Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite) facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite)
1856 daguerreotype of James Strang, taken on Beaver Island, Lake Michigan.
Classification	Latter Day Saint movement
Orientation	Latter Day Saints
Theology	Mormonism; Psilanthropist; Unitarian
Polity	Church conference
Moderator	None, after Strang's death
Region	Worldwide
Founder	Joseph Smith Jr, 1830; James J. Strang, 1844
Origin	April 6, 1830 (officially given); June 27, 1844 (claimed angelic ordination of Strang) Voree, Wisconsin
Separated from	Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Separations	Church of Jesus Christ (Drewite), Church of the Messiah, Holy Church of Jesus Christ, others
Congregations	6
Members	130

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (often called Strangite) is one of several groups that believe they are the true continuation of the church started by Joseph Smith on April 6, 1830. It is different from the much larger Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), which is based in Utah. Both churches claim to be the original one founded by Smith. The Strangite church has its main office in Voree, Wisconsin, near Burlington. This church follows James Strang as the rightful leader after Smith. In 1998, it had about 300 members. Today, its website says there are around 130 active members across the United States.

After Joseph Smith was killed in 1844, there was no clear person to take his place. Many leaders tried to become the new head of the church. James Strang was one of them. He was a rival to other important members like Brigham Young and Sidney Rigdon.

At its busiest time, the Strangite Church had about 12,000 members. This made them a strong competitor to the larger group led by Brigham Young. Strang was killed in 1856. After his death, most of his followers joined Joseph Smith III and his church, which is now called the Community of Christ.

History of the Strangite Church

How the Church Started

Strangites share the same early history as other Latter Day Saint groups until Joseph Smith was killed. After Smith's death, many early leaders claimed they should lead the church. These included Sidney Rigdon, Brigham Young, and James Strang. Rigdon said he should be the leader because he was the oldest member of Smith's top leadership group. But the main church in Nauvoo, Illinois, did not accept him. Rigdon and his followers moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but his group did not last.

Brigham Young first said that Smith could not have a direct replacement. Instead, he believed the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (which he led) should guide the church. Young and his followers traveled west to the Salt Lake Valley in what became Utah Territory. They kept the name Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints until 1851. Then, the spelling was changed to "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

James Strang's Claims and Discoveries

Page one of Strang's Letter of Appointment.

James Strang was a new member when Smith died. But he became a strong leader and was very successful at first. Strang was a Mormon elder who was supposed to set up a safe place in Wisconsin. This was in case Mormons had to leave their main home in Nauvoo. Strang had a paper called the "letter of appointment." He said Joseph Smith wrote it before he died. Some people say the handwriting on the letter does not look like Smith's. Also, the words in the letter were unclear. Some believe it only made Strang the leader of the new Wisconsin area. But Strang and his followers believed it meant he was chosen to be Smith's successor. Strang also said that when Smith died, angels visited him and made him the new leader. He said no one else saw this happen.

Monument at old Voree townsite.

Many Latter Day Saints liked Strang's idea of new messages from God through a living prophet. People were sad and confused after Smith's death. Strang told them there was still a Mormon seer who talked with God and angels. Strang's claim became stronger when he found the Voree plates. He said these plates contained the last words of an ancient Native American named "Rajah Manchou of Vorito." These plates were found on the Hill of Promise. This hill would become the temple site in the new Strangite town of Voree. This event reminded people of Smith's translations of the golden plates (the Book of Mormon) and the Book of Abraham. This may have helped some Latter Day Saints choose Strang over other leaders, who had not found any new records.

Early Supporters and Challenges

Engraving of John C. Bennett as a General of the Nauvoo Legion.

Many important Latter Day Saints believed in Strang's "letter of appointment." They accepted him as Mormonism's second "Prophet, Seer, Revelator and Translator" for a time. These included Smith's only living brother, William Smith. Also, Book of Mormon witness Martin Harris joined him. Other supporters were Nauvoo Stake President William Marks, and Smith's mother Lucy Mack Smith.

Another supporter was John C. Bennett, who used to be the mayor of Nauvoo. Bennett started a secret Strangite group called the "Order of Illuminati." But his presence caused problems for Strang's church, and he was later removed. Bennett's group also ended.

Most of these people, except for George Miller, left the Strangite church by 1850. Many left because Strang changed his mind about polygamy (having more than one wife). At first, Strang was strongly against it. But in 1849, he changed his mind and became a big supporter of it. Many of his early followers had joined him because he was against polygamy, unlike Brigham Young. So, Strang's decision to accept polygamy caused him and his church to lose many members.

Martin Harris circa 1870, age 87.

Strang found his strongest support among the scattered Mormon groups. He often visited these groups. His followers may have reached 12,000 people. At that time, Brigham Young's group had just over 50,000 members. After Strang won a debate in Norway, Illinois, he convinced an entire church branch to join him. In Voree, the Strangites published a newspaper called the Voree Herald. Strang's church also sent missionaries to England. This was a main place where Mormons found new members. Martin Harris, who helped pay for the Book of Mormon, led this mission. However, Harris was not a good speaker, and the English missions mostly sided with the LDS Church led by Young.

Moving to Beaver Island

Land in the Voree area was expensive, making it hard for Latter Day Saints to gather there. So, Strang moved his church's main office to Beaver Island in Lake Michigan. Here, his followers started a town called St. James. In 1850, they openly set up a religious kingdom with Strang as the spiritual "king" of his church. The date of his coronation, July 8, is still one of the two most important days in the Strangite church calendar. The other is April 6, the day Smith's church was founded.

Strang never said he was king over Beaver Island or any other land. Instead, he said he was king over his church. He saw his church as the true "Kingdom of God" that the scriptures talked about, which would spread across the earth. The rules for this kingdom were in the Book of the Law of the Lord. Strang said he translated this book from the Plates of Laban mentioned in the Book of Mormon. This new book of Strangite scripture was first printed in 1851. A much larger version was printed in 1856, just after Strang was killed. Strangites still respect this book today, and it is an important part of their holy writings.

Besides printing religious materials, the Strangite printing press on Beaver Island also made a new newspaper, the Northern Islander. This was the first real newspaper in northern Michigan. As St. James became a busy port for Great Lakes shipping, the Strangites started to compete with older trading ports like Mackinac Island. Tensions grew between the Mormons on Beaver Island and their non-Mormon neighbors. These tensions often led to fighting. Both sides accused each other of bad behavior. Also, some of Strang's own followers became unhappy with what they saw as his increasingly strict rule.

Tensions reached a peak on June 20, 1856. Two unhappy Strangite members shot Strang in the back. He died three weeks later. Strang had refused to name a successor. He said the next Strangite prophet had to be chosen and made a leader by angels, just like he and Smith had been. So, Strang's church was left without a leader and was vulnerable. The day before he died, groups from Mackinac Island and other Lake Michigan communities came to Beaver Island. The Strangites were rounded up, forced onto ships, and removed from the island. Most were simply left on docks in Chicago and Green Bay, with no money or property.

After Strang's Death

Strangite church building in Voree, Wisconsin. (2005)

Strang's death and the loss of his Beaver Island home were huge disasters for his church. Many Strangites felt lost and without spiritual guidance. They eventually joined what was then called the "New Organization" of Latter Day Saints. This group had chosen not to follow Brigham Young. They later accepted the leadership of Joseph Smith III, Joseph Smith's oldest son. This "New Organization" later became the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It is now the second-largest group in the Latter Day Saint movement.

However, a few Strangite groups remained loyal to their prophet's memory. Wingfield W. Watson, a high priest who had known Strang, kept the Strangite church alive into the 20th century. Today, Strang's followers are divided into two main groups. One group is led by a Presiding High Priest. This leader does not claim to have the same authority as Smith or Strang. The other group believes the first group is wrong. They say that by becoming a legal organization in 1961 and creating new rules, the first group lost its identity as the true continuation of Strang's church. This second group claims it is the only true part of Strang's church.

The first group no longer focuses on missionary work. They believe that after three prophets were killed (Smith, Hyrum Smith, and Strang), God stopped giving special messages to people in the West. Because of this, this group's membership remains small. Current numbers vary between 50 and 300 people.

There are two groups within the second faction. One group has a website based in Independence, Missouri. The second has a website based in Shreveport, Louisiana. Both groups do missionary work online.

Strangite Holy Writings

Strangites "believe the Bible is the word of God as far as it is translated correctly." They also "believe the Book of Mormon is the word of God." This is similar to most other Latter Day Saint groups. They consider older versions of the Doctrine and Covenants (published before Smith's death) to be holy writings.

Strangites believe the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible was inspired by God. However, they do not think modern versions of this text are accurate. So, they "carefully use the earliest corrections published as the 'Inspired Version' or 'Joseph Smith Translation' by Joseph Smith's sons in 1867." Strangites do not have an official view on the Book of Abraham.

Strang's Book of the Law of the Lord is accepted as holy writing in its larger 1856 form. They believe it is the same "Book of the Law of the Lord" mentioned in the Bible. Strang said he translated it from the Plates of Laban mentioned in the Book of Mormon.

The Strangites also consider several prophecies, visions, messages, and translations printed by Strang to be holy. These are published in the Revelations of James J. Strang. This book includes his supposed "letter of appointment" from Smith and his translation of the Voree plates. The Book of Jasher was used by both Smith and Strang. But like other Latter Day Saint groups, there is no official view on its truthfulness, and it is not considered part of their main holy books.

Strangite Beliefs

Leadership and Priesthood

One unique difference for Strangites is how they divide the Melchizedek priesthood and the Aaronic priesthood. Strang's Book of the Law calls the Melchizedek priesthood "The Priesthood of an endless life." It calls the Aaronic priesthood "the Priesthood of life."

In the Melchizedek priesthood, Strang lists two "orders": "Apostles" and "Priests."

Apostles are divided into four "degrees":

The Prophet/President of the Strangite church is called a "King" in the book, not a "President."
The President's Counselors are called "Viceroys." Viceroys are also called "kings," but this does not mean they share the special royal title of the President/King.
Strang's Twelve Apostles are called "Princes in his Kingdom forever." The leader of Strang's Apostles is called "Prince and Grand Master of the Seventies."
A group of "Evangelists" is created. These are Apostles to a single "nation, kindred, tongue or people." This is different from the Twelve Apostles, who are sent to all nations. Seven Evangelists form a group. Strang noted that such a group had never been formed before (and Strang did not form one either). This is a unique priesthood office in the Latter Day Saint movement.

Priests are divided into two "degrees":

High Priests include "all lower Kings, Patriarchs, or heads of tribes, and Nobles, or heads of clans." Strang also said, "They who hold it are called Sons of God." From this group, the king is to choose "counselors, judges and rulers." Also, the Book of the Law says only High Priests and Apostles can bless the Eucharist. Other Latter Day Saint groups allow Elders and Priests to do this too.
The "degree" of Elder includes both the offices of Seventy and Elder, as they were generally in Smith's church.

In the Aaronic priesthood, Strang lists three "orders":

Priests are divided into two "courses": Sacrificators and Singers. The Singers course is open to women. Each temple should have a Chief Priest, helped by a first and second High Priest. Strangite "Sacrificators" are to kill sacrifices as described in the Book of the Law. Female priests are specifically not allowed to kill sacrifices. The duties of preaching and baptizing are also kept.
Teachers are divided into five "degrees": Rabboni, Rabbi, Doctor, Ruler, and Teacher. This office, like Priest, is open to women. Teachers are not just to teach about spiritual things, but also about everyday matters. They are to work in schools throughout the kingdom.
Deacons are divided 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."

Also, a "King's Council" and a "King's Court" are set up, though none exist in the Strangite church today.

No Apostles (of any degree) exist in the Strangite church today. This is because all must be appointed by a Strangite prophet. And the prophet himself must be appointed by God through angels. The "incorporated" group of Strangites has high priests. But the "non-incorporated" group does not. They say the first group does not have the authority to appoint anyone. Both groups have Elders and Aaronic Priesthood offices.

The Ten Commandments

Another unique part of Strangite belief is their special version of the Ten Commandments. The Strangite Decalogue is different from any other Jewish, Catholic, Islamic, or Protestant version. It includes the commandment: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."

This advice appears in the Hebrew Bible in Leviticus 19:18 and five times in the New Testament. In his "Note on the Decalogue," Strang said that no other version of the Ten Commandments has more than nine commandments. He thought his fourth commandment might have been lost very early on. Strang's version of the Ten Commandments is not accepted by any non-Strangite Mormon groups, including the main LDS Church.

Women in Leadership

As mentioned, the Strangite church allows women to hold two priesthood offices: Priest and Teacher. For the office of Priest, only the "Singer" role is open to females, not "Sacrificator." However, all five "degrees" in the office of Teacher are open to women. Women can serve as "leaders" of the Singers. Strang appointed women to these roles as early as 1851. He also allowed them to teach in his School of the Prophets by 1856. Another church, the Community of Christ, began appointing women to the priesthood in 1984. Most other Latter Day Saint churches do not appoint women to the priesthood.

Animal Sacrifice

Animal sacrifice was started in the Strangite church under Strang's leadership. It was mainly part of their celebration rituals. While the chapter on "Sacrifices" in Strang's Book of the Law of the Lord talks about them being offered for sins, Strang focused on sacrifice as part of religious festivals. This was especially true for celebrating his own coronation as king (July 8, 1850). The head of every household, from the king to his lowest follower, was to offer "a heifer, or a lamb, or a dove. Every man a clean beast, or a clean fowl, according to his household."

Killing sacrifices was a duty of Strangite Priests. But female Priests were specifically not allowed to do this part of the priestly office. "Firstfruits" offerings were also required from all Strangite farm harvests.

Animal sacrifices are no longer practiced by the Strangites today. However, belief in their correctness is still required.

God and Jesus Christ

Strangites do not believe in the traditional Christian idea of the virgin birth of Jesus Christ. They also reject the Mormon idea of many gods. They believe there is only one eternal God, the Father. They say that becoming a god (a belief some say Smith taught, but Strangites disagree) is not possible. They believe God has always been God, and he is one Person (not three, as in the traditional Christian Trinity).

Strangites believe Jesus Christ was the natural son of Mary and Joseph. They believe he was chosen before all time to be the Savior of mankind. But he had to be born as an ordinary human with two human parents to truly fulfill his role. Strang claimed that Jesus was "adopted" as God's son at birth. This was fully shown during the transfiguration. After proving himself to God by living a perfect life without sin, he was able to offer a sacrifice for the sins of people. This happened before his resurrection and ascension.

Free Will

Strang thought deeply about sin and evil. He wrote that God could give humans many things, but not experience. So, for "free will" to be real, humans must have the chance to make mistakes and learn from them. The main goal for each person, according to Strangites, is to willingly become like God in every way. This means choosing good over evil, not because of fear of punishment or desire for reward, but because of "the natural beauty of pure goodness; of pure holiness."

Sabbath Day

Strangites observe the seventh-day Sabbath—which is Saturday—as commanded in the Book of the Law. This is instead of Sunday.

Baptism for the Dead

Strangites believe in baptism for the dead and practiced it a little in Voree and on Beaver Island. However, instead of just baptizing for anyone, Strang required a special message from God for those wanting a baptism for someone who was not a close relative. This message could come through dreams, angels, or other ways listed in Strang's message on the topic. While still believed in, baptisms for the dead are not done in the Strangite church today. This is because they do not have a temple or a prophet leading them.

Eternal Marriage

Eternal marriage is taught in the Strangite church. But unlike in the LDS Church, it does not have to be done in a temple. Strangite Priests, Elders, High Priests, or Apostles can perform this ceremony. Eternal marriages are still performed among Strangites today.

Same-sex marriage and homosexuality are not allowed in the Strangite church.

Protecting Nature

Strangites are required to protect forests and natural resources. In Strang's Beaver Island kingdom and other places where Strangites lived, groups of trees were to be kept on every farm, village, and town. Farms and cities without trees had to plant them and create parks. This was so "the aged and the young may go there to rest and to play." Even though Strang's kingdom is gone, his followers still try to practice basic conservation.

Polygamy

Plural marriage (having more than one wife) is allowed but not directly commanded in the Book of the Law. The text says: "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 man could share her opinion and even object, but she could not stop the marriage.

Strang defended polygamy by saying it helped women. He claimed it freed and "raised" them up. It allowed them to choose the best partner based on what was important to them, even if that partner was already married. Instead of being forced to marry "corrupt and degraded men" because there were not enough good men, a woman could marry the one she saw as most compatible. This was the best person to father her children and give her the best life, no matter how many other wives he might have.

The practice of plural marriage has never been officially forbidden in the Strangite church, unlike in the LDS Church. Only twenty-two men practiced polygamy, and most of them took only one extra wife. Strang took four additional wives, more than anyone else in his church.

Polygamy was practiced by a few Strangites until about 1880. This included Wingfield W. Watson, a Strangite High Priest who knew Strang. However, with government bans on the practice, and a religious rule to obey "the law of the land," plural marriage has been stopped in the modern Strangite church. But belief in its correctness is still required.

Strangites reject Section 132 of the LDS Church's Doctrine and Covenants. They believe it is a fake document from 1852 that Joseph Smith never received or approved.

Temples

Strang began to build a temple in Voree. But he could not finish it because his followers were poor and did not cooperate enough. There do not seem to have been any special "endowment" rituals like those in the LDS Church among his followers. Strangites believe that only a prophet of God can receive a message to direct the building of a Temple. Since there is no current prophet of the church, there are no plans to build a Temple right now.

African Americans

Strangites welcomed African Americans into their church. Some other groups (like the LDS Church, until 1978) did not allow them to hold the priesthood or receive certain other benefits. Strang appointed at least two African Americans to the eldership during his lifetime.