Letter of Appointment - James J. Strang

James J. Strang

James J. Strang was a lawyer and newspaper editor from New York who converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1844. Shortly after his baptism, Joseph Smith, Jr., founding prophet of the church, was murdered by an anti-Mormon mob. Upon Smith's demise, a number of individuals would come forward claiming a divine mandate to lead his church, including Strang. As a recent convert, Strang did not yet possess the name recognition among rank-and-file Mormons that was enjoyed by Brigham Young and Sidney Rigdon (two other contenders for LDS leadership). Hence, he faced an "uphill" battle in his quest to be recognized as the heir to Joseph Smith's prophetic mantle.