William Wines Phelps (February 17, 1792 – March 7, 1872) was an American author, composer, politician, and early leader of the Latter Day Saint movement. He printed the first edition of the Book of Commandments that became a standard work of the church and wrote numerous hymns, some of which are included in the current hymnal of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He was at times both close to and at odds with church leadership. He testified against Joseph Smith, providing evidence that helped persuade authorities to arrest Smith. He was excommunicated three times and rejoined the church each time. He was a ghostwriter for Smith. Phelps was called by Smith to serve as assistant president of the church in Missouri and as a member of the Council of Fifty. After Smith's death, Phelps supported Brigham Young during the succession crisis.

Early life

Phelps was born in Hanover Township, New Jersey on February 17, 1792. He was named after American Revolutionary War general William Wines (also spelled "Winds"). His father, Enon Phelps, and mother, Mehitable Goldsmith, moved the family to Homer, New York, in 1800. Phelps was a descendant of the Puritan leader William Phelps. The pair had ten children: eight daughters and two sons.

Involvement in Latter Day Saint movement

Phelps purchased a copy of the Book of Mormon from Parley P. Pratt He and his wife, Sally, read the book and "became converted to its truth."

Kirtland, Ohio

alt=Photograph of a two-columned newspaper. The heading reads: "The Evening and the Morning Star, volume one, Independence, Missouri, June 1832"|thumb|253x253px|June 1832 edition of the Evening and Morning Star, published by W. W. Phelps

Phelps moved to Kirtland, Ohio in 1831. Most of the copies of the Book of Commandments were destroyed in the raid. During his stay in Kirtland, Phelps acted as "co-steward over the modern revelations" alongside Joseph Smith, editing the sections of the Doctrine and Covenants for publication. Phelps wrote "at least thirty-five of the ninety hymns" included in the first LDS hymnal. and, in that capacity, he helped found the town of Far West, Missouri, purchasing the land for the town using church funds alongside John Whitmer. He served as postmaster in Far West. Unlike Cowdery and the Whitmers, Phelps remained in Far West.

He appears to have had a short-lived détente with church leadership. On July 8, Smith received a revelation saying that Phelps and fellow dissenter, Frederick G. Williams, could be ordained as elders and serve missions abroad. As part of the 1838 Mormon War, at the time of the Mormon surrender of Far West on November 1, Phelps was one of the Mormon negotiators.

But during the treason hearing of Smith in Richmond, beginning November 12, Phelps was one of several who bore witness against Smith and other leaders, aiding in their imprisonment in Missouri until April 1839. According to The Joseph Smith Papers, "his testimony helped lead to Smith's incarceration in the Liberty, Missouri, jail in winter 1838–1839." This led to Phelps's excommunication in Quincy, Illinois on March 17, 1839. Phelps thus reunited with the church through rebaptism sixteen months after his excommunication. Phelps also worked alongside John Taylor in editing the Times and Seasons and Nauvoo Neighbor and Willard Richards in compiling Joseph Smith's personal history. and received his "second anointing" on February 2, 1844, promising him exaltation. He was also made a member of the Council of Fifty and the Nauvoo City Council. After the death of Joseph Smith, Phelps gave the eulogy at his funeral.

Westward exodus, death, and legacy

Phelps took part in the Mormon Exodus across the Great Plains. At Winter Quarters he was credited with ordering "unquestionably the first press to reach Nebraska soil" from Philadelphia. When it arrived in 1847, a pamphlet was printed that announced, "we have a printing press" and solicited local printing business.

After leaving Winter Quarters, Phelps settled in Salt Lake City in 1848.

  • Adam-ondi-Ahman*
  • Come, All Ye Saints of Zion*
  • Come, All Ye Saints Who Dwell on Earth*
  • Come, Let Us Sing an Evening Hymn*
  • Gently Raise the Sacred Strain*
  • Glorious Things Are Sung of Zion
  • Hosanna Anthem
  • If You Could Hie to Kolob
  • Now Let Us Rejoice*
  • Now We'll Sing with One Accord*
  • O God, the Eternal Father*
  • O Stop and Tell Me, Red Man*
  • Praise to the Man
  • The Spirit of God Like a Fire Is Burning*
  • We're Not Ashamed to Own Our Lord*

Phelps also reworded popular hymns turning them into uniquely Latter Day Saint hymns.

  • Joy to the World! the Lord will Come*
  • Redeemer of Israel*

<nowiki>* Included in the </nowiki> first Latter Day Saint hymnal in 1835.

See also

  • 1843 polygamy revelation

Notes

References

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  • Church Historian's Office journal, 1844–1879, Volume 9, November 15, 1847 – March 25, 1848, p.&nbsp;25. Volume 9, p. 25
  • William Wines Phelps papers, Vault MSS 810, L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University
  • Transcription of above W.W. Phelps papers
  • William Wines Phelps land patents, Vault MSS SC 370, L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University
  • Phelps family correspondence, 1835–1853, Vault MSS 810 Series 2, L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University