Unannounced Live
Gospel Tangents recently surprised viewers with an unannounced live stream including a JFS book giveaway. This is a "late night edition" that offers a whirlwind update on my extensive travels, upcoming interviews, and even some "breaking news" from the Temple Lot Church. Despite a busy travel schedule and a significant backlog of videos to edit, I managed to connect, give away a JFS book, and share exciting previews of what's to come!
https://youtu.be/Jw_a2PA5jAU
Recent Travels and Adventures
I’ve been to several significant sites related to the Latter Day Saint movement:
* Community of Christ Conference in Independence, Missouri: This "super fun trip" included
reactions to Stassi Cramm being ordained the new prophet in the Community of Christ. While there, I also visited the Temple Lot Church, meeting a "Kiwi" (New Zealander) who hinted at a possible interview. I also updated my tour with video, experimenting with cell phone cameras, promising many unpublished videos from Independence.
* Mormon History Association: Following Independence, he attended the Mormon History Association, where I toured several LDS churches, including a "really old" one in Ogden and Joseph Soderberg's church, known for President Hinckley's testimony story.
* Strangites in Wisconsin: Instead of Houston, I visited the
Strangites in Wisconsin, staying with former guest
Bill Shepard. He also hung out with
David Boice and
Gary Weber, who gave me a tour of the Hill of Promise, which the Strangites consider akin to the Hill Cumorah.
◦ The Voree Plates and the Hill of Promise: Gary Weber explained that the Hill of Promise is where James Strang found the Voree record. An angel reportedly told Strang where the record was buried beneath a tree, and respected townsmen witnessed its excavation. The record, encased in stone, crumbled upon exposure to air but was translated by Strang, telling the story of the "people of Raja Ramor". It described a great war, similar to the Hill Cumorah narrative, and a pictorial representation of priesthood structure mirroring that under Joseph Smith and James Strang.
◦ Prophetic Significance: The Hill of Promise is also sacred because Strang's revelations state that Daniel from the Bible will appear there someday to teach the saints and announce Christ's soon approaching second coming.
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Beaver Island Plans: David Boice & I visited Burlington (originally called Voree by Strang), where we saw several Strangite sites, including a plaque for a never-built temple. I’m planning
a trip to Beaver Island, which was James Strang's later settlement where he was
crowned king and assassinated. Gary Weber noted that there's "not a lot to see" on Beaver Island, mostly dirt roads, but a ferry or plane can take visitors there.
* Calgary/Cardston, Alberta, Canada: I flew to Calgary for my son's wedding and visited Cardston, Alberta, home to the first international temple for the LDS church. I received a book on Raymond, Alberta, a town settled by Raymond Knight (son of Newell Knight) and noted for being "practically Utah up in Canada" due to its 80% Mormon population. Cardston is compared to Manti due to its remote location and pioneer feel, with concerns about preserving its murals during an upcoming refurbishment when a new temple in Let...
