The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite) is a denomination of the Latter Day Saint movement. The Strangite church is distinct from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is larger and better-known, although both organizations claim to be the original church established by Joseph Smith, Jr., on April 6, 1830. The Strangite church is headquartered in an area of Burlington, Wisconsin known as Voree. The Latter Day Saint movement (a subset of Restorationism) is a group of religious denominations and adherents who follow at least some of the teachings and revelations of Joseph Smith, Jr. ... For other uses, see Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (disambiguation). ... Joseph Smith, Jr. ... is the 96th day of the year (97th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix commemorates the July Revolution 1830 (MDCCCXXX) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Burlington is a city in Wisconsin, United States. ... Official language(s) None Capital Madison Largest city Milwaukee Area  Ranked 23rd  - Total 65,498 sq mi (169,790 km²)  - Width 260 miles (420 km)  - Length 310 miles (500 km)  - % water 17  - Latitude 42° 30′ N to 47° 05′ N  - Longitude 86° 46′ W to 92° 53′ W Population  Ranked... Voree, Wisconsin is a former settlement and a historic site on the outskirts of present-day Burlington, Wisconsin. ...

History

Early history

See also: History of the Latter Day Saint movement

The Strangites share the same early history with other Latter Day Saint denominations, up until the assassination of Joseph Smith Jr., the founding prophet of the movement. During the resulting succession crisis, several early Mormon leaders asserted their claims to succeed Smith, including Sidney Rigdon and Brigham Young. The Latter Day Saint movement is a religious movement within Christian Restorationism beginning in the early 19th century that led to the set of doctrines, practices, and cultures called Mormonism and to the existence of numerous Latter Day Saint churches. ... A Latter Day Saint is an adherent of the Latter Day Saint movement, a group of denominations tracing their heritage to the teachings of Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Daguerreotype which some experts believe to be an original 1843 photograph of Joseph Smith, Jr. ... For other senses of this word, see Prophet (disambiguation). ... The Succession Crisis in the Latter Day Saint movement occurred after the assassination of the movements founder, Joseph Smith, Jr. ... This article is about the history and use of the word Mormon. For information about the religious beliefs and culture of Mormons, see Mormonism. ... Sidney Rigdon Sidney Rigdon (19 February 1793–14 July 1876) was an important figure in the early history of the Latter Day Saint movement. ... See also, Brigham Young University Brigham Young (June 1, 1801 – August 29, 1877) was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement. ...

Rigdon's claim rested on the fact that he was the sole surviving member of the First Presidency, the church's highest leadership quorum. Young initially argued that Smith could have no immediate successor,^{[citation needed]} but that the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (of which he was president) should be sustained as the presiding body of the church. Rigdon and his followers relocated to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but after some early successes the organization faltered. The Rigdonite church lives on today in the form of The Church of Jesus Christ. Young's followers migrated west to the Salt Lake Valley where they grew and became what is now the Utah-based The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In the Latter Day Saint movement, the First Presidency (or the Quorum of the Presidency of the Church) was the highest governing body in the Latter Day Saint church established by Joseph Smith, Jr. ... The current Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the LDS Church. ... President Thomas S. Monson Acting President Boyd K. Packer President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is a priesthood calling in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... “Pittsburgh” redirects here. ... Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 280 miles (455 km)  - Length 160 miles (255 km)  - % water 2. ... The Church of Jesus Christs historic chapel in Monongahela, Pennsylvania. ... Salt Lake Valley from space. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... For other uses, see Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (disambiguation). ...

The Prophet James J. Strang

A map of old Voree, engraved on a monument at the townsite.

Although he was a relatively recent convert at the time of Smith's death, James J. Strang posed a strong and initially quite successful challenge to the claims of Young and Rigdon. Strang was a Mormon elder charged with establishing a stake or a place of refuge in Wisconsin, should the Mormons be forced to abandon their headquarters in Nauvoo. He possessed a letter, known as the Letter of Appointment. This letter, purported to have been written by Smith prior to his death, appointed Strang to be the president of the new Voree Stake of the church, and was interpreted by Strang and his followers as a call to succeed Smith as Church president. Strang also claimed that at the moment of Smith's death, he was visited by angels who ordained him to be Smith's successor. Image File history File links Map of Old Voree. ... Image File history File links Map of Old Voree. ... 1856 daguerreotype of James Strang, taken on Beaver Island, Lake Michigan, by J. Atkyn, one of his assassins. ... Elder is a priesthood office in the Melchizedek Priesthood of denominations within the Latter Day Saint movement, including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... A stake is an administrative unit composed of multiple congregrations in sects of the Latter Day Saint movement. ... There is also a Nauvoo, Alabama, and a Nauvoo, Pennsylvania Nauvoo (נָאווּ to be beautiful, Sephardi Hebrew Nåvu, Tiberian Hebrew Nâwû) is a city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. ... In Mormonism, the Letter of Appointment is a controversial two-page document used by the supporters of James Strang to prove that he was the designated successor to Joseph Smith, Jr. ... This article is about the supernatural being. ...

Strang's claim appealed to many Latter Day Saints who had been attracted to early Mormonism's doctrines of continuing revelation through the mouth of a living prophet. Strang announced that there was, indeed, a Mormon prophet who communed with angels. Strang's claims were further bolstered by his discovery of metal plates, purporting to contain an ancient record. The plates were found in the Hill of Promise, which later became the temple site in the Strangite town of Voree. Strang's translation of the plates, indicated that they were the history of "Rajah Manchou of Vorito." The translation of new plates may have reminded some Latter Day Saints of Smith's translation of the Golden Plates and the Book of Abraham. A Latter Day Saint (LDS) is a person who identifies with the Latter Day Saint movement and is a follower of Mormonism. ... The Voree Plates, sometimes called The Record of Rajah Manchou of Vorito were a tiny set of metal plates discovered in 1845 in Voree (now Burlington), Wisconsin. ... The Salt Lake Temple is the most well-known Mormon Temple. ... Voree, Wisconsin is a former settlement and a historic site on the outskirts of present-day Burlington, Wisconsin. ... An 1893 engraving of Joseph Smith receiving the Golden Plates and the Urim and Thummim from the angel Moroni. ... The Book of Abraham is a text published as part of the Pearl of Great Price, one of the four canonical scriptures of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ...

Early Success of the Church

Many prominent Latter Day Saints believed in the Letter of Appointment and accepted Strang as Mormonism's second "Prophet, Seer, Revelator and Translator", at least for a short time. 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 to rejoin the LDS Church in Utah); Presiding Stake President William Marks; Second Bishop of the Church and church trustee-in-trust George Miller, Apostle John E. Page; former Apostle William E. 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 broke with the founding prophet and had written an Anti-Mormon exposé. Bennett may have introduced Strang to some of the doctrines alleged to have been taught secretly in Nauvoo, including plural marriage. Bennett also founded a Strangite fraternal society known as the Order of Illuminati, but his presence disrupted the Strangite church and was the cause of a schism. Strang initially defended Bennett, but eventually excommunicated him.,^{[citation needed]} In Mormonism, the Presiding Patriarch (also called Presiding Evangelist, Patriarch over the Church, Patriarch of the Church, or Patriarch to the Church) is a Church-wide leadership office within the Latter Day Saint Priesthood. ... In Mormonism, an Apostle is a special witness of the name of Christ who is sent to teach the principles of salvation to others. ... William Smith (also found as William B. Smith) (1811–1893) born in Royalton, Vermont, was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. ... The Book of Mormon[1] is one of the sacred texts of the Latter Day Saint movement. ... A monument to the Three Witnesses at Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. ... Martin Harris circa 1870, age 87. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Trustee is a legal term that refers to a holder of property on behalf of a beneficiary. ... George Miller (November 25, 1794–1856) was an prominent convert in the Latter Day Saint movement and was the third ordained bishop in the Latter Day Saint church. ... John Edward Page (February 25, 1799–1867) was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement. ... William Earl MLellin (January 18, 1806—April 24, 1883) (often modernized to McLellin) was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement. ... Engraving of John C. Bennett in a Napoleon-like pose as General of the Nauvoo Legion. ... In the Latter Day Saint movement, the First Presidency (or the Quorum of the Presidency of the Church) was the highest governing body in the Latter Day Saint church established by Joseph Smith, Jr. ... An anti-Mormon political cartoon from the late nineteenth century. ... Plural marriage (also referred to as Celestial marriage, the New and Everlasting Covenant, the Principle, and the Priesthood Work) is a type of polygyny taught by Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Excommunication is a religious censure used to deprive or suspend membership in a religious community. ...

Strang found his greatest support among the scattered branches of Mormonism, which he frequently toured. His followers may have numbered as many as 12,000 at a time when Young had perhaps 20,000 followers and Rigdon another few hundred. After Strang won a debate at a conference in Norway, Illinois, he converted the entire branch. The Strangite church published a periodical known as the Voree Herald. The church also fielded a mission to England — one of the primary sources of converts to Mormonism. This mission was led by Martin Harris, the original financier of the Book of Mormon and one of its Three Witnesses. Harris proved a poorer spokesman than Strang, however, and the English missions sided with the LDS Church led by Young. For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... Martin Harris circa 1870, age 87. ... The Book of Mormon[1] is one of the sacred texts of the Latter Day Saint movement. ... A monument to the Three Witnesses at Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. ...

Migration to Beaver Island

Because the high price of land in the Voree area made it difficult for Latter Day Saints to gather there, Strang moved the headquarters of the church to Beaver Island in Lake Michigan. Here the Strangites founded a town known as St. James (now St. James Township) and established a printing press there for a new periodical, the Northern Islander. 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. After church dissenters shot Strang on June 20, 1856, the Strangite church was left leaderless and vulnerable. Later in the summer of 1856, vigilantes from Mackinac Island and other Lake Michigan communities converged on Beaver Island. The Strangites were rounded up, put onto steamships and forced off the island. Most were dropped off in Chicago, destitute and deprived of all their property. A view of Iron Ore Bay on the southern end of Beaver Island. ... --67. ... St. ... An entrepôt is a trading centre, or simply a warehouse, where merchandise can be imported and exported without paying import duties, often at a profit. ... The Great Lakes from space The Laurentian Great Lakes are a group of five large lakes in North America on or near the Canada-United States border. ... Mackinac Island (pronounced or MACK-in-aw) is an island covering 3. ... is the 171st day of the year (172nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1856 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Nickname: Motto: Urbs in Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in the Chicago metro area and Illinois Coordinates: , Country State Counties Cook, DuPage Settled 1770s Incorporated March 4, 1837 Government  - Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area  - City  234. ...

Death of Strang, Scattering of the Church

The old church house in Voree where the archives of the church had been kept.

Although Strang lived on a few weeks at his home in Voree, he refused to name a successor, insisting that the call must come through God. The death of Strang and the loss of the settlements on Beaver Island were twin catastrophes for the church. The membership was left scattered and leaderless. Eventually, most of the former Strangites were gathered together into what was known at the time as the New Organization of Latter Day Saints. This group of midewestern Saints chose not to follow Brigham Young and the main body that had located to valley of the Great Salt Lake in Utah and would come to be led by Joseph Smith, Jr.'s son, Joseph Smith III. (This organization, called the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is now known as the Community of Christ.) Voree Church. ... Voree Church. ... See also, Brigham Young University Brigham Young (June 1, 1801 – August 29, 1877) was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement. ... Great Salt Lake, located in the northern part of the U.S. state of Utah, is the largest salt lake in the Western Hemisphere,[1] the fourth-largest terminal lake in the world,[2] and the 33rd largest lake on Earth. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Joseph Smith III — Leader of the 1860 Reorganization of the Latter Day Saint church. ... It has been suggested that Community of Christ membership statistics be merged into this article or section. ...

A few congregations of Strangites, however, remained loyal to their prophet's memory. Wingfield W. Watson was a prominent leader who kept the church alive into the 20th century. Today the Strangite church has a small but steady following.^{[citation needed]} It is based at its old Voree, Wisconsin headquarters in what is now Burlington. Estimates by Mormon sect researcher Stephen Shields conclude that there are less than fifty members. (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999... Voree, Wisconsin is a former settlement and a historic site on the outskirts of present-day Burlington, Wisconsin. ... Burlington is a city in Wisconsin, United States. ...

Doctrines

The church believes in seventh-day worship, sacrificial ordinances, ordains women to some offices of the priesthood, practices baptism for the dead, an endowment ceremony similar to that practiced by pre-Nauvoo Mormons, and believes in Eternal Marriage. Historically, some members of the church practiced plural marriage, including James Strang himself. In Mormonism, priesthood is considered to be the power and authority to act in the name of God, including the performance of sacred rites and ordinances, and the performance of miracles. ... Baptism for the dead is an ordinance performed today in temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for those who have died without having been baptized by one having authority. ... In Mormonism, the Endowment is a heavenly gift of priesthood power, connected with the construction and use of the Mormon temple. ... There is also a Nauvoo, Alabama, and a Nauvoo, Pennsylvania Nauvoo (נָאווּ to be beautiful, Sephardi Hebrew Nåvu, Tiberian Hebrew Nâwû) is a city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. ... Eternal Marriage is a sacred covenant between a man, a woman and God performed by a priesthood-bearer in the temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... Plural marriage (also referred to as Celestial marriage, the New and Everlasting Covenant, the Principle, and the Priesthood Work) is a type of polygyny taught by Joseph Smith, Jr. ...

External links

• Official Church Site
• Book of the Law of the Lord
• 7th Day Sabbath Mormons

Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ...

the Latter Day Saint movement

William Bickerton: The Church of Jesus Christ

Sidney Rigdon: "Rigdonites"

Granville Hedrick: The Church of Christ (Temple Lot)

Joseph Smith III: The Community of Christ

James Strang:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Brigham Young

The Fundamentalist Church of

Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

Joseph Smith