Description
Praise to the Man
William Wines Phelps was converted by the Book of Mormon and baptized in June 1831. He immediately became a trusted friend and close associate of the Prophet Joseph Smith. He became a printer, author, and editor for the Church. In July 1831 William was called to take his family to Missouri. He was among those in July 1833, who offered his own life as a ransom in Independence, Missouri when mobs threatened the Saints.
Among the many hymns he composed was: “The Spirit of God Like A Fire is Burning.” All six verses of this hymn were sung at the Kirtland Temple dedication in 1836. It was during that dedication that William was privileged to witness heavenly beings attending the Temple.
After those days of Pentecost at Kirtland, William returned to his duties as a counselor in the Stake Presidency at Far West, Missouri. However, difficulties soon arose and William was accused before the high council of misuse of Church funds. The matter was never completely resolved, and it cankered William’s soul. He was excommunicated in March 1838. Shortly thereafter he fled Far West and joined the enemies of the Saints. Because of his actions and accusations, the armed militia force of the State of Missouri was brought down on the Latter-day Saints. In the end some 10-15,000 people were driven from their homes amid burning, pillaging, rape, and murder. The suffering of the Saints was incalculable, and many died. William would be among those who testified against Joseph and his brethren in a Richmond courthouse, thus leading to their incarceration in Liberty Jail, Clay County, Missouri.
WW Phelps remained out of the Church for nearly two years, during which time he came to see the terrible error of his ways. In the depth of penitence, William wrote to the Prophet Joseph, now in Nauvoo:
“I have seen the folly of my way, and I tremble at the gulf I have passed. … I know my situation, you know it, and God knows it, and I want to be saved if my friend will help me…. I have done wrong and I am sorry. The beam is in my own eye. I have not walked along with my friends according to my holy anointing. I ask forgiveness in the name of Jesus Christ of all the Saints, for I will do right, God helping me.”
Joseph himself cherished forgiveness. He himself had taught:
“Ever keep in exercise the principle of mercy, and be ready to forgive our brother on the first intimations of repentance, and asking forgiveness; and should we even forgive our brother, or even our enemy, before he repent or ask forgiveness, our Heavenly Father would be equally as merciful unto us.”
Upon receiving Phelps’ letter Joseph wrote thus:
“Inasmuch as long-suffering, patience, and mercy have ever characterized the dealing of our Heavenly Father towards the humble and penitent, I feel disposed to copy the example, cherish the same principles, and by so doing be a savior of my fellow men….Believing your confession to be real, and your repentance genuine, I shall be happy once again to give you the right hand of fellowship, and rejoice over the returning prodigal. . . . Come on, dear brother, since the war is past, for friends at first, are friends again at last.”
William made peace with the Saints and was rebaptized in July 1840. It was not long before he was once more engaged in the Lord’s work alongside Joseph. On June 27, 1844, William visited Joseph at Carthage Jail, and just days later he would be called on to preach at Joseph’s funeral.
August 1, 1844, while the Saints were still immersed in their grief, a new poem written by William Wines Phelps was printed in the Times and Seasons. It was titled simply, Joseph Smith. We know that poem today as “Praise to the Man.”
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Praise_to_the_Man
https://ldshymnology.wordpress.com/2022/05/09/praise-to-the-man/
