Book of The Law of The Lord - Other Distinctive Teachings

Other Distinctive Teachings

The Book of the Law taught the seventh-day Sabbath, and commanded it in lieu of Sunday. It also accredits baptism for the dead, but on a far more limited scale than that currently practiced by the LDS church. Baptisms for the dead are not performed by the Strangites today, although belief in the doctrine is still affirmed.

Eternal marriage is taught in the Book of the Law, though it is not required to be performed in a temple (as in the LDS church). Strangite Priests, Elders, High Priests or Apostles (of all four degrees) may all perform this ceremony. Eternal marriages are still contracted in the Strangite church today.

Oaths are taken very seriously in the Book of the Law, and severe spiritual penalties are forewarned upon all who break their solemn word, once given.

The Book of the Law permits not only the blessing of others, but cursing, as well. But this is not to be done in anger, nor indiscriminately; rather, it is only to be "invoked on such as, on deliberate and candid thought, are found condemned to them by the Law of God; and then the curse should be invoked as in the presence of God, the searcher of hearts; conscious that whosoever curses in the bitterness of his...corrupt heart, and not in the light of God’s truth, the curse will return upon him." "Maledictions" are also to be performed by Strangite leaders upon "hereticks, schismaticks, and those guilty of gross and abominable immoralities, and acts of great cruelty and wickedness." The Strangite practice of "Maledictions" seems comparable to the "anathemas" pronounced in the New Testament and by the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches.

Conservation of forests and resources is mandated in the Book of the Law. Groves of trees were to be maintained upon each farm, and in each village and town. Farms and cities without trees were required to plant them, and to establish parklands so that "the aged and the young may go there to rest and to play."

Strangites are prohibited by the Book of the Law from dressing ostentatiously. Various (today mostly obsolete) styles are banned, though allowance is made for those who are "sojourning among Gentiles" to "imitate, to some moderate extent, their foolish and ridiculous styles, to avoid impertinent observations."

The Book of the Law sanctions marriage only between persons who are not impotent, deformed, of reduced stature ("a dwarf"), or mentally handicapped. The image of animal husbandry is invoked: "The same means which will improve a breed of cattle," Strang wrote, "will improve a race of men."