Strang's newspaper printed a statement allegedly signed by William Smith, Joseph Smith's mother, Lucy Mack Smith, and three of Joseph's sisters, certifying that "the Smith family do believe in the appointment of J. J. Strang."
Strang publicerade ett tillkännagivande, underskrivet av William Smith, Joseph Smiths mor, Lucy Mack Smith och tre av Josephs systrar, om att "familjen Smith tror på utkorelsen av J J Strang".