Questions of Authenticity
Experts agree that the postmark on the letter is genuine. Strang's opponents challenged this during his lifetime by pointing to a tiny dot on the postmark, just before the "j" in "June"–one that they claimed should never have been there. Strang, however, produced several letters mailed from Nauvoo on June 19, all of which had this same dot. Here, said he, was proof that the postmark on his "Letter" was indeed authentic.
Other critics, however, have denounced the letter as fraudulent, largely because the two sheets of paper used in creating it (making three pages for writing, and one page for the address and postmark) are from different stocks–yet analysis indicates that the handwriting on all three pages is the same. References to Strang's alleged appointment appear throughout. Page one: "The faith which thou hast in the Shepherd, the stone of Israel (Joseph Smith), hath been repaid to thee a thousandfold, and thou shalt be like unto him; but the flock shall find rest with thee, and God shall reveal to thee his will concerning them". Page two continues: "...he (Strang) had faith in thee (Joseph), the Shepherd and Stone of Israel, and to him shall the gathering of the people be...." Page three: "Thy duty is made plain...if evil befall me, thou shalt lead the flock to pleasant pastures."
Some modern analysts have asserted that Joseph Smith's signature on the letter's third page is a forgery. One former Strangite insisted that Strang's law partner–the same "C. P. Barnes, Esq." mentioned by Strang in The Diamond–helped Strang fabricate this letter and the Voree Plates, though no proof of this was ever produced.
One theory is that James Strang did indeed receive a letter of some sort from Joseph Smith, in which a blank sheet of paper was used for the envelope; Strang, according to this premise, discarded the contents of that letter and proceeded to author his "Letter of Appointment," using the blank outer sheet for the final page of its text. Such a maneuver would have assured Strang of an authentic postmark for his letter, even if its contents were bogus.
The "Letter of Appointment" is still accepted and defended by members of Strang's church.
Read more about this topic: Letter Of Appointment
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