Meet a Strangite Mormon (Gary Weber 2 of 6)

It’s always fun to talk to someone from the Strangite Church, officially known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite) Based in Burlington, Wisconsin, this branch of the Latter-day Saint movement offers a distinctive perspective on the succession of Joseph Smith and the ongoing divine restoration.

https://youtu.be/RUL8rF0hb4U

Strangite Genesis in Voree

The current headquarters of the Strangite Church is Burlington, Wisconsin. Interestingly, the area holds historical significance with multiple names. It was originally called Foxville. While today it’s known as Burlington, a specific area on the west side of town where the Mormon settlement was located was called Voree by the early Strangites, a name associated with the significant “Voree record”. James J. Strang led his followers to this location, believing God had instructed them to move from Nauvoo.

James Strang was dispatched to the Burlington area by Joseph Smith, having been baptized and made an elder by Smith himself. Strang wrote back to Joseph Smith, suggesting Voree would be a “wonderful place for a gathering” due to its rich resources like fish, fresh water, great farmland, and good soil near the Great Lakes. Initially, Joseph Smith was hesitant, but after discussion with Hyrum Smith and a subsequent spiritual revelation, he concluded that Voree was indeed a good place for the Saints.

James J. Strang: Joseph Smith’s Chosen Successor?

The Strangite Church believes that James J. Strang was divinely appointed as Joseph Smith’s successor. This belief is rooted in two pivotal events:

• The Letter of Appointment: Joseph Smith penned a letter to James A. Strang, officially appointing him as his successor. This original letter is now preserved at Yale University in the Beineke Library, with copies available for members.
• The Angelic Ordination: On the very day Joseph Smith was assassinated, June 27, 1844, angels appeared to James J. Strang and ordained him a prophet. These were believed to be the same angels who ordained Joseph Smith – Peter, James, and John. Strang was aware of Joseph’s death through this angelic visitation even before news arrived from Nauvoo. Furthermore, it’s believed that Jesus also anointed Strang as the King of Israel for the gentile dispensation, an ordination attributed to his lineage from the royal line of King David.

Sacred Texts and Prophetic Interpretations

The Strangite Church embraces a unique canon of scripture beyond what is common in other Latter-day Saint traditions:

• The Voree Plates: These ancient plates were revealed to James Strang through a vision from the angel Moroni, known as the Hill of Promise. Strang gathered leading citizens to witness their excavation from beneath a tree, about four feet down, where roots had grown around them. The plates, housed in an earthen case, crumbled upon exposure to air due to their age. Witnesses, including a newspaper reporter from Kenosha, confirmed the ancient nature of the record and that the site had been undisturbed. Strang translated them using the Urim and Thummim given to him by the angel Moroni, much like Joseph Smith used the Urim and Thummim to translate the Book of Mormon. The Voree Plates provide a brief history of a people who were “no more” and, most notably, contained a pictorial drawing depicting the true structure of the priesthood, including the prophet lawgiver, two viceroys, twelve apostles, high priests, and seventies. These plates were translated around 1844.
• The Book of the Law: This significant text is believed to be the “stick of Judah” spoken of in Ezekiel 37. According to Strangite belief, Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon (the stick of Ephraim), but was instructed not to touch the sealed record, which was the Book of the Law, meant for a future prophet. James J. Strang, being of the tribe of Judah with Jewish ancestry, translated the Book of the Law after receiving the plates of Laban from the angel Moroni. Parts of the book were translated from these plates using the Urim and Thummim, while other sections comprise articles written by Strang himself on various gospel topics. Unlike some other Latter-day Saints who identify the Bible as the stick of Judah, Strangites believe the Book of the Law fulfills this prophecy because it was written by a man of the tribe of Judah. Strang’s background as a lawyer and legislator known for writing excellent laws in Michigan further aligns with his role as a “lawgiver”.
• Other Accepted Texts: The Strangites also believe in the Book of Mormon, the Book of Abraham, and the Book of Moses. For the Doctrine and Covenants, they adhere to the 1844 edition established by Joseph Smith. While they maintain good relations with the RLDS (Community of Christ) Church, they primarily use the Salt Lake City (LDS) 1974 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants.

Distinctive Beliefs and Relations with Other Latter-day Saints

The Strangite Church identifies as “Mormons” and shares a similar church name with other Latter-day Saint groups. However, there are key distinctions:

• Interpretation of the “Stick of Judah”: As noted, they believe the Book of the Law, translated by James Strang, is the “stick of Judah,” not the Bible, which was written by many individuals from various tribes.
• Polygamy: While James Strang did practice polygamy, leading to some members leaving for the RLDS Church or Utah, the Strangites hold that polygamy can only be ushered in by a prophet through divine dispensation. They also believe God would not command something that would lead people to break the law and face imprisonment.
• Future Prophecy: They interpret Ezekiel 37 and Isaiah 11 to mean that a future prophet from the House of Judah, greater than Moses, will gather the Israelites from the four corners of the earth, including American Indians and the lost ten tribes, establishing a new dispensation.

The Strangite Church, through its unique history, prophetic succession, and scriptural interpretations, offers a rich and distinctive chapter in the broader Latter-day Saint narrative. Are you familiar with them? Have you seen our other interviews with Bill Shepard, Vickie Speek, and Kyle Beshears on Strangites?