A forgotten Mormon prophet once crowned himself king on a remote Michigan island

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: After Joseph Smith was murdered in 1844, James Strang emerged as a charismatic challenger to Brigham Young. He claimed divine appointment, produced ancient plates, and established an ecclesiastical monarchy on Beaver Island. Though his movement once rivaled the Utah-based church, it collapsed after his assassination and mass expulsion in 1856.

Following the death of Joseph Smith, the Latter Day Saint movement fractured. While Brigham Young led his followers toward the Salt Lake Valley, James Strang claimed he was the rightful successor. He bolstered his authority with a purported letter from Smith and the discovery of the Voree plates, which he claimed were an ancient testament. These artifacts helped him attract prominent figures, including members of Smith's own family and early church leaders, who were drawn to his promise of continuing revelation.

Strang eventually moved his headquarters to Beaver Island in Lake Michigan, where he established a town called St. James. In 1850, he formalized his leadership by declaring himself the spiritual king of his church, a title he interpreted as ruling over a divine kingdom rather than a specific territory. His community became a significant commercial hub, operating the first newspaper in northern Michigan and competing with established ports. However, his embrace of polygamy in 1849 and his increasingly centralized, authoritarian rule created deep internal and external friction.

The movement ended abruptly in 1856 when two disgruntled followers shot Strang. He died shortly after, leaving the church without a designated successor. Vigilantes subsequently forced the remaining members off the island, leaving them destitute in cities like Chicago. Today, the few remaining adherents are divided into small factions, some of which continue to maintain an online presence while debating the legitimacy of their organization's history and structure. Despite their small numbers, they continue to revere the Book of the Law of the Lord, a scripture Strang published during his reign.

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