James Strang, the Mormon King of Beaver Island Part 2

The Reference Desk

This week, Katie concludes the unbelievable tale of James Strang, the Mormon king of Beaver Island.

After crowning himself as king, Strang lands himself a seat in the Michigan legislature, survives a public trial, and finds new messages from God inscribed on brass plates buried on Beaver Island. But his Strangite followers question his new decree that polygamy is just and faithful and grow weary of his ever-tightening control over all aspects of their life. When Strang begins inflicting cruel punishment on those who break his rules, a group of men begins to wonder if their prophet has gone mad with power and decides on his assassination, possibly with the help of the government.

Recommended reading:

Those Who Prey by Jennifer Moffett

Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon

The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry

The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff

Non-fiction:

The King of Confidence: A Tale of Utopian Dreamers, Frontier Schemers, True Believers, False Prophets, and the Murder of an American Monarch by Miles Harvey

Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith by Jon Krakauer:

Paradise Now: The Story of American Utopianism by Chris Jennings

Soul City: Race, Equality, and the Lost Dream of an American Utopia by Thomas Healy

Sources:

The King of Confidence by Miles Harvey

James J. Strang Papers Collection

The Coronation of James J. Strang and the Making of Beaver Island Mormonism

Anti-Mormon Violence

The Book of Mormon summary

The Strangite Church

Beaver Island Historical Society

Strang’s Letter of Appointment from Joseph Smith

Some of Strang’s news articles

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