Welcome to an exploration of one of the most distinctive branches of Mormonism: the Strangite Church. We will discuss Strangite women’s role in priesthood. While many are familiar with the larger Latter-day Saint movements, the Strangites offer a fascinating glimpse into different interpretations and practices rooted in early Restorationism. Based primarily in Burlington, Wisconsin, the Strangite Church has a rich history, unique theological perspectives, and surprising elements that set it apart.
Resilient Community/Promised Refuge
According to the revelations of James J. Strang, Voree was prophesied to be a refuge for the people, where “the Gentiles would treat you with kindness”. Remarkably, the Strangites in Voree have never experienced the persecution that other Mormon settlements faced in places like Palmyra, Kirtland, Independence, or Nauvoo. This consistent respect and kind treatment from the wider community is seen by Strangites as a powerful sign that James A. Strang’s revelations were true. Furthermore, families living there have prospered, owning homes and achieving financial stability, which they believe is a testament to the blessings promised for obedience to God.
The congregation has seen periods of challenge and renewal. A spiritual movement led others to move to Voree, and gradually the church began to build up again. While the primary congregation is in Burlington, members also reside in various states, including Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Florida, Michigan, and Minnesota, often attending services via Zoom.
Women in the Aaronic Priesthood
Perhaps one of the most surprising and progressive aspects of the Strangite Church is its stance on women and the priesthood. Unlike many other Restorationist faiths, the Strangite Church ordains women to the Aaronic priesthood, specifically to the office of teacher. They believe that Emma Smith herself was the first teacher.
These women teachers play an active and vital role in church services. They are permitted to lead meetings, often doing so in pairs, each taking half of the Sabbath service. While women hold the office of teacher, they are not ordained as deaconesses; deacons are exclusively boys.
Priesthood ordination in the Strangite Church is not tied to age or seen as a “rite of passage.” Instead, individuals are called when a priesthood member receives inspiration that a particular person is ready and begins to excel.
The Strangite priesthood structure includes:
- Melchizedek Priesthood: Elders and High Priests.
- Aaronic Priesthood: Priests, Teachers (including women), and Deacons. There are no Seventies currently, and they believe a prophet is needed to structure other offices.
The leadership of the church has continued through a series of appointments. Lorenzo Hickey ordained Wingfield Watson as the head of the church and a high priest, who then served until his passing around 1920. Following Watson, subsequent presiding high priests have been appointed by their predecessors. Currently, David Flanders serves as the presiding high priest, a role of duty and responsibility to manage affairs, but not one that grants him higher authority than other high priests.
Saturday Worship and the Nature of Christ
A distinct practice of the Strangite Church is their worship on Saturday, the Sabbath day. This is based on their belief that God sanctified the seventh day during creation. They contend that the Catholic Church changed the Sabbath to Sunday to honor the sun god and appease pagans, aiming to unite Christians and pagans into a single universal church.
Their theological views also extend to the nature of Christ. The Strangite Church believes that Jesus was 100% mortal, and that Joseph was his biological father. This belief is critical to their understanding of Christ’s lineage, as Joseph was of the tribe of Judah, which connects Jesus directly to the covenant line of Abraham and King David through the male seed. They suggest that the passage in the King James Bible detailing Jesus’s birth was an addition by Catholics. For them, Jesus being fully mortal and “made under the law” means he was truly tempted and tried as humans are, allowing him to sympathize with and judge humanity. His perfect, sinless life as a mortal serves as an example, demonstrating that humans have “no excuse for our sins”. Joseph Smith’s Lectures on Faith are cited as supporting this view of Jesus’s mortality.
The Strangite Church also rejects the “Adam-God” theology and views the King Follett sermon as having been tampered with. Importantly, they have never had a priesthood ban on black members, asserting that God is “not a respecter of persons” and welcomes everyone regardless of color or wealth. They have had black priesthood members dating back to Joseph Smith’s and James Strang’s times, including a Brother Q. Walker Lewis.
Comprehensive Scriptural Canon
The Strangite Church embraces a broad collection of scriptures, which includes:
- The Bible, with a preference for Joseph Smith’s inspired version.
- The Book of Mormon.
- The Pearl of Great Price (the LDS version).
- The Book of the Law of the Lord.
- The Revelations of James, which serve as their equivalent of the Doctrine and Covenants.
- The Voree Record (or Voree Plates), from which the name of their settlement, Voree, originates.
- The Lectures on Faith are considered scripture.
- They also consider journal entries from publications like Times and Seasons and Evening and Morning Stars that were printed during Joseph Smith’s lifetime to be scripture, as he was present to verify their content. Anything printed after Joseph Smith’s death is not considered scripture by them, although they acknowledge the historical truth of events like his martyrdom. They believe that some teachings introduced by Brigham Young, after Joseph Smith’s death, deviated from Joseph’s original doctrines.
Prophecies & Look Towards the Future
The Strangites also hold unique prophecies, such as the belief that Daniel from the Bible will stand on the “Hill of Promise” in the last days, before Christ’s return, to teach the people, fulfilling the biblical instruction for Daniel to “stand in thy lot”.
They believe that the spirit of God was withdrawn from the United States due to the murders of Joseph Smith and James J. Strang, and the persecution and expulsion of the saints from their lands. This is why, they feel, it’s currently difficult to proselytize, as “people just don’t really care about religion” today. However, they anticipate a future time, before the next prophet comes, when God’s spirit will go forth, and “hunters and fishers” will seek out the righteous and preach to the House of Israel, rejoining them to the covenant.
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