on Beaver Island. The hapless Strangites were rounded up, forced onto hastily-commandeered steamships and removed from the island. Most were simply dumped onto docks in Chicago
and Green Bay
, destitute and deprived of all their property.
Strang's death and the loss of his Beaver Island settlement were twin catastrophes for his church. Despondent and spiritually adrift after the Strangite organization failed to provide a successor for Strang, most Strangites eventually chose to join what was then known as the "New Organization" of Latter Day Saints. This group had chosen not to follow Young and the main body to the Great Salt Lake
in Utah
, and would eventually accept the leadership of Joseph Smith III
, eldest son of Joseph Smith. This "New Organization" was later incorporated as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, becoming the second-largest body in the Latter Day Saint movement. Today, it is known as the Community of Christ
.
A few congregations of Strangites, however, remained loyal to their prophet's memory. Wingfield W. Watson
, a High Priest who had known and served under Strang personally, kept the Strangite church alive into the 20th century. Strang's disciples today are divided into two main factions; one is led by a Presiding High Priest, who does not claim to have the authority or office possessed by Joseph Smith or James Strang. The other claims that this first assemblage is in error, and that by incorporating in 1961, and by allegedly organizing a new order of the priesthood to rule them and a new man-made set of laws to govern them, it lost its identity as a faithful continuation of Strang's organization. This second group claims that it is the sole true remnant of James Strang's church.
The first group no longer emphasizes missionary work (unlike the LDS and many other Mormon sects), as they tend to believe that after three murdered prophets (Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith and James Strang) God closed His dispensation
to the "gentiles" of the West. Consequently, this group's congregation remains small. Current membership figures vary between 50 and 300 persons, depending upon the source consulted.
There are two groups among the second. One group has a website based in Independence, Missouri. The second group has a website based in Shreveport, Louisiana. Both conduct their missionary work on the Internet.
to be the word of God," just as do most other Latter Day Saint denominations. They consider editions of the Doctrine and Covenants
published prior to Joseph Smith's death (which contained the Lectures on Faith
) to be scripture.
Strangites hold the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible to be inspired, but do not believe modern publications of the text are accurate, so they "cautiously use the publication of his earliest corrections published as the 'Inspired Version' or 'Joseph Smith Translation' by the sons of Joseph Smith in Plano, Ill., 1867." They do not have any official stance on the Book of Abraham
.
Strang's Book of the Law of the Lord
is accepted as scripture in its expanded 1856 form; it is believed to be the same Book of the Law of the Lord mentioned in the Bible, and Strang claimed to have translated it from the Plates of Laban mentioned in the Book of Mormon.
The Strangites also hold as scripture several prophecies, visions, revelations, and translations printed by James Strang, and published in the "Revelations of James J. Strang". This text contains his purported "Letter of Appointment" from Smith and his translation of the Voree plates. The Book of Jasher
was consistently used by both Joseph Smith and James Strang, but as with other Latter Day Saint denominations, there is no official stance on its authenticity and it is not considered canonical.
, which his Book of the Law refers to as "The Priesthood of an endless life," and the Aaronic Priesthood, referred to as "the Priesthood of life."
In the Melchizedek Priesthood, Strang enumerates two "orders," that of "Apostles," and that of "Priests."
"Apostles" are subdivided into four "degrees:"
"Priests" are subdivided into two "degrees:"
In the Aaronic Priesthood, Strang enumerates three "orders:"
In addition, a "King's Council" and a "King's Court" are established, though none function within the Strangite church today. While no direct link is made between the King's Court and the "High Council" established in the Doctrine and Covenants, certain parallels exist, such as requiring all members to hold the High Priesthood, and limiting their number to twelve.
Although Strang briefly retained the services of Apostle William Smith as "Chief Patriarch" of his church, he makes no mention of this office anywhere in his book.
No Apostles (of any degree) exist within the Strangite organization today, as all must be appointed by a Strangite prophet, while the prophet himself must be appointed by God through the direct ministry of angels. The "incorporated" group of Strangites has high priests, but the "non-incorporated" group does not, insisting that the first body does not currently possess authority to ordain any. Both factions enjoy the ministry of Elders and Aaronic Priesthood offices.
" allegedly given to Moses on Mount Sinai. The Strangite Decalogue is different from any other Jewish, Catholic
, Islamic or Protestant version, for it offers a commandment none of the others has: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." In his "Note on the Decalogue," Strang asserts that no other version of the Decalogue contains more than nine commandments. He equally speculates that his fourth commandment was lost perhaps as early as Josephus
' time (circa 37-100 A.D./C.E.).
by 1856.
In contrast, the Community of Christ church opened its ministry to females in 1984, while the LDS church still bars women from all of its priesthood offices, as do most other Latter Day Saint organizations.
was instituted in the Strangite church under Strang's leadership, for forgiveness of sins and as a part of Strangite celebration rituals. However, given the prohibition on sacrifices for sin contained in III Nephi 9:19-20, Strang did not require sin offerings. Rather, he focused on sacrifice as an element of religious festivities, especially the commemoration of his own coronation
as king (July 8, 1850). The head of every house, from the king to his lowest subject, was to offer "a heifer, or a lamb, or a dove. Every man a clean beast, or a clean fowl, according to his household."
The killing of sacrifices was a prerogative of Strangite Priests, but female Priests were specifically barred from participating in this aspect of the Priestly office. "Firstfruits" offerings were also demanded from all Strangite agricultural harvests.
Animal sacrifices are no longer practiced by the Strangites, though belief in their correctness is still required.
of Jesus Christ and the Mormon doctrine of plurality of gods
. They insist that there is but one eternal God
, the Father
, and that alleged progression to godhood (a doctrine supposedly taught by Joseph Smith; Strangites reject that assertion) is impossible. God has always been God, say they, and He is one Person (not three, as in the traditional Christian Trinity
).
Jesus Christ, Strangites believe, was the natural-born son of Mary
and Joseph
, who was chosen from before all time to be the Savior of mankind, but who had to be born as an ordinary mortal of two human parents (rather than being begotten by the Father or the Holy Spirit
) to be able to truly fulfill his Messianic role. Strang claimed that the earthly Christ was in essence "adopted" as God's son at birth, and fully revealed as such during the Transfiguration
. After proving himself to God by living a perfectly sinless life, he was thus enabled to provide an acceptable sacrifice for the sins of men, prior to his resurrection
and ascension.
and evil
, Strang wrote that of all things that God could give to man, He could never give him experience. Thus, if "free agency" were to be real, said Strang, humanity must be given the opportunity to fail and to learn from its own mistakes. The ultimate goal for each human being, according to Strangites, is to willingly conform oneself to the revealed character of God in every way, preferring good to evil not out of any fear of punishment or desire for reward, but rather "on account of the innate loveliness of undefiled goodness; of pure unalloyed holiness."
, as the Book of the Law commanded it in lieu of Sunday.
; the Strangite church practiced this to a limited extent in Voree and on Beaver Island. However, rather than simply baptizing for anyone whose name can be located (as in the LDS church), Strang required a revelation for those seeking to have a baptism done for someone outside of a close relative "within the fourth degree of consanguinity". This could come through dreams, angelic appearances, or other means listed within Strang's revelation on the subject. While still believed in, baptisms for the dead are not currently performed in the Strangite church due to the lack of a temple and prophetic leadership.
is taught in the Strangite church, though it is not required to be performed in a temple, as in the LDS church. Strangite Priests, Elders, High Priests or Apostles (of all four degrees) may perform this ceremony. Eternal marriages are still contracted among the Strangites today.
Same-sex marriage
s (and homosexuality in general) are not permitted within the Strangite organization.
is sanctioned, though not expressly commanded, in the Book of the Law. The applicable text reads: "Thou shalt not take unto thee a multitude of wives disproportioned to thy inheritance, and thy substance: nor shalt thou take wives to vex those thou hast; neither shalt thou put away one to take another." Any wife already married to the prospective polygamist was given the right to express her opinion, and even to object, but not to veto the marriage. This passage seems to offer any aggrieved wife an appeal to the "Judges," but how this was to be carried out is not made clear.
Strang's defense of polygamy was rather novel. He claimed that, far from enslaving or demeaning women, it liberated and "elevated" them by allowing them to choose the best possible mate based upon any factors deemed important to them—even if that mate were already married to someone else. Rather than being forced to wed "corrupt and degraded sires" due to the scarcity of more suitable men, a woman could wed the one she saw as the most compatible to herself, the best candidate to father her children and the man who could give her the best possible life, no matter how many other wives he might have.
The practice of plural marriage has never been officially proscribed in the Strangite church, unlike in the LDS church. Only twenty-two men entered into polygamy, and most of them only took one additional wife. Strang took four additional wives, the most of any member in his church.
Polygamy was apparently practiced by a few Strangites up to 1880 or so, to include Wingfield W. Watson
, a Strangite High Priest who knew and served under James Strang personally. However, with federal and state bans on the practice, and a divine injunction to obey "the law of the land," plural marriage has been given up in the contemporary Strangite organization, though belief in its correctness is still required and affirmed.
Strangites reject Section 132 of the LDS Doctrine and Covenants, regarding it as a forgery from 1852 that was never received or approved by Joseph Smith.
" rituals comparable to those in the Utah LDS church appear to have existed among his followers, and no Strangite temples exist today or are contemplated.
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...
with around three hundred members as of 1998. It is an entirely separate organization from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is considerably larger and better-known, although both churches claim to be the original organization established by Joseph Smith, on April 6, 1830. The Strangite church is headquartered in Voree, Wisconsin
Voree, Wisconsin
Voree is an unincorporated community on the outskirts of present-day Burlington, in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States, in the town limits of Spring Prairie. It is best known as the historic and current headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , a denomination of the...
, just outside Burlington
Burlington, Wisconsin
Burlington is a city in Racine and Walworth counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, with the majority of the city located in Racine County. The population was 10,421 at the 2009 census.-History:...
, and accepts the claims of James Strang
James Strang
James Jesse Strang was an American religious leader, politician and self-proclaimed monarch who founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , a faction of the Latter Day Saint movement...
as successor to Joseph Smith, as opposed to those of Brigham Young
Brigham Young
Brigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
, Sidney Rigdon
Sidney Rigdon
Sidney Rigdon was a leader during the early history of the Latter Day Saint movement.-Baptist background:...
, Joseph Smith III
Joseph Smith III
Joseph Smith III was the eldest surviving son of Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, and Emma Hale Smith...
, or any other Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
leader.
Before Strang
Strangites share the same history with other Latter Day Saint denominations up until the assassination of Joseph Smith. During the resulting succession crisisSuccession crisis (Mormonism)
The succession crisis in the Latter Day Saint movement occurred after the violent death of the movement's founder, Joseph Smith, Jr., on June 27, 1844....
, several early Mormon leaders asserted claims to succeed Smith, including Sidney Rigdon
Sidney Rigdon
Sidney Rigdon was a leader during the early history of the Latter Day Saint movement.-Baptist background:...
, Brigham Young
Brigham Young
Brigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
and James Strang. Rigdon's claim rested on his status as the sole surviving member of Smith's First Presidency
First Presidency
In the Latter Day Saint movement, the First Presidency was the highest governing body in the Latter Day Saint church established by Joseph Smith, Jr. in 1832, and is the highest governing body of several modern Latter Day Saint denominations...
, the church's highest leadership quorum. Rejected by the main church body in Nauvoo, Rigdon and his followers moved to Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, where his organization faltered. A descendant of the Rigdonite church lives on today as the Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite)
Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite)
The Church of Jesus Christ is a Christian religious denomination headquartered in Monongahela, Pennsylvania, United States. The Church of Jesus Christ is a Restorationist church and is historically part of the Latter Day Saint movement...
, which is not recognized as legitimate by Strangites.
Brigham Young initially argued that Smith could have no immediate successor, but rather that the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is one of the governing bodies in the church hierarchy...
(of which he was president
President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is a priesthood calling in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . In general, the President of the Quorum of the Twelve is the most senior Apostle in the church, aside from the President of the Church...
) should be sustained as the presiding body of the church. Young and his followers migrated west to the Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley is a valley in Salt Lake County in the north-central portion of the U.S. state of Utah. It contains Salt Lake City and many of its suburbs, notably West Valley City, Murray, Sandy, and West Jordan; its total population is 1,029,655 as of 2010...
in what became the Utah Territory
Utah Territory
The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah....
, continuing to use Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as their name until incorporating in 1851, when the spelling was standardized as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This organization has become the largest Latter Day Saint body in the world today. Both the Utah LDS and the Strangite churches posit themselves as the sole legal continuation of Joseph Smith's organization; neither considers the other to be legitimate, nor do they accord licitness to any of the hundreds of other Latter Day Saint sects.
James J. Strang and the Voree Plates
Stake (Mormonism)
A stake is an administrative unit composed of multiple congregations in denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement. A stake is approximately comparable to a diocese in the Catholic Church and other Christian denominations...
or "place of refuge" in Wisconsin, should the Mormons be forced to abandon their headquarters in Nauvoo
Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. Although the population was just 1,063 at the 2000 census, and despite being difficult to reach due to its location in a remote corner of Illinois, Nauvoo attracts large numbers of visitors for its historic importance and its...
. He possessed a document that came to be known as the Letter of Appointment
Letter of Appointment (Mormonism)
The Letter of Appointment was a controversial three-page document used by James J. Strang and his adherents in their efforts to prove that he was the designated successor to Joseph Smith, Jr., as the prophet and president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints...
, alleged to have been written by Smith prior to his death. The wording of this missive was rather ambiguous; some insist that it only appointed Strang to be president of the new Voree Stake of the church, while Strang and his followers interpreted it as a call to follow Smith as Church president. Strang also claimed that at the moment of Smith's death, he was visited by angel
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
s who ordained him to be Smith's successor, though he claimed no human witnesses to the event.
Prophet
In religion, a prophet, from the Greek word προφήτης profitis meaning "foreteller", is an individual who is claimed to have been contacted by the supernatural or the divine, and serves as an intermediary with humanity, delivering this newfound knowledge from the supernatural entity to other people...
. In the face of protracted Mormon anguish at the death of Joseph Smith, Strang insisted that there still was, indeed, a Mormon seer who communed with God and conversed with angels. Strang's claim was bolstered by his discovery of the Voree Plates
Voree Plates
The Voree Plates, sometimes called The Record of Rajah Manchou of Vorito, or the Voree Record, were a set of three tiny metal plates allegedly discovered by James J. Strang in 1845 in Voree, near Burlington, Wisconsin...
, purporting to contain the last testament of an ancient Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, one "Rajah Manchou of Vorito". These plates were found in the so-called Hill of Promise, which would become the temple site in the new Strangite town of Voree. This event may have reminded some Saints of Smith's translation of the Golden Plates
Golden Plates
According to Latter Day Saint belief, the golden plates are the source from which Joseph Smith, Jr. translated the Book of Mormon, a sacred text of the faith...
(the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
) and the Book of Abraham
Book of Abraham
The Book of Abraham is a 1835 work by Joseph Smith, Jr. that he said was based on Egyptian papyri purchased from a traveling mummy exhibition. According to Smith, the book was "a translation of some ancient records....purporting to be the writings of Abraham, while he was in Egypt, called the Book...
, and encouraged them to accept Strang over any of his competitors, who had not produced any such "records".
Early successes and losses
William Smith (Mormonism)
William Smith was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and one of the original members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Smith was the eighth child of Joseph Smith, Sr...
(Joseph's only surviving brother); Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
witness
Three Witnesses
The Three Witnesses were a group of three early leaders of the Latter Day Saint movement who signed a statement in 1830 saying that an angel had shown them the golden plates from which Joseph Smith, Jr. translated the Book of Mormon and that they had heard God's voice testifying that the book had...
Martin Harris (who left and later rejoined the LDS Church in Utah); Nauvoo Stake President William Marks
William Marks (Mormonism)
William Marks was a leader in the early days of the Latter Day Saint movement and was a member of the First Presidency in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints...
; second Bishop of the Church
Presiding Bishop (LDS Church)
The Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a priesthood calling with church-wide authority. The Presiding Bishop is the highest leadership position within the church's Aaronic priesthood.-Presiding Bishopric:...
and church trustee-in-trust George Miller
George Miller (Latter Day Saints)
-External links:**...
, Apostle John E. Page
John E. Page
John Edward Page was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement.Born in 1799 in Trenton, New York, Page was the son of Ebenezer and Rachael Page. He was baptized into the Church of Christ, established by Joseph Smith, Jr., in Brownhelm, Ohio in August 1833 by missionary Emer Harris, brother...
; former Apostle William M'Lellin; and many others.
Another adherent was John C. Bennett
John C. Bennett
John Cook Bennett was an American physician and a ranking and influential—but short-lived—leader of the Latter Day Saint movement, who acted as second-in-command to Joseph Smith, Jr., for a brief period in the early 1840s....
, former mayor of Nauvoo and a former member of the First Presidency
First Presidency
In the Latter Day Saint movement, the First Presidency was the highest governing body in the Latter Day Saint church established by Joseph Smith, Jr. in 1832, and is the highest governing body of several modern Latter Day Saint denominations...
. Bennett had been in Smith's innermost circle but had broken with the founding prophet and had written an Anti-Mormon
Anti-Mormon
Anti-Mormonism is discrimination, persecution, hostility or prejudice directed at members of the Latter Day Saint movement, particularly The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
exposé. Bennett founded a secretive Strangite fraternal society known as the Order of Illuminati, but his presence disrupted Strang's church and ultimately led to his excommunication
Excommunication
Excommunication is a religious censure used to deprive, suspend or limit membership in a religious community. The word means putting [someone] out of communion. In some religions, excommunication includes spiritual condemnation of the member or group...
. His "order" fell by the wayside, and no longer exists among the Strangites.
All of these persons, with the exception of George Miller (who would remain loyal to Strang until death), would leave the Strangite church by 1850. Many of these defections were due to Strang's seemingly abrupt "about-face" on the turbulent subject of polygamy. Violently opposed to the practice at first, Strang reversed course in 1849 to become one of its strongest advocates. Since many of his early disciples had looked to him as a monogamous counterweight to Brigham Young's polygamous version of Mormonism, Strang's decision to embrace plural marriage proved costly to him and his church.
Norway, Illinois
Norway, Illinois is an unincorporated community in Mission Township, LaSalle County, Illinois. The community was the site of an early Norwegian-American settlement.-History:...
, he converted the entire branch. While in Voree, the Strangites published a periodical known as the Voree Herald. Strang's church also fielded a mission to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, one of the primary sources of converts to Mormonism. This mission was led by Martin Harris, the financier of the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
and one of its Three Witnesses
Three Witnesses
The Three Witnesses were a group of three early leaders of the Latter Day Saint movement who signed a statement in 1830 saying that an angel had shown them the golden plates from which Joseph Smith, Jr. translated the Book of Mormon and that they had heard God's voice testifying that the book had...
. Harris proved a poor spokesman, however, and the English missions sided with the LDS church led by Brigham Young.
Establishing a kingdom on Beaver Island
Because the high price of land in the Voree area made it difficult for Latter Day Saints to "gather" there, Strang moved his church headquarters to Beaver IslandBeaver Island (Lake Michigan)
Beaver Island is the largest island in Lake Michigan and part of the Beaver Island archipelago. Once home to a unique American monarchy, the island is now a popular tourist and vacation destination....
in Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
. Here his disciples founded a town known as St. James (now St. James Township
St. James Township, Michigan
St. James Township is a civil township of Charlevoix County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 307.-History:...
), and in 1850, openly established an ecclesiastical monarchy with Strang as the spiritual "king" of his church. The date of his coronation
Coronation
A coronation is a ceremony marking the formal investiture of a monarch and/or their consort with regal power, usually involving the placement of a crown upon their head and the presentation of other items of regalia...
, July 8th, is still mandated as one of the two most important days in the Strangite church calendar (the other is April 6th, the anniversary of the founding of Joseph Smith's church).
Contrary to popular misconception, Strang never claimed to be king over Beaver Island, or any other geographical entity. Rather, he asserted that he was king over his church, which he saw as the one, true "Kingdom of God
Kingdom of God
The Kingdom of God or Kingdom of Heaven is a foundational concept in the Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.The term "Kingdom of God" is found in all four canonical gospels and in the Pauline epistles...
" prophesied in Scripture and destined to spread over all the earth. The constitution of this kingdom was contained within the Book of the Law of the Lord
Book of the Law of the Lord
The Book of the Law of the Lord is a book accepted as scripture by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints . It is alleged to be a translation by the Strangite prophet James Strang of the Plates of Laban, originally acquired by Nephi, a leading character in the early portion of The Book of...
, which Strang claimed to have translated from the Plates of Laban
Laban (Book of Mormon)
Laban was the name of a person in the first part of The Book of Mormon, a scripture of the Latter Day Saint movement. Although he only makes a brief appearance in the narrative, his brass plates would play an important role amongst the Nephites, who are the book's main protagonists.-Laban:In the...
mentioned in The Book of Mormon. Originally published in 1851, this new book of Strangite scripture would be republished in a greatly expanded edition in 1856, just after Strang's untimely murder. It is still revered by Strangites today, remaining a vital part of their corpus of scripture.
In addition to printing religious materials, the Strangite printing press on Beaver Island became the source of a new periodical, the Northern Islander, which was the first real newspaper in all of northern Michigan. As St. James became an entrepôt
Entrepôt
An entrepôt is a trading post where merchandise can be imported and exported without paying import duties, often at a profit. This profit is possible because of trade conditions, for example, the reluctance of ships to travel the entire length of a long trading route, and selling to the entrepôt...
for Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
shipping, the Strangites began to compete with more established commercial lake ports such as Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island is an island and resort area covering in land area, part of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located in Lake Huron, at the eastern end of the Straits of Mackinac, between the state's Upper and Lower Peninsulas. The island was home to a Native American settlement before European...
. Tensions grew between Mormons on Beaver and their non-Mormon neighbors, frequently exploding into violence. Accusations of thuggery and thievery were leveled by both parties against each other, compounded by ever-increasing dissension among some of Strang's own disciples, who chafed at what they saw as his increasingly tyrannical rule.
In 1854 Strang published Ancient and modern Michilimackinac, including an account of the controversy between Mackinac and the Mormons. Dale Morgan
Dale Morgan
Lowell Dale Morgan , generally cited as Dale Morgan or Dale L. Morgan, was an American historian, accomplished researcher, biographer, editor, and critic. He specialized in material on Utah history, Mormon history, the American fur trade, and overland trails...
, a notable historian of the Latter Day Saint movement, writes: "Strang surveys the geography and history of Mackinac and the surrounding region, particularly the islands of Lake Michigan, and after giving an account of the Mormon settlement upon Big Beaver Island, addresses himself to the bitter controversies between the people of Mackinac and the Mormons. Although dealing with controverted matters and colored by Strang's indignation at the outrages he and his people had to endure, the pamphlet is a responsible source on the events of which it treats, and is also interesting for the considerable measure of learning it reveals in Strang".
Tensions finally came to a head on June 20, 1856, when two Strangite malcontents shot their "king" in the back, leading to his death three weeks later. Since Strang refused to appoint a successor, and insisted that the next Strangite prophet must be ordained by angels just as he and Joseph Smith had been, Strang's church was left leaderless and vulnerable. One day before his death, vigilantes from Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island is an island and resort area covering in land area, part of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located in Lake Huron, at the eastern end of the Straits of Mackinac, between the state's Upper and Lower Peninsulas. The island was home to a Native American settlement before European...
and other Lake Michigan communities converged on Beaver Island. The hapless Strangites were rounded up, forced onto hastily-commandeered steamships and removed from the island. Most were simply dumped onto docks in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and Green Bay
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
, destitute and deprived of all their property.
After Strang
Great Salt Lake
The Great Salt Lake, located in the northern part of the U.S. state of Utah, is the largest salt water lake in the western hemisphere, the fourth-largest terminal lake in the world. In an average year the lake covers an area of around , but the lake's size fluctuates substantially due to its...
in 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...
, and would eventually accept the leadership of Joseph Smith III
Joseph Smith III
Joseph Smith III was the eldest surviving son of Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, and Emma Hale Smith...
, eldest son of Joseph Smith. This "New Organization" was later incorporated as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, becoming the second-largest body in the Latter Day Saint movement. Today, it is known as the Community of Christ
Community of Christ
The Community of Christ, known from 1872 to 2001 as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , is an American-based international Christian church established in April 1830 that claims as its mission "to proclaim Jesus Christ and promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace"...
.
A few congregations of Strangites, however, remained loyal to their prophet's memory. Wingfield W. Watson
Wingfield W. Watson
Wingfield W. Watson was a religious leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints which was founded by Joseph Smith, Junior, and succeeded by James Jesse Strang He was a church records keeper. And some of his works have been compiled, showing the beliefs and actions of Strang...
, a High Priest who had known and served under Strang personally, kept the Strangite church alive into the 20th century. Strang's disciples today are divided into two main factions; one is led by a Presiding High Priest, who does not claim to have the authority or office possessed by Joseph Smith or James Strang. The other claims that this first assemblage is in error, and that by incorporating in 1961, and by allegedly organizing a new order of the priesthood to rule them and a new man-made set of laws to govern them, it lost its identity as a faithful continuation of Strang's organization. This second group claims that it is the sole true remnant of James Strang's church.
The first group no longer emphasizes missionary work (unlike the LDS and many other Mormon sects), as they tend to believe that after three murdered prophets (Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith and James Strang) God closed His dispensation
Dispensation of the fulness of times
In Christianity, the dispensation of the fulness of times is thought to be a world order or administration in which the heavens and the earth are under the political and/or spiritual government of Jesus...
to the "gentiles" of the West. Consequently, this group's congregation remains small. Current membership figures vary between 50 and 300 persons, depending upon the source consulted.
There are two groups among the second. One group has a website based in Independence, Missouri. The second group has a website based in Shreveport, Louisiana. Both conduct their missionary work on the Internet.
Scriptures
The Strangites "believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; [and] also believe the Book of MormonBook of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
to be the word of God," just as do most other Latter Day Saint denominations. They consider editions of the Doctrine and Covenants
Doctrine and Covenants
The Doctrine and Covenants is a part of the open scriptural canon of several denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement...
published prior to Joseph Smith's death (which contained the Lectures on Faith
Lectures on Faith
The document "Lectures on Faith" is a set of seven lectures on the doctrine and theology of the Latter Day Saint movement, first published as the doctrine portion of the 1835 edition of the canonical Doctrine and Covenants, but later removed from that work by both major branches of the faith. It...
) to be scripture.
Strangites hold the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible to be inspired, but do not believe modern publications of the text are accurate, so they "cautiously use the publication of his earliest corrections published as the 'Inspired Version' or 'Joseph Smith Translation' by the sons of Joseph Smith in Plano, Ill., 1867." They do not have any official stance on the Book of Abraham
Book of Abraham
The Book of Abraham is a 1835 work by Joseph Smith, Jr. that he said was based on Egyptian papyri purchased from a traveling mummy exhibition. According to Smith, the book was "a translation of some ancient records....purporting to be the writings of Abraham, while he was in Egypt, called the Book...
.
Strang's Book of the Law of the Lord
Book of the Law of the Lord
The Book of the Law of the Lord is a book accepted as scripture by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints . It is alleged to be a translation by the Strangite prophet James Strang of the Plates of Laban, originally acquired by Nephi, a leading character in the early portion of The Book of...
is accepted as scripture in its expanded 1856 form; it is believed to be the same Book of the Law of the Lord mentioned in the Bible, and Strang claimed to have translated it from the Plates of Laban mentioned in the Book of Mormon.
The Strangites also hold as scripture several prophecies, visions, revelations, and translations printed by James Strang, and published in the "Revelations of James J. Strang". This text contains his purported "Letter of Appointment" from Smith and his translation of the Voree plates. The Book of Jasher
Sefer haYashar (midrash)
The Sefer haYashar is a Hebrew midrash also known as the Toledot Adam and Dibre ha-Yamim be-'Aruk. It is known in English translation mostly as The Book of Jasher...
was consistently used by both Joseph Smith and James Strang, but as with other Latter Day Saint denominations, there is no official stance on its authenticity and it is not considered canonical.
Monarchy and priesthood
One distinctive difference between Strangites and other Latter Day Saints concerns the singular subdivisions Strang makes within the Melchizedek PriesthoodMelchizedek priesthood
The Melchizedek priesthood is the greater of the two orders of priesthood recognized in Mormonism. The others are the Aaronic priesthood and the rarely recognized Patriarchal priesthood...
, which his Book of the Law refers to as "The Priesthood of an endless life," and the Aaronic Priesthood, referred to as "the Priesthood of life."
In the Melchizedek Priesthood, Strang enumerates two "orders," that of "Apostles," and that of "Priests."
"Apostles" are subdivided into four "degrees:"
- The Prophet/President of the Strangite church is openly referred to throughout the book as a "King," rather than as a "President" (as under Joseph Smith).
- His CounselorsFirst Presidency (LDS Church)The First Presidency is the presiding or governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It is composed of the President of the Church and his counselors. The First Presidency currently consists of President Thomas S. Monson and his two counselors, Henry B...
are designated as "Viceroys." Viceroys are referred to as "kings," too, though this does not indicate a share in the unique royal dignity accorded to the President/King. - Strang's Twelve Apostles are named as "Princes in his Kingdom forever." The leader of Strang's Apostles is designated as "Prince and Grand Master of the Seventies."
- A quorum of "Evangelists" (not to be confused with the LDS and Community of ChristCommunity of ChristThe Community of Christ, known from 1872 to 2001 as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , is an American-based international Christian church established in April 1830 that claims as its mission "to proclaim Jesus Christ and promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace"...
office of Patriarch) is established, to be Apostles to a single "nation, kindred, tongue or people"--unlike the Twelve, who were sent to all nations. Seven Evangelists form a quorum, and Strang noted that such a body had never been organized "in this dispensation" (and nor did Strang organize one). This is a unique priesthood office in the Latter Day Saint movement.
"Priests" are subdivided into two "degrees:"
- High Priests are to include "all inferiour Kings, Patriarchs, or heads of tribes, and Nobles, or heads of clans." Furthermore, Strang continued, "They who hold it are called Sons of God." From this group, said the Book of the Law, the king is to select "counsellors, judges and rulers." Furthermore, the Book of the Law limits consecration of the EucharistEucharistThe Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
to High Priests and Apostles, as opposed to other Latter Day Saint sects, who follow the Doctrine and Covenants in permitting Elders and Priests also to do so. - The "degree" of Elders includes both the offices of Seventy and Elder as generally constituted in Joseph Smith's church.
In the Aaronic Priesthood, Strang enumerates three "orders:"
- Priests are subdivided into two "courses:" "Sacrificators" and "Singers." The course of Singers is opened to women [see "Ordination of women," below]. Each temple is to have a Chief Priest, assisted by a first and second High Priest. Strangite "Sacrificators" are to kill sacrifices in accordance with appropriate provisions of the Book of the Law [see below under "Animal sacrifice"]. Female priests are specifically barred from killing sacrifices. The Doctrine and CovenantsDoctrine and CovenantsThe Doctrine and Covenants is a part of the open scriptural canon of several denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement...
functions of preaching and baptizing (but not laying of on hands) are retained, as well. - Teachers are subdivided into five "degrees:" Rabboni, Rabbi, Doctor, Ruler, and Teacher. This office, like that of Priest, is open to women [see below]. Teachers are not merely to instruct in spiritual matters, but in secular ones as well. They are to staff schools throughout the kingdom.
- Deacons are subdivided into three "degrees:" Marshals, Stewards and Ministers. They are to serve as "Stewards and keepers of the King’s prisons, and Stewards of the King’s Courts."
In addition, a "King's Council" and a "King's Court" are established, though none function within the Strangite church today. While no direct link is made between the King's Court and the "High Council" established in the Doctrine and Covenants, certain parallels exist, such as requiring all members to hold the High Priesthood, and limiting their number to twelve.
Although Strang briefly retained the services of Apostle William Smith as "Chief Patriarch" of his church, he makes no mention of this office anywhere in his book.
No Apostles (of any degree) exist within the Strangite organization today, as all must be appointed by a Strangite prophet, while the prophet himself must be appointed by God through the direct ministry of angels. The "incorporated" group of Strangites has high priests, but the "non-incorporated" group does not, insisting that the first body does not currently possess authority to ordain any. Both factions enjoy the ministry of Elders and Aaronic Priesthood offices.
The Decalogue
Another unique feature of Strangite doctrine is its unique version of the Decalogue, the "Ten CommandmentsTen Commandments
The Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue , are a set of biblical principles relating to ethics and worship, which play a fundamental role in Judaism and most forms of Christianity. They include instructions to worship only God and to keep the Sabbath, and prohibitions against idolatry,...
" allegedly given to Moses on Mount Sinai. The Strangite Decalogue is different from any other Jewish, Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
, Islamic or Protestant version, for it offers a commandment none of the others has: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." In his "Note on the Decalogue," Strang asserts that no other version of the Decalogue contains more than nine commandments. He equally speculates that his fourth commandment was lost perhaps as early as Josephus
Josephus
Titus Flavius Josephus , also called Joseph ben Matityahu , was a 1st-century Romano-Jewish historian and hagiographer of priestly and royal ancestry who recorded Jewish history, with special emphasis on the 1st century AD and the First Jewish–Roman War, which resulted in the Destruction of...
' time (circa 37-100 A.D./C.E.).
Ordination of women
As noted above, the Strangite organization opens two priesthood offices to women: Priest and Teacher. While only the "course" of "Singer" in the office of Priest (as opposed to "Sacrificator") is permitted to females, all five "degrees" in the office of Teacher are available. Women may serve as "leaders" of the Singers. Strang ordained women to these ministries as early as 1851, and allowed them to lecture in his School of the ProphetsSchool of the Prophets
In Mormonism, the School of the Prophets was a select group of early Latter Day Saint leaders who began meeting on January 23, 1833 in Kirtland, Ohio under the direction of Mormon prophet Joseph Smith, Jr. for both theological and secular learning...
by 1856.
In contrast, the Community of Christ church opened its ministry to females in 1984, while the LDS church still bars women from all of its priesthood offices, as do most other Latter Day Saint organizations.
Animal sacrifice
Animal sacrificeAnimal sacrifice
Animal sacrifice is the ritual killing of an animal as part of a religion. It is practised by many religions as a means of appeasing a god or gods or changing the course of nature...
was instituted in the Strangite church under Strang's leadership, for forgiveness of sins and as a part of Strangite celebration rituals. However, given the prohibition on sacrifices for sin contained in III Nephi 9:19-20, Strang did not require sin offerings. Rather, he focused on sacrifice as an element of religious festivities, especially the commemoration of his own coronation
Coronation
A coronation is a ceremony marking the formal investiture of a monarch and/or their consort with regal power, usually involving the placement of a crown upon their head and the presentation of other items of regalia...
as king (July 8, 1850). The head of every house, from the king to his lowest subject, was to offer "a heifer, or a lamb, or a dove. Every man a clean beast, or a clean fowl, according to his household."
The killing of sacrifices was a prerogative of Strangite Priests, but female Priests were specifically barred from participating in this aspect of the Priestly office. "Firstfruits" offerings were also demanded from all Strangite agricultural harvests.
Animal sacrifices are no longer practiced by the Strangites, though belief in their correctness is still required.
Monotheism and the vocation of Jesus Christ
Strangites reject both the traditional Christian doctrine of the Virgin BirthVirgin Birth
The virgin birth of Jesus is a tenet of Christianity and Islam which holds that Mary miraculously conceived Jesus while remaining a virgin. The term "virgin birth" is commonly used, rather than "virgin conception", due to the tradition that Joseph "knew her not till she brought forth her firstborn...
of Jesus Christ and the Mormon doctrine of plurality of gods
Plurality of gods
Plurality of gods usually refers to a unique concept taught by Joseph Smith and several other leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is believed to be based on interpretations of the Bible, the Book of Abraham, the teachings of Joseph Smith, Jr...
. They insist that there is but one eternal God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
, the Father
God the Father
God the Father is a gendered title given to God in many monotheistic religions, particularly patriarchal, Abrahamic ones. In Judaism, God is called Father because he is the creator, life-giver, law-giver, and protector...
, and that alleged progression to godhood (a doctrine supposedly taught by Joseph Smith; Strangites reject that assertion) is impossible. God has always been God, say they, and He is one Person (not three, as in the traditional Christian Trinity
Trinity
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity defines God as three divine persons : the Father, the Son , and the Holy Spirit. The three persons are distinct yet coexist in unity, and are co-equal, co-eternal and consubstantial . Put another way, the three persons of the Trinity are of one being...
).
Jesus Christ, Strangites believe, was the natural-born son of Mary
Mary (mother of Jesus)
Mary , commonly referred to as "Saint Mary", "Mother Mary", the "Virgin Mary", the "Blessed Virgin Mary", or "Mary, Mother of God", was a Jewish woman of Nazareth in Galilee...
and Joseph
Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph is a figure in the Gospels, the husband of the Virgin Mary and the earthly father of Jesus Christ ....
, who was chosen from before all time to be the Savior of mankind, but who had to be born as an ordinary mortal of two human parents (rather than being begotten by the Father or the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
) to be able to truly fulfill his Messianic role. Strang claimed that the earthly Christ was in essence "adopted" as God's son at birth, and fully revealed as such during the Transfiguration
Transfiguration of Jesus
The Transfiguration of Jesus is an event reported in the New Testament in which Jesus is transfigured and becomes radiant upon a mountain. The Synoptic Gospels describe it, and 2 Peter 1:16-18 refers to it....
. After proving himself to God by living a perfectly sinless life, he was thus enabled to provide an acceptable sacrifice for the sins of men, prior to his resurrection
Resurrection appearances of Jesus
The major Resurrection appearances of Jesus in the Canonical gospels are reported to have occurred after his death, burial and resurrection, but prior to his Ascension. Among these primary sources, most scholars believe First Corinthians was written first, authored by Paul of Tarsus along with...
and ascension.
Free agency
Musing at length on the nature of sinSin
In religion, sin is the violation or deviation of an eternal divine law or standard. The term sin may also refer to the state of having committed such a violation. Christians believe the moral code of conduct is decreed by God In religion, sin (also called peccancy) is the violation or deviation...
and evil
Evil
Evil is the violation of, or intent to violate, some moral code. Evil is usually seen as the dualistic opposite of good. Definitions of evil vary along with analysis of its root motive causes, however general actions commonly considered evil include: conscious and deliberate wrongdoing,...
, Strang wrote that of all things that God could give to man, He could never give him experience. Thus, if "free agency" were to be real, said Strang, humanity must be given the opportunity to fail and to learn from its own mistakes. The ultimate goal for each human being, according to Strangites, is to willingly conform oneself to the revealed character of God in every way, preferring good to evil not out of any fear of punishment or desire for reward, but rather "on account of the innate loveliness of undefiled goodness; of pure unalloyed holiness."
Sabbatarianism
The Strangite church observes the seventh-day SabbathSabbath in Seventh-day Adventism
Sabbath is an important part of the belief and practice of seventh-day Christians. These believers observe Sabbath on the seventh Hebrew day of the week, from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset, in similar manner as in Judaism, rather than Lord's day on Sunday like a most forms of Christianity...
, as the Book of the Law commanded it in lieu of Sunday.
Baptism for the Dead
Strangites believe in Baptism for the DeadBaptism for the dead
Baptism for the dead, vicarious baptism or proxy baptism is the religious practice of baptizing a living person on behalf of one who is dead, with the living person acting as the deceased person's proxy...
; the Strangite church practiced this to a limited extent in Voree and on Beaver Island. However, rather than simply baptizing for anyone whose name can be located (as in the LDS church), Strang required a revelation for those seeking to have a baptism done for someone outside of a close relative "within the fourth degree of consanguinity". This could come through dreams, angelic appearances, or other means listed within Strang's revelation on the subject. While still believed in, baptisms for the dead are not currently performed in the Strangite church due to the lack of a temple and prophetic leadership.
Eternal marriage
Eternal marriageCelestial marriage
Celestial marriage is a doctrine of Mormonism, particularly The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and branches of Mormon fundamentalism.Within Mormonism, celestial marriage is an ordinance associated with a covenant that always...
is taught in the Strangite church, though it is not required to be performed in a temple, as in the LDS church. Strangite Priests, Elders, High Priests or Apostles (of all four degrees) may perform this ceremony. Eternal marriages are still contracted among the Strangites today.
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
s (and homosexuality in general) are not permitted within the Strangite organization.
Conservation of resources
Conservation of forests and resources is mandated by the Strangite church. Within Strang's Beaver Island kingdom and other places where Strangites were numerous, groves of trees were to be maintained upon each farm, village and town. Farms and cities without trees were required to plant them, and to establish parklands so that "the aged and the young may go there to rest and to play." Although Strang's kingdom has disappeared, his followers still endeavor to practice basic conservation measures.Polygamy
Plural marriagePlural 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...
is sanctioned, though not expressly commanded, in the Book of the Law. The applicable text reads: "Thou shalt not take unto thee a multitude of wives disproportioned to thy inheritance, and thy substance: nor shalt thou take wives to vex those thou hast; neither shalt thou put away one to take another." Any wife already married to the prospective polygamist was given the right to express her opinion, and even to object, but not to veto the marriage. This passage seems to offer any aggrieved wife an appeal to the "Judges," but how this was to be carried out is not made clear.
Strang's defense of polygamy was rather novel. He claimed that, far from enslaving or demeaning women, it liberated and "elevated" them by allowing them to choose the best possible mate based upon any factors deemed important to them—even if that mate were already married to someone else. Rather than being forced to wed "corrupt and degraded sires" due to the scarcity of more suitable men, a woman could wed the one she saw as the most compatible to herself, the best candidate to father her children and the man who could give her the best possible life, no matter how many other wives he might have.
The practice of plural marriage has never been officially proscribed in the Strangite church, unlike in the LDS church. Only twenty-two men entered into polygamy, and most of them only took one additional wife. Strang took four additional wives, the most of any member in his church.
Polygamy was apparently practiced by a few Strangites up to 1880 or so, to include Wingfield W. Watson
Wingfield W. Watson
Wingfield W. Watson was a religious leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints which was founded by Joseph Smith, Junior, and succeeded by James Jesse Strang He was a church records keeper. And some of his works have been compiled, showing the beliefs and actions of Strang...
, a Strangite High Priest who knew and served under James Strang personally. However, with federal and state bans on the practice, and a divine injunction to obey "the law of the land," plural marriage has been given up in the contemporary Strangite organization, though belief in its correctness is still required and affirmed.
Strangites reject Section 132 of the LDS Doctrine and Covenants, regarding it as a forgery from 1852 that was never received or approved by Joseph Smith.
Temples
Strang attempted to construct a temple in Voree, but was prevented from completing it due to the poverty and lack of cooperation of his followers. No "endowmentEndowment (Latter Day Saints)
In the theology of the Latter Day Saint movement, an endowment refers to a gift of "power from on high", typically associated with Latter Day Saint temples. The purpose and meaning of the endowment varied during the life of movement founder Joseph Smith, Jr...
" rituals comparable to those in the Utah LDS church appear to have existed among his followers, and no Strangite temples exist today or are contemplated.
African Americans
Strangites welcomed African Americans into their church during a time when some other factions (such as the Utah LDS church, until 1978) denied them the priesthood, or certain other benefits of membership. Strang ordained at least two African Americans to the eldership during his lifetime.See also
- George J. AdamsGeorge J. AdamsGeorge Jones Adams was the leader of a schismatic Latter Day Saint sect who led an ill-fated effort to establish a colony of Americans in Palestine. Adams was also briefly a member of the First Presidency in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints...
- Voree PlatesVoree PlatesThe Voree Plates, sometimes called The Record of Rajah Manchou of Vorito, or the Voree Record, were a set of three tiny metal plates allegedly discovered by James J. Strang in 1845 in Voree, near Burlington, Wisconsin...
- Book of the Law of the LordBook of the Law of the LordThe Book of the Law of the Lord is a book accepted as scripture by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints . It is alleged to be a translation by the Strangite prophet James Strang of the Plates of Laban, originally acquired by Nephi, a leading character in the early portion of The Book of...
- Current state of polygamy in the Latter Day Saint movementCurrent state of polygamy in the Latter Day Saint movementAccording to the consensus of historians, the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, Joseph Smith, Jr., privately taught and practiced polygamy. After Smith's death in 1844, the church he established splintered into several competing groups...
Footnotes
"Mormon," as used in this article, refers to adherents of the Latter Day Saint movement as a whole, and not just those of its largest branch, the LDS church (as is usual among smaller Latter Day Saint sects, many of which dislike this term). Its use here is only for convenience, not in any derogatory sense. The "Bickertonites," as they are commonly called, obtained their historical and priesthood lineage from Rigdon's organization, but their beliefs are not identical to Rigdon's sect in every respect. Though construction on a temple was started at this site, it was never completed, due to the poverty and divisions among Strang's followers. The first group does not have a website; the second has three: http://www.strangite.org, http://www.mormonbeliefs.com, and http://www.zionsreveille.org.External links
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Official site of the "non-incorporating" faction.
- Mormon Beliefs Another website from the "non-incorporating" faction.
- The Voree Plates A detailed description of the "Voree Plates" and the story behind them, from a Strangite point of view.
- Book of the Law of the Lord, Edition of 1851 First Edition, without Strang's commentary. Contains photos of the text and the extremely rare first edition of this work.
- Book of the Law of the Lord, Edition of 1856 Second Edition of this work; contains Strang's commentary and notes, also considered to be scripture by Strangites.
- The Revelations of James J. Strang Contains text of "Letter of Appointment", together with translation of the "Voree Plates" and other revelations given by Strang. Includes a facsimilie of the "plates".