Recently, I had the fascinating opportunity to delve into the beliefs practices, and Strangite priesthood views with Gary Weber of the Strangite Church, a lesser-known branch of Mormonism. This discussion sheds light on many intriguing aspects of their faith, highlighting both commonalities and distinct differences from the more widely known LDS (Latter-day Saint) Church.
Understanding Strangite Priesthood: A Core Difference
One of the most significant distinctions discussed was the Strangite understanding of the priesthood and its associated “keys.” While the Melchizedek priesthood holds specific keys related to office, it does not encompass all keys. According to Gary Weber, the Melchizedek priesthood cannot evolve to ordain a prophet. Instead, they believe a prophet can only be ordained by an angel, as was the case for Moses, Joseph Smith, and James J. Strang. The fundamental principle here is that “the lesser cannot ordain the greater”.
This leads to a critical differentiation of priesthood keys:
- Keys of Mysteries and Revelations: These keys are associated only with the prophet-lawgiver and can only be held by one person at a time. Gary Weber states that James J. Strang could not have been ordained by angels while Joseph Smith was alive but was ordained the moment Joseph Smith died.
- Keys of the Kingdom: These keys can be possessed by many people, as seen with the twelve apostles who were given these keys to spread the gospel to nations. They can also confer these keys to others, with hundreds potentially holding them.
Gary noted that many members of the LDS Church often don’t understand this distinction between the two types of keys.
Sacrament Practices: Purity and Purpose
The Strangite Church observes the sacrament once a month, rather than weekly like the LDS Church. Their reasoning is that frequent observance could make it “mundane” and cause it to “lose its specialness and sacredness”.
The elements used for the sacrament also have specific requirements:
- Juice: Any edible fresh fruit juice is acceptable, as stated in their book of law under the Eucharist. Examples include orange juice, which was used when Gary grew up in Artesia, or fresh processed grape juice from their vineyard. If no juice is available, water can be used, emphasizing the focus on one’s “eye singleness to God” and the purpose of remembering Christ’s blood. Typically Strangites use some sort of fresh juice (not store-bought) for the sacrament. This assures the juice has not been adulterated.
- Bread: Must be made of any grain, prepared by the members themselves, not store-bought. This is to ensure its purity and prevent it from being “adulterated”.
Other Doctrines and Practices:
- Baptism: They baptize at age eight, aligning with the LDS Church, based on the Doctrine and Covenants and a belief that children at this age have scientifically reached a maturity level to understand right from wrong. Baptism can occur in a church font or natural bodies of water like the White River, depending on personal preference.
- Priesthood Recognition: The Strangite Church does not recognize the priesthood of other churches, including the LDS priesthood, as they trace their priesthood lineage back through Joseph Smith and James J. Strang.
- Communion: They practice a closed communion, meaning it is only served to those who have been baptized, taken upon Christ’s name, and are deemed worthy, as stated in the Book of Mormon by Jesus to the Nephites.
- Missionary Work: Unlike the door-to-door approach of many LDS missionaries, Strangites engage in a more limited form of proselytization. They will travel to baptize individuals with whom they’ve corresponded and who show genuine interest, sometimes over many months. Interestingly, Gary expressed that the wider recognition of the “Mormon” name, largely due to the LDS Church’s efforts, has made it easier for Strangites to teach Mormonism, viewing it as part of God’s plan.
- Trinity and Godhead: The Strangite Church does not believe in the Trinity. Their belief in the Godhead is described as similar to the LDS understanding, though Gary noted he wasn’t “100% sure if it’s the same”.
- Eternal Progression: A key distinction is their rejection of eternal progression, meaning they do not believe humans can become like God.
- Jesus’ Birth: Gary mentioned their belief that Jesus was the biological son of Joseph and Mary, rejecting the concept of a virgin birth entirely. They believe Jesus is “the only Begotten” because he was the only one raised from the dead by God.
- Sealings: They do believe in eternal sealings for the living, with Gary stating he was sealed to his wife eternally. However, these ceremonies are likely very different from LDS temple ceremonies, and they do not perform sealings for the dead.
Beaver Island: A Historical Footprint Fades
The conversation also touched upon Beaver Island, a significant historical site for Strangites. Currently, there is very little physical evidence of the Strangite presence on the island; “you would never know that Mormons were ever there,” Gary remarked. There are hardly any paved roads, mostly dirt, and the island is primarily a tourist and vacation spot.
However, some historical markers remain, such as a gravel road still known as “King’s Highway,” named after King James Strang. Historically, Beaver Island was where important practices like baptism for the dead took place at “Font Lake”. James J. Strang and other elders also engaged in missionary work with the local Native Americans, who reportedly loved Strang and called him “father”. Unfortunately, much of the history from that period, including records of baptisms among the Indians, was lost when the Strangites were driven off the island.
In our next episode, I’ll give a tour of Beaver Island. What are your thoughts?
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