The Mormon Apocrypha

James Strang   James Jesse Strang was born on March 21, 1813, in New York. He was baptized into the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on February 25, 1844. Later that year, Joseph Smith was murdered. There was a succession crisis discussing who was going to be the next prophet of the church. During that crisis, Strang claimed to have a letter from Joseph Smith saying he was to become the next prophet. He also found some small plates in Voree, Wisconsin and claimed to have translated them. He was also said to have translated a portion of the brass plates, publishing this translation as the book of the law of the Lord in 1851. Thousands of Saints followed Strang. They were first located in Voree, Wisconsin, but later moved to Beaver Island, Michigan. On Beaver Island, he was coronated as king of the church. He was also elected to the government of Michigan in 1852 and 1854.  In 1856, some disaffected members of Strang's church shot him, killing him. Soon after, all th...

I once again return to the work of Orson F. Whitney. This one is from the April 1908 conference and discusses the purpose and nature of the Gospel. The Gospel has been around since the beginning and is meant to save everyone. Elder Orson F. Whitney The Gospel of Salvation. — A ladder to eternal life. — Joseph Smith's authority. — The mighty problem of Mormonism. — Redemption of the living and the dead. — The Latter-day Saints the friends of humanity. Two ministers of the Christian church were once conversing together, and one of them asked the other this question: " Why is it, my friend, that the people love to hear you preach, and why is it that they do not love to hear me? Why is your chapel always crowded with eager worshipers, while mine is always nearly empty? " His friend answered him in these words: " I believe it is because I am always telling the people that if they will pursue a certain course they shall be saved, while you are always telling them that if t...

    In 2027, the new Hymnbook will be put out. Hymnbooks have been a part of the restoration since Emma Smith complied the first one in 1835. Before the new one comes out in 2027 and adds new hymns and gets rid of some old ones, I wanted to look at the hymns that were left behind previously.   Each Cooing Dove 1. Each Cooing Dove And Sighing Bough, That Makes The Eve So Blest To Me, Has Something Far Diviner Now, It Bears Me Back To Galilee. O Galilee, Sweet Galilee, Where Jesus Loved So Much To Be, O Galilee, Blue Galilee, Come Sing Thy Song Again To Me. 2. Each Flowery Glen And Mossy Dell, Where Happy Birds In Song Agree, Through Sunny Morn The Praises Tell Of Sights And Sounds In Galilee. 3. And When I Read The Thrilling Lore Of Him Who Walked Upon The Sea, I Long, Oh, How I Long Once More To Follow Him In Galilee. Awake! O ye people, the Savior is coming! 1. Awake, O ye people! the Savior is coming: He’ll suddenly come to his temple, we hear; Repentance is needed...