James Strang
James J. Strang | |
---|---|
Founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite) | |
c. June 1844 – July 9, 1856 | |
Predecessor | Joseph Smith |
Successor | No successor to date |
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives | |
In office | |
1853 – July 9, 1856 | |
Personal details | |
Born | James Jesse Strang March 21, 1813 Scipio, New York, United States |
Died | July 9, 1856 Voree, Wisconsin, United States | (aged 43)
Cause of death | Gunshot wound |
Resting place | Burlington Cemetery 42°40′59.16″N 88°15′30.96″W / 42.6831000°N 88.2586000°W |
Spouse(s) | Elvira Eliza Field (m. 1849)Betsy McNutt (m. 1852)Sarah Wright (m. 1855)Phoebe Wright (m. 1855) |
Children | 14 |
Parents | Clement Strang Abigaile James |
James Jesse Strang (March 21, 1813 – July 9, 1856) was an American religious leader, politician and self-proclaimed monarch. He served as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from 1853 until his assassination.
In 1844, he said he had been appointed as the successor of Joseph Smith as leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite),[a] a faction of the Latter Day Saint movement. Strang testified that he had possession of a letter from Smith naming him as his successor, and furthermore reported that he had been ordained to the prophetic office by an angel. His organization is believed by his followers to be the sole legitimate continuation of the Church of Christ founded by Smith fourteen years before.
A major contender for leadership of the
Similar to Joseph Smith, who was alleged by church opponent William Marks to have been crowned King in Nauvoo prior to his death,[4] Strang taught that the chief prophetic office embodied an overtly royal attribute. Thus, its occupant was to be not only the spiritual leader of his people, but their temporal king as well.[5][6] He offered a sophisticated set of teachings that differed in many significant aspects from any other version of Mormonism, including that preached by Smith. Like Smith, Strang published translations of two purportedly ancient lost works: the Voree Record, deciphered from three metal plates reportedly unearthed in response to a vision; and the Book of the Law of the Lord, supposedly transcribed from the Plates of Laban mentioned in the Book of Mormon. These are accepted as scripture by his followers, and the Church of Jesus Christ in Christian Fellowship [1], but not by any other Latter Day Saint church. Although his long-term doctrinal influence on the Latter Day Saint movement was minimal, several early members of Strang's organization helped to establish the RLDS Church (now known as the Community of Christ), which became (and remains) the second-largest Latter Day sect. While most of Strang's followers eventually disavowed him due to his eventual advocacy of polygamy, a small but devout remnant carries on his teachings and organization today.
In addition to his ecclesiastical calling, Strang served one full term and part of a second as a member of the
While Strang's organization is formally known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,[a] the term "Strangite" is usually added to the title to avoid confusing them with other Latter Day Saint bodies carrying this or similar names. This follows a typical nineteenth-century usage where followers of Brigham Young were referred to as "Brighamites," while those of Sidney Rigdon were called "Rigdonites," followers of Joseph Smith III were called "Josephites", and disciples of Strang became "Strangites".[b][8]
Childhood, education and conversion to Mormonism
James Jesse Strang was born March 21, 1813, in
But none of this meant that Strang was illiterate or simple. Although his teachers "not unfrequently turned me off with little or no attention, as though I was too stupid to learn and too dull to feel neglect," Strang recalled that he spent "long weary days ... upon the floor, thinking, thinking, thinking ... my mind wandered over fields that old men shrink from, seeking rest and finding none till darkness gathered thick around and I burst into tears."
As a youth, Strang kept a rather profound personal diary, written partly in a secret code that was not deciphered until over one hundred years after it was authored. This journal contains Strang's musings on a variety of topics, including a sense that he was called to be a significant world leader the likes of Caesar or Napoleon and his regret that by age nineteen, he had not yet become a general or member of the state legislature, which he saw as being essential by that point in his life to his quest to be someone of importance.[13] However, Strang's diary reveals a heartfelt desire to be of service to his fellow man, together with agonized frustration at not knowing how he might do so as a penniless, unknown youth from upstate New York.[citation needed]
At age twelve, Strang was baptized a Baptist. He did not wish to follow his father's calling as a farmer, so he took up the study of law. Strang was admitted to the bar in New York at age 23 and later at other places where he resided. He became county
Strang, who once described himself as a "cool philosopher"
Succession claim and notable early allies
After Smith's death, Strang claimed the right to lead the Latter Day Saints, but he was not the only claimant to Smith's prophetic mantle. His most significant rivals were Brigham Young, president of Smith's Twelve Apostles, and Sidney Rigdon, a member of Smith's First Presidency. A power struggle ensued, during which Young quickly disposed of Rigdon in a Nauvoo debate. Young would reject offers to debate with Strang for the next three years before leading his followers to
Strang rested his claim to leadership on an ordination by an angel at the very moment Joseph Smith died (similar to the ordination of Smith), requirements that he claimed were set forth in the
There have been several conflicting claims about the authenticity of the letter. One disaffected member of Strang's church said they received a confession from Strang's law partner, C. P. Barnes, that he had fabricated the Letter of Appointment and the
Strang's letter convinced several eminent Mormons of his claims, including Book of Mormon witnesses
Also championing Strang was
From monogamist to polygamist
About 12,000 Latter Day Saints ultimately accepted Strang's claims.[29] A second "Stake of Zion" was established on Beaver Island in Lake Michigan, where Strang moved his church headquarters in 1848. Strang's church had a high turnover rate, with many of his initial adherents, including all of those listed above (with the exception of George Miller, who remained loyal to Strang until death), leaving the church before his demise. John E. Page departed in July 1849, accusing Strang of dictatorial tendencies and concurring with Bennett's furtive "Illuminati" order.[30] Martin Harris had broken with Strang by January 1847,[31] after a failed mission to England. Hiram Page and the Whitmers also left around this time.[citation needed]
Many defections, however, were due to Strang's seemingly abrupt "about-face" on the turbulent subject of
At the time of his death, all four of Strang's current wives were pregnant, and he had four posthumous children.
Wife | Marriage | Age | Children together | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bride | Groom | |||
Mary Abigail Content Perce Apr 10, 1818 – Apr 30, 1880 (aged 62) |
m. Nov 20, 1836 sep. May 1851 |
18 | 23 |
|
Elvira Eliza Field July 8, 1830 – June 13, 1910 (aged 79) |
m. July 13, 1849 | 19 | 36 |
|
Elizabeth "Betsy" McNutt Aug 17, 1820 – Sept 22, 1897 (aged 77) |
m. January 19, 1852 | 31 | 38 |
|
Sarah Adelia "Delia" Wright Nov 25, 1837 – Aug 18, 1923 (aged 85) |
m. July 15, 1855 | 17 | 42 | James Phineas Strang (Nov 11, 1856 – Nov 1, 1937 (aged 80)) |
Phoebe Wright July 25, 1836 – Nov 9, 1914 (aged 78) |
m. October 27, 1855 | 19 | 42 | Eugenia Jesse (Oct 28, 1856 – 1936 (aged 79–80)) |
Strang and his first wife Mary Perce separated in May 1851, though they remained legally married until Strang's death.
Sarah Wright described Strang as "a very mild-spoken, kind man to his family, although his word was law." She wrote that while each wife had her own bedroom, they shared meals and devotional time together with Strang and life in their household was "as pleasant as possible."
Theological contributions
Publications
Like Joseph Smith, James Strang reported numerous visions, unearthed and translated allegedly ancient metal plates using what he said was the Biblical
Strang also claimed to have translated a portion of the "
Strang received several other revelations, which while never formally added to his church's
Distinctive dogmas
Some of Strang's teachings differed substantially from those of other Latter Day Saint leaders, including Joseph Smith. For instance, Strang rejected the traditional Christian doctrines of the
Furthermore, Strang denied the belief that God could do all things, and he insisted that some things were as impossible for Him as for us.[50] Thus, he saw no essential conflict between science and religion, and while he never openly championed evolution, he did state that God's ability to use His power was limited by the matter which He was working with and it was also limited by the eons of time which were required to "organize" and shape it.[51] Strang spoke glowingly about a future generation of people who would "make religion a science," to be "studied by as exact rules as mathematicks." "The mouth of the Seer will be opened," he prophesied, "and the whole earth enlightened."[52]
Musing at length on the nature of
Practices
Strang strongly believed in the sanctity of the
Strang allowed women to hold the Priesthood offices of
Coronation and troubled reign on Beaver Island
Strang claimed that he was required to occupy the office of
Strang never claimed to be the king of Beaver Island itself, nor did he claim to be the king of any other geographical entity. Instead, he claimed to be king of his church, which he considered the true "
On the other hand, Strang and his people lived in apprehension of what their non-member neighbors might do next. Some Strangites were beaten up while they were going to the post office in order to collect their mail,
As a result of his coronation, along with lurid tales which were being spread by George Adams (who had been excommunicated by Strang a few months after the ceremony), Strang was accused of
In the 1853 legislative session, Strang introduced ten bills, five of which passed.
Assassination
As with Joseph Smith before him, James Strang had problems with excommunicated or disaffected members who often became anti-Mormons and/or even conspired against him. One of the latter, Thomas Bedford, who had been flogged for engaging in
Although Strang apparently knew that Bedford and the others were gunning for him, he openly challenged them in his newspaper, The Northern Islander, writing, "We laugh with bitter scorn at all these threats," just days before his murder.[7] Strang refused to employ a bodyguard or carry a firearm or any other type of weapon.[79]
On Monday, June 16, 1856, Strang was waylaid around 7:00 PM on the dock at the harbor of St. James, the chief city on Beaver Island, by Wentworth and Bedford, who shot him in the back. All of this was carried out in full view of several officers and men who were stationed on the USS Michigan, a US Naval vessel which was docked in the harbor. Nobody aboard the ship made any effort to either warn or aid the intended victim.[80]
Strang was hit three times: one bullet grazed his head, another bullet lodged in his cheek and a third bullet lodged in his spine, paralyzing him from the waist down.
Death of a kingdom
While Strang lingered on his deathbed in Voree, his enemies in Michigan were determined to extinguish his Beaver Island kingdom. On July 5, 1856, on what Michigan historian Byron M. Cutcheon later called "the most disgraceful day in Michigan's history,"[7] a group of non-Mormons from Mackinac and elsewhere forcibly evicted every Strangite from Beaver Island. Strang's subjects on the island—approximately 2,600 persons[7]—were herded onto hastily commandeered steamers, most after being robbed of their money and other personal possessions, and unceremoniously dumped onto docks along the shores of Lake Michigan. A few of them moved back to Voree, while the rest scattered across the country.[citation needed]
Strang refused to appoint a successor, telling his apostles to take care of their families as best they could, and await divine instruction.
Left without a prophet to guide them, most of Strang's followers (including all of his wives)
Today, there are several groups and individual Strangite disciples who operate autonomously. One of these groups is a corporate church which is led by a Presiding High Priest, Bill Shepard, who claims that he does not have Joseph Smith or James Strang's authority or priesthood office[
While proving to be a key player in the 1844 succession struggle, Strang's long-term influence on the Latter Day Saint movement was minimal. His doctrinal innovations had little impact outside his church, and he was largely ignored until recent historians began to reexamine his life and career. Even the county (Manitou) which he had fought to establish was abolished by the Michigan legislature in 1895, removing the last tangible remnant of Strang's temporal empire.
Selected works
- Strang, Mark, ed. (1961). The Diary of James J. Strang: Deciphered, Transcribed, Introduced, and Annotated. East Lansing: Michigan State University Press.
- Strang, James J. (1854a, Reprinted 2005). Ancient and modern Michilimackinac, including an account of the controversy between Mackinac and the Mormons. Reprint by the University of Michigan Library. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
- Strang, James J. (1848). The Diamond: Being the Law of Prophetic Succession and a Defense of the Calling of James J. Strang as Successor to Joseph Smith. Voree, Wisconsin. Retrieved on 2007-11-03.
- Strang, James J. (1854b). The Prophetic Controversy: A Letter from James Strang to Mrs. Corey. St. James, Michigan. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
- Strang, James J. (1856). Book of the Law of the Lord, Being a Translation From the Egyptian of the Law Given to Moses in Sinai. St. James: Royal Press. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
See also
Footnotes
- ^ a b The Strangites use no hyphen in their church title and capitalize the "D" in "Day", just as was done in Joseph Smith's church.
- ^ Strangites still use these terms today, as do members of some other Latter Day Saint groups.
- ^ David Whitmer and Martin Harris, two of the Three Witnesses, and Hiram Page and John Whitmer of the Eight Witnesses.
- ^ John Page and William Smith were apostles at Smith's death; William M'Lellin had previously been an apostle, but was excommunicated in 1838.
- ^ George Miller, who is mentioned in the LDS Doctrine & Covenants section 124: verses 20, 62 and 70.
- ^ No apostles currently remain in Strang's organization, because all Strangite apostles must be appointed by revelation. The highest current office in Strang's church is that of High Priest (in the "incorporated" faction) or that of Elder (in the other).
- ^ This organization is now called the Community of Christ. It remains the second-largest church in the Latter Day Saint movement.
- ^ The corporate church has a website: http://www.ldsstrangite.com/; "unincorporated" Strangites have three websites: http://www.strangite.org and http://mormonbeliefs.com and http://www.strangite.blogspot.com.
Citations
- ^ (August 12, 1847). Voree Herald as quoted in Fitzpatrick, pp. 74–5. See also Apostle John E. Page at this same source, on his conversations with Strang on the subject.
- ^ "History and Succession Archived 2012-12-28 at archive.today". Strangite.org. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
- ^ "See "Church membership: 1830–2006"".
- ^ Statement by Nauvoo Stake President William Marks, Zion's Harbinger and Banemeey's Organ, July 1853, pg. 53.
- ^ Strang 1856, pp. 168–76.
- ^ a b "Strang, the King Archived 2007-09-25 at the Wayback Machine". MormonBeliefs.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Weeks, Robert P. (June 1970)."For His Was the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory ... Briefly Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine". American Heritage 21 (4).
- ^ "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Archived 2007-09-25 at the Wayback Machine". MormonBeliefs.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
- ISBN 0472066072.
- ^ Post, Warren. "History of James Strang: The Birth and Parentage of the Prophet James". StrangStudies.org. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
- ^ a b "Strang, the Man Archived 2007-10-10 at the Wayback Machine". MormonBeliefs.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-31
- ^ Fitzpatrick, pp. 26–27.
- ^ Strang, Mark. (1961). The Diary of James J. Strang: Deciphered, Transcribed, Introduced, and Annotated. East Lansing: Michigan State University Press. Entry for March 21, 1832. The diary was deciphered by Strang's grandson Mark Strang, a banker in Long Beach, California.
- ^ Jensen, Robin (2005). Gleaning the Harvest: Strangite Missionary Work 1846–1850, p. 32. Retrieved on 2016-02-09.
- ^ Fitzpatrick, p. 208.
- ^ Fitzpatrick, p. 27.
- ^ Greene, John P. (Nauvoo City Marshal in 1844). "150 people who each knew more about Joseph Smith than anyone alive today." Strangite.org, item 48. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
- ^ a b c Norton 2003, p. 3
- ^ "Times and Seasons Volume 5, Number 16". www.centerplace.org.
- ^ "Uncle Dale's Old Mormon Articles: Iowa, Wisc. & Minn.: Strang: 1848-51". www.sidneyrigdon.com.
- ^ Strang 1854b, p. 23.
- ^ Quinn, p. 210, although the postmark has been proven to be legitimate. See also Eberstadt, Charles, "A Letter That Founded a Kingdom," Autograph Collectors' Journal (October, 1950): 3–8.
- ^ Jensen, p. 6, note 17.
- ^ Shepard, William (1977). James J. Strang: Teachings of a Mormon Prophet. Burlington, WI: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. pp. 261–262.
- ^ Nelson-Seawright, J. (October 27, 2006). "The Prophet Jesse James". ByCommonConsent.com. Retrieved October 28, 2007.
- ^ a b (Nauvoo, 11 May 1846). "Opinions of the Smith Family". Voree Herald I (6). Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
a: Letter of Lucy Smith to Reuben Hedlock.
b: Letter of William Smith to Reuben Hedlock. - ^ Fitzpatrick, pp. 146–47.
- ^ Fitzpatrick, p. 151.
- ^ "History and Succession Archived 2012-12-28 at archive.today". Strangite.org. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
- ^ Sillito, Chapter 2.
- ^ Sketch of the Life of Martin Harris Archived 2007-07-20 at the Wayback Machine BOAP.org. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
- ^ (August 12, 1847). Voree Herald as quoted in Fitzpatrick, pp. 74–75. See also Apostle John E. Page at this same source, on his conversations with Strang on the subject.
- ^ Strang 1856, pp. 318–28.
- ISBN 9781560851929.
- ^ a b Fitzpatrick, p. 82.
- ^ Fitzpatrick, p. 127.
- ^ Fitzpatrick, p. 84.
- ^ Weeks, pp. iv, 250.
- ^ a b A drawing of these plates, with translation and testimony of their discovery, may be found at James J. Strang. (1845). "The Record of Rajah Manchou of Vorito. Archived 2012-09-17 at archive.today" Strangite.org. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
- ^ Fitzpatrick, p. 36.
- ^ I Nephi 3:1 – 5:22 (Book of Mormon).
- ^ "Book of the Law Archived 2007-10-13 at the Wayback Machine". MormonBeliefs.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
- ^ Strang 1856, pp. 38–46.
- ^ http://www.strangite.org/Reveal.htm. [dead link]
- ^ Strang 1854b, p. 1.
- ^ Strang 1856, pp. 47–63.
- ^ Strang 1856, pp. 157–58, note 9.
- ^ Strang 1856, pp. 165–66.
- ^ Strang 1856, pp. 155–58.
- ^ Strang 1856, p. 150.
- ^ Strang 1856, pp. 150–51.
- ^ Strang 1856, p. 85. Spelling of "mathematicks" as in original.
- ^ Strang 1856, pp. 152–53.
- ^ Strang 1856, p. 155.
- ^ Strang 1856, pp. 22–23.
- ^ Strang 1856, pp. 106–09, 293–95.
- ^ "Temple Locations". Strangite.org. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
- ^ a b "Women/Marriage Archived 2013-01-13 at archive.today". Strangite.org. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
- ^ Strang 1856, pp. 198–200, 227.
- ^ "African-Americans". Strangite.org. Retrieved on 2007-10-18.
- ^ Strang 1856, pp. 286–87.
- ^ Strang 1856, pp. 251–68.
- ^ Strang 1856, pp. 168–80.
- ^ "Church History Volume 3, Chapter 2". www.centerplace.org.
- ISBN 1-4000-4270-4
- ^ This sceptre is preserved in the Archives vault of the Community of Christ church in Independence, Missouri. See Cemetourism: Alpheus Cutler, in the paragraph about Alpheus Cutler's sword, which mentions Strang's sceptre as being kept with it in the CofC vault.
- ^ Strang 1856, p. 293.
- ^ Fitzpatrick, p. 199.
- ^ Fitzpatrick, p. 86.
- ^ Fitzpatrick, p. 96.
- ^ Strang 1854a, pp. 25–26.
- ^ Fitzpatrick, p. 101.
- ^ Fitzpatrick, p. 100.
- ^ (February 10, 1853). Detroit Advertiser. Excerpt in "Mormon Persecution Archived 2007-10-10 at the Wayback Machine". MormonBeliefs.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
- ^ Strang 1854a, pp. 15–17
- ^ Fitzpatrick, pp. 47–48.
- ^ Fitzpatrick, p. 110.
- ^ "Apostle Post on James' Death Archived 2013-10-21 at the Wayback Machine". MormonBeliefs.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
- ^ (August 14, 1851). Northern Islander as quoted in Fitzpatrick, p. 97.
- ^ a b (Friday, June 20, 1856). Daily Northern Islander. Excerpt in "Murderous Assault Archived 2013-10-21 at the Wayback Machine". MormonBeliefs.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
- ISBN 978-0-472-08454-8.
- ^ Fitzpatrick, pp. 113, 211.
- ^ "Apostle Chidester Announces James’ Death Archived 2013-10-21 at the Wayback Machine". MormonBeliefs.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
- ISBN 978-0-674-06731-8.
- ^ Northern Islander, June 20, 1856.
- ^ (2002-10-10). "The Man who shot Strang." BeaverBeacon.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
- ^ "Kingdom with a Dominion Archived 2007-09-25 at the Wayback Machine". MormonBeliefs.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
- ^ Strang 1856, pp. 163–66.
- ^ Fitzpatrick, p. 125.
- ^ The first edition of this book was published in 1850, without notes. A second edition, with numerous notes and other material, was still unbound and on the press at the time of his assassination.
- ^ "The 1961 Strangite Split Archived 2007-09-25 at the Wayback Machine". MormonBeliefs.com.
- ^ "Mormonism: time of the Gentiles ended Archived 2007-09-25 at the Wayback Machine". MormonBeliefs.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
- ^ "43,941 adherent statistic citations: membership and geography data for 4,300+ religions, churches, tribes, etc." Adherents.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
- ^ History of Northern Michigan, pg. 100.
References
- Fitzpatrick, Doyle C. (1970). The King Strang Story: A Vindication of James J, Strang, the Beaver Island Mormon King. National Heritage. better source needed]
- Jensen, Robin Scott (2005). Gleaning the Harvest: Strangite Missionary Work, 1846–1850 (MA thesis). Brigham Young University.
- Norton, William (2003). "Competing Identities and Contested Places: Mormons in Nauvoo and Voree". Journal of Cultural Geography. 21 (1): 95–119. S2CID 144847696.
- Quinn, D. Michael (1994). The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power. Signature Books. ISBN 1-56085-056-6.
- Speek, Vickie Cleverly (2006). God Has Made Us a Kingdom: James Strang and the Midwest Mormons. Signature Books. ISBN 1-56085-192-9.
Further references
- Beshears, Kyle (Spring–Summer 2023). "'In Love and Union': The Writings of Mr. Charles J. Douglass, Secret Plural Wife of a Mormon King". John Whitmer Historical Association. 43 (1): 41–54.
- Blythe, Christopher James (June 2014). "The Coronation of James J. Strang and the Making of Beaver Island Mormonism". Communal Societies: Journal of the Communal Studies Association. 34 (1) – via Gale Academic OneFile.
- DeRogatis, Amy (Spring–Summer 2023). "Intimate Exposure: The Charley Douglass Daguerreotype and American Religious History". John Whitmer Historical Association Journal. 43 (1): 20–40.
- Faber, Don (2016). James Jesse Strang: The Rise and Fall of Michigan's Mormon King. University of Michigan Press. ISBN 9780472052899.
- Foster, Lawrence (June 1981). "James J. Strang: The Prophet Who Failed". Church History: Studies in Christianity and Culture. 50 (2): 182–192. S2CID 162192346.
- Harvey, Miles (2020). The King of Confidence: A Tale of Utopian Dreamers, Frontier Schemers, True Believers, False Prophets, and the Murder of an American Monarch. Little, Brown and Company. ISBN 978-0316463591.
- Jensen, Robin Scott (2007). "Mormons Seeking Mormonism: Strangite Success and the Conceptualization of Mormon Ideology, 1844–50". In Bringhurst, Newell G.; Hamer, John C. (eds.). Scattering of the Saints: Schism Within Mormonism. John Whitmer Books. ISBN 9781934901021.
- Quist, John (1989). "Polygamy Among James Strang and His Followers". John Whitmer Historical Association Journal. 9: 31–48. JSTOR 43200832.
- Silitto, John and Staker, Susan (eds.). (2002). Mormon Mavericks: Essays on Dissenters. ISBN 1-56085-154-6.
- van Noord, Roger (1988). King of Beaver Island: The Life and Assassination of James Jesse Strang. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 0-252-01472-3.
- van Noord, Roger (1997). Assassination of a Michigan King: The Life of James Jesse Strang. University of Michigan Press. ISBN 9780472084548.
External links
- Media related to James Strang at Wikimedia Commons
- Clarke Historical Library: Strangite Mormons – Brief biography from Central Michigan University, which has a collection of letters and diaries written by Strang and his followers.
- A True History of the Rise of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, of the Restoration of the Holy Priesthood and the Late Discovery of Ancient American Records; MSS SC 756; 20th Century Western and Mormon Manuscripts; L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University.
- James Jesse Strang Papers. Yale Collection of Western Americana, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.