march july american religious leader politician self proclaimed monarch founded faction day saint movement claimed sole legitimate continuation founded fourteen years major contender leadership succession crisis control organization illinois rejection subsequently led start sect serving prophet church reigned years crowned king ecclesiastical monarchy established state michigan building organization eventually young utah gained nearly adherents prior murder brought kingdom extinguished sect contrast republican title president church taught chief office embodied overtly royal attribute spiritual leader people temporal king offered sophisticated set teachings differed significant aspects version including preached smith bolster claims published translations long lost works metal plates reportedly unearthed response vision book law lord supposedly mentioned book accepted scripture followers day saint church long term influence day saint movement minimal early members organization helped establish remains second largest sect followers eventually small devout remnant continues carry teachings organization today addition ecclesiastical calling served term second member assisted organization times attorney educator lecturer newspaper editor baptist minister correspondent amateur scientist survey natural history published remaining definitive work subject nearly century career michigan legislature praised enemies lifestyle personality enemies inside church contributing ultimate demise organization formally known term usually added title avoid confusing day saint bodies carrying similar names follows typical nineteenth century usage followers referred called followers called disciples childhood education conversion born march new_york second children parents good reputation community james mother tender consequence delicate health required render account actions words absent brief autobiography wrote reported attended grade school age terms usually short teachers inexperienced ill qualified teach health study steady attendance estimated time classroom years totaled months meant simple teachers turned little attention stupid learn dull feel neglect recalled spent long weary days floor thinking thinking thinking mind fields old men shrink seeking rest finding till darkness gathered thick burst tears studied works book exerted significant influence future prophet youth kept profound personal diary written partly secret code years authored grandson banker california journal contains variety topics including desire rival napoleon regret age nineteen general member state legislature saw essential point life quest fame diary equally reveals heartfelt desire service fellow man frustration knowing unknown youth upstate new_york age baptized baptist wish follow father calling farmer took study law admitted bar new_york age later places resided county edited local newspaper herald later midst duties find time found publish newspaper northern michigan described cool philosopher baptist minister left february join quickly found favor known short time baptized personally february march year ordained elder joseph brother sent smith request wisconsin establish stake shortly departure murdered anti mob illinois succession claim notable early allies following smith demise men claimed right lead day saints significant president smith sole surviving member smith presidency power struggle ensued young eventually led bulk smith followers utah led smaller group pennsylvania newcomer faith possess recognition enjoyed rivals prospects assuming smith mantle appeared dissuade quickly published notice times seasons insisted received legitimate trial equally asserted right sit judgment president church bolster claim produced letter appointment allegedly smith carrying dated june days smith murder furthermore testified angel ordained successor time smith died smith miles apart time offered witnesses announcement news smith demise publicly available letter held today yale_university legitimate modern analysts asserted signature page claimed law partner letter appointment plates proof produced letter convinced eminent claims including book witnesses john addition stake president accepted newspaper affiliated herald claimed mother sisters accepted claims disputed newspaper wrote satisfied joseph appointed according brother william family initially endorsed physician enjoyed stellar career assistant president mayor invited join bennett instrumental establishing called order ways caught expelled order fell role today lead conflict associates day saints ultimately accepted claims followed church headquarters moved initial adherents including listed exception remained loyal death leave church demise departed july accusing tendencies bennett order broken january failed mission england left time seemingly abrupt face turbulent subject opposed practice reversed course strongest advocates marrying wives including original mary fourteen children early disciples viewed version decision embrace marriage proved costly organization defended new claiming far women liberate elevate allowing choose best possible mate based factors deemed important mate married forced corrupt degraded suitable men woman marry man saw compatible best candidate father children finest possible life matter wives wife married november eighteen separated remained legally married death second wife married july nineteen year old disguised purported nephew revealing true identity wife thirty year old married january fourth nineteen year old married july ironically decades death sarah divorce second husband wing interest wife eighteen year old cousin sarah october year murder described mild spoken kind man family word law wrote wife bedroom shared meals time life household pleasant possible hand daughter wrote months marriage mother begun feel dissatisfied loved life theological contributions publications like reported numerous visions unearthed translated allegedly ancient metal plates said claimed restored long lost spiritual knowledge like smith presented witnesses records claimed received unlike smith offered plates public examination non christopher inventor editor local newspaper plates brass chronicle said led vision offered opinion find described prophet honest earnest opined followers ranked honest intelligent men neighborhood published translation plates record testament lived area centuries earlier wished leave brief statement assert modern scholars affirmed text plates appears represent genuine albeit unknown language assertion verified independent sources plates disappeared current whereabouts unknown claimed translated plates described book translation published book law lord said original law given moses mentioned greatly expanded republished book served constitution spiritual kingdom accepted scripture distinctive feature overtly tone restoration missing thou love neighbor insisted versions found churches including day saint churches contain received revelations formally added church doctrine accepted scripture followers concerned things baptism dead building temple standing invitation eldest son position counselor presidency young joseph accepted calling refused organization authored diamond attack claims ostensibly author history mother partisan challenged vain provide convincing evidence claims attempted open letter addressed reaction preserved distinctive teachings differed substantially day saint leaders including instance rejected traditional christian doctrines trinity virgin birth jesus christ doctrine gods insisted eternal god universe father progression doctrine allegedly taught end life impossible god god said person traditional jesus christ presented natural born son mary joseph chosen time mankind born ordinary mortal human parents offspring father holy spirit fulfill role claimed christ essence adopted god son birth fully revealed proving god living perfectly life enabled provide acceptable sacrifice sins men prior resurrection ascension furthermore denied god things insisted things impossible saw essential conflict science religion openly championed evolution state god limited power matter working time required organize shape spoke future generation religion science studied exact rules mouth opened earth length nature sin evil wrote things god man experience free agency real said humanity given opportunity fail learn mistakes ultimate goal human willingly conform oneself revealed character god respect preferring good evil fear punishment desire reward solely account innate goodness pure practices believed strongly seventh day lieu sunday church continues tradition advocated baptism dead practiced limited extent introduced animal sacrifice sin celebration rituals animal sacrifices dead currently practiced organization belief required attempted construct temple prevented completing poverty lack cooperation followers rituals comparable utah churches appear existed followers eternal marriage formed teaching require performed temple church marriages contracted church absence temple ceremony alcohol tobacco coffee tea prohibited day saint denominations longer practiced followers belief affirmed allowed women hold offices priest teacher unique day saint factions lifetime welcomed african americans church ordained mandated conservation land resources requiring building parks retention large forests kingdom wrote solomon theory book authorship defended ministry teachings understood coronation troubled reign claimed occupy office king described book law lord insisted authority incumbent holders office beginning time followers believe smith crowned secretly king murder accordingly crowned counselor prime minister actor named people witnessed coronation wore bright red topped white collar black tin crown described account shiny metal ring cluster glass stars sported carried wooden reigned years date coronation july mandated important dates church year april anniversary founding church claimed king geographical entity claimed king church saw true kingdom god scripture destined spread earth kingdom supplanted united_states sovereignty sect main religious body isle claiming allegiance inhabitants asserted authority beaver ultimately caused followers great deal grief furthermore disciples accused forcibly property revenue island friends non hand people lived non member neighbors beaten going post office collect mail homes robbed seized men away july drunken mob fishermen vowed kill drive submission fired cannon secretly acquired competition business jobs added tensions island increasing monopoly local government sure beaver adjacent islands attached later organized county result coronation tales spread months ceremony accused treason government land theft crimes brought trial detroit michigan president ordered district attorney investigate rumors colony successful trial defense brought considerable favorable press run win seat michigan state legislature democrat facing determined effort deny seat hostility enemies permitted address legislature defense voted twice unanimously second time margin allow king join legislative session introduced bills passed february wrote course member present legislature disarmed previously surrounded said thought peculiar sect local head pleasure stating session conducted degree industry good temper apparent regard true interests people obligations official oath reelected organize upper portion michigan lower peninsula counties fought illegal practice trading liquor local native american tribes enemies non residents beaver nearby illicit trade assassination foes people adultery orders felt considerable resentment king alleged previously enjoying favor high offices local government allegedly unsuccessfully blackmail paying numerous bad debts decree female wear added fuel fire pistols conspirators began days target practice details plan apparently knew taken seriously laugh bitter threats wrote days murder refusal employ bodyguard carry weapon easy target monday june dock harbor chief city shot carried view officers men uss michigan naval vessel docked harbor person board ship effort warn aid intended victim hit times bullet head lodged cheek spine waist assassins pistol fallen prophet running aboard nearby vessel companion claimed sanctuary accused captain michigan assassination plot hard evidence forthcoming called king beaver island taken lived weeks dying july age refusing deliver local sheriff transported given mock trial fined released locals punished crimes death kingdom deathbed michigan enemies determined kingdom july michigan historian later called day michigan history drunken mob descended island forcibly evicted subjects island numbering approximately persons hastily robbed money personal possessions dumped docks shores moved rest scattered country refused appoint successor telling care families best await divine instruction supporters church alive unique requiring successor ordained angels handicapped church search new prophet emerged hoc leader death followed high priest organization died men claimed office authority left prophet guide members including wives departed church years murder later joined established continue carry mission best awaiting new successor fallen founder disciples today divided main factions led presiding high priest claim authority office possessed claims faction error incorporating lost identity faithful continuation organization second group claims sole true remnant church missionary work longer emphasized unlike day saint tend believe murdered god closed west consequently church continued present day current membership figures vary persons depending source consulted proving key player succession struggle long term influence day saint movement minimal innovations little impact outside church largely ignored recent historians began life career county fought establish abolished michigan legislature removing remnant temporal empire efforts vital albeit contribution day saint religion turned providing impetus creation major rival utah based day saint groups including
James Strang