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James Strang
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===Publications=== Like Joseph Smith, James Strang reported numerous visions, unearthed and translated allegedly ancient metal plates using what he said was the Biblical [[Urim and Thummim]], and claimed to have restored long-lost spiritual knowledge to humankind. Like Smith, he presented witnesses to authenticate the records he claimed to have received.<ref>Weeks, pp. iv, 250.</ref> Unlike Smith, however, Strang offered his plates to the public for examination. The non-Mormon [[Christopher Sholes]]—inventor of the [[typewriter]] and editor of a local newspaper—perused Strang's "[[Voree Plates]]", a minuscule brass chronicle Strang said he had been led to by a vision in 1845.<ref name=Plates/> Sholes offered no opinion on Strang's find, but described the prophet as "honest and earnest" and opined that his followers ranked "among the most honest and intelligent men in the neighborhood."<ref>Fitzpatrick, p. 36.</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable ([[WP:NOTRS]]), per Klaus J. Hansen's review in the 1971 volume of the journal ''Dialogue'' (DOI:10.2307/45227513) which says, "the book is so bad that my first reaction was that any kind of review, even a critical one, would give it a dignity that it didn't deserve".|date=February 2024}} Strang published his translation of these plates as the "Voree Record," purporting to be the last testament of Rajah Manchou of Vorito, who had lived in the area centuries earlier and wished to leave a brief statement for posterity.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}} The Voree Plates disappeared around 1900, and their current whereabouts are unknown.<ref name=Plates>A drawing of these plates, with translation and testimony of their discovery, may be found at James J. Strang. (1845). "[http://www.strangite.org/Plates.htm The Record of Rajah Manchou of Vorito.] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120917103244/http://www.strangite.org/Plates.htm |date=2012-09-17 }}" ''Strangite.org''. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.</ref>{{Third-party inline|date=February 2024}} Strang also claimed to have translated a portion of the "[[Plates of Laban]]" described in the [[Book of Mormon]].<ref>I Nephi 3:1 – 5:22 (Book of Mormon).</ref>{{Citation needed|date=February 2024|reason=The Book of Mormon, produced before Strang's plates of Laban, are not a source for Strang having produced a text he said was translated from the plates of Laban; they only note that the plates of Laban are a concept in Mormonism.}} This translation was published in 1851 as the [[Book of the Law of the Lord]], said to be selected from the original Law given to Moses and mentioned in {{bibleverse|2 Chronicles|34:14–15}}.<ref>"[http://www.mormonbeliefs.com/book_of_the_law.htm Book of the Law] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013071439/http://mormonbeliefs.com/book_of_the_law.htm |date=2007-10-13 }}". ''MormonBeliefs.com''. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable ([[WP:NOTRS]]). Appears to have been someone's personal website. No apparent institutional background or editorial oversight.|date=February 2024}} Republished in 1856, expanded with inspired notes and commentary, this book served as the constitution for Strang's spiritual kingdom on Beaver Island, and is still accepted as scripture by Strangites. One distinctive feature (besides its overtly monarchial tone) is its restoration of a "missing" commandment to the [[Ten Commandments|Decalogue]]: ''"Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."'' Strang insisted that versions of the Decalogue found in Bibles used by other churches—including other Latter Day Saint churches—contain only ''nine'' commandments, not ten.<ref>Strang 1856, pp. 38–46.</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=February 2024|reason=This is citing Strang's own personal writing.}} [[File:JosephSmith3.jpg|left|frame|[[Joseph Smith III]] — Son of [[Joseph Smith]]. Rejected Strang; led the [[Community of Christ|"Reorganized"]] church 1860–1914.]] Strang received several other revelations, which while never formally added to his church's [[Doctrine and Covenants]], are nevertheless accepted as scripture by his followers.<ref>http://www.strangite.org/Reveal.htm. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518140713/https://churchofjesuschristoflatterdaysaints.org/Reveal.htm |date=2024-05-18 }}</ref>{{Third-party inline|date=February 2024}} These concerned, among other things, Baptism for the Dead, the building of a temple in Voree, the standing of Sidney Rigdon, and an invitation for [[Joseph Smith III]], eldest son of Joseph Smith, to take a position as [[First Presidency (LDS Church)|Counselor]] in Strang's [[First Presidency (LDS Church)|First Presidency]]. "Young Joseph" never accepted this calling and refused to have anything to do with Strang's organization. Strang also authored ''The Diamond'', an attack on the claims of Sidney Rigdon and Brigham Young, and ''The Prophetic Controversy'', ostensibly for Mrs. Martha Coray, co-author with Lucy Mack Smith of ''[[The History of Joseph Smith by His Mother]]''. Coray, a partisan of Brigham Young's, had challenged "the vain usurper" to provide convincing evidence of his claims,<ref>Strang 1854b, p. 1.</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=February 2024|reason=This is citing Strang's own personal writing.}} and Strang obliged in this open letter addressed to her. Coray's reaction has not been preserved.{{citation needed|date=July 2018}}
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