Set of 15 Scarce Tracts Mormon Latter-day Saint Succession Crisis James Strang

Description

Set of 17 scarce facsimile replicas of various early church pamphlets, mostly on more complex Mormon succession issues and distinctive Mormon customs. Printed in small press runs from 1975-1996 on quality papers, usually as fancy commemorative editions. Condition is new, old stock. They have been stored in my family's new book warehouse since their publication decades ago. Some minor imperfections from storage and age.
Set Includes:
Prophetic Controversy, No. 2;
extracted from the writings and criticisms of John E. Page, James J. Strang, William Marks and Hyrum P. Brown, to which are added a few notes in brackets, and a short commentary by the transcriber, Wingfield Watson. March 1887. Reprinted in 1975 by Wingfield Watson descendants with revised Doctrine & Covenants references. 28 pages.
Prophetic Controversy No. 4. Mr. Strang Proved to Have Been Always an Honorable Man.
The theory that the prophetic office goes by lineal right, and the doctrine that lesser officers in the priesthood can ordain to the greater, utterly exploded. By Wingfield Watson, 1897. Reprinted 1974 by Wingfield Watson Trust. 38 pages.
Prophetic Controversy No. 6. -or- "Facts" for the Anti-Mormons Located at Grayson, Kentucky, Being an Answer to the Following Letter Inquiry,
by
Wingfield Watson An Elder in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1906. Reprinted 1980 by Wingfield Watson Trust. 14 pages.
Prophetic Controversy No. 7,
by Wingfield Watson, 1906. Reprinted 1980 by Wingfield Watson Trust. 9 pages.
Prophetic Controversy No. 8,
by Wingfield Watson, 1907. 7 pages.
The True Gospel
, a comparison of the primitive and true gospel, and the modern sectarian interpretation of it, by Wingfield Watson. 7 pages.
The Sabbath and the Restitution,
by Edward T. Couch, March 1891. 51 pages.
The Decalogue,
taken from the Book of the Law of the Lord, translated by James J. Strang. 3 pages.
Revelation to the Priesthood.
Compiled and comments by Elder Richard Drew. 1986. 7 pages.
Word of Wisdom.
Compounded and comments by Elder Richard Drew. 9 pages.
Successor of Joseph Smith.
James J. Strang, 1845. 11 pages.
Evidences of Inspiration,
by Edward T. Couch, February 1890. Reprinted by Richard Drew, 1985. 36 pages.
Modern Christianity: A Dialogue Between A Baptist and an Infidel.
By J. Hyde, The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, 7 (1 Jan. 1850): 4-9. Republished as a Tract by W. Watson, 1884. Replica Typesetting by John Hajicek, 1996. Printed by R. Drew, 1996. 10 pages.
Catholic Discussion. Rafferty's Letter. NO. 1.
By Wingfield Watson, 1902. Reprinted 1977 by Wingfield Watson Trust with revised Doctrine & Covenants references. 24 pages.
The Book of Mormon. An essay on its claims and prophecies.
By Wingfield Watson, 1899. Reprinted 1975 by Wingfield Watson Descendants. 18 pages.
Background Information:
The Mormon church was founded by Joseph Smith Jr. in 1830. After Smith's death in 1844, James J. Strang was the first to claim to be his successor, with a document (letter of appointment) that survives at Yale University.
The letter of appointment convinced John Whitmer, David Whitmer, Martin Harris, Hiram Page, John E. Page, William McLellin, William Smith, Emma Smith, the sisters of Joseph Smith, William Marks, George Miller, and others that James J. Strang was the true successor to Joseph Smith.
Joseph Smith Jr. had written revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants (D&C) that said he alone had the keys to receive revelations for his church, and indicated that he would eventually appoint another in his stead--but he could not ordain his own successor to a sole office, and no other person could ordain themselves to an office that they themselves lacked.
James J. Strang announced that he had been ordained by angels in the same hour that Joseph Smith Jr. was killed, but he and Smith were two hundred miles apart.
James J. Strang translated metallic plates and eleven witnesses signed testimonies that they saw the plates—none ever denied their testimony.
Interestingly, Brigham Young was summoned to a trial and excommunicated by a high council on April 6, 1846. Young in turn claimed that he excommunicated James J. Strang, but there was never a notice for Strang to appear, nor was there ever a trial for Strang.
About 12,000 people acknowledged the appointment of James J. Strang.
James J. Strang was killed in 1856, just twelve years after his appointment, and the church barely survived being driven from northern Michigan by a mob at the same time.
Most of Strang's followers later joined the RLDS (now known as Community of Christ) church which was formed four years after the death of James J. Strang.