1. James J. Strang, a man of some ability and commanding presence, joined the Church shortly before the martyrdom. After the death of the Prophet and Patriarch he claimed to have been chosen and appointed by Joseph Smith as his successor. He exhibited a letter which purported to have been written by the Prophet, in which such appointment was claimed to be set forth. He gathered quite a following of the discontented element at Nauvoo and established himself on Beaver Island, in Lake Michigan, where later he was crowned "king." He was shot and killed by one of his followers, and his organization soon afterwards crumbled to pieces. Out of its fragments some years later there arose another organization known as the "Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," unto which there were gathered the majority of those who had become disaffected and had been excommunicated from the Church. 2. Dr. Conyers, in his _Hancock County Mob_, makes the following comment on the action of the Quincy citizens: "The first one [resolution] in our opinion, is unique. They accepted and recommended to the people of the surrounding counties to accept an unconditional proposition to remove. But understand, Mr. Mormon, though we accept it and recommend the surrounding counties to do so likewise, [reprobate you, unconditionally] we do not intend to bring ourselves under any obligation to purchase your property, or to furnish purchasers; but we will be very kind and obliging, and will in no way hinder or obstruct you in your efforts to sell, provided, nevertheless this shall not be so construed as to prevent us from running off the purchaser. But we expect this small favor of you, viz., that you must dispose of your property and leave at the appointed time." Part Five The Settlement in the Rocky Mountains Chapter 37 The Exodus from Nauvoo 1846 The Abandonment of Nauvoo