A Witness in England : Martin Harris and the Strangite Mission
BYU Studies
2005
44
no.3
2005
77-98
James J. Strang attempted to become the leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after the martyrdom of Joseph Smith. He was able to gather a small following, comprised mostly of Latter-day Saints who were already frustrated or dissatisfied with the Church. Martin Harris was one of these disgruntled followers. Jensen believes Martin Harris and other men like William Capner were not "apostate" simply because they chose to follow Strangism. In August 1846, a Strangite conference was held, and the Strangite leaders decided to begin missionary work in England. Martin Harris, Lester Brooks, and William Capner were sent to preach the Strangite doctrine in England. As witnessed on several occasions, Harris never denied his testimony of the Book of Mormon, and his Strangite mission exemplified this. He set out to destroy Mormonism in England, but his stalwart belief in the Book of Mormon actually edified the faith of the local Latter-day Saints who heard him preach. The Strangites sent Harris home because he declined to preach the Strangite doctrine. They collectively felt it was a mistake to bring Harris along because of the lack of his dedication to the Strangites' cause.