W. W. Phelps
Who was W. W. Phelps?
Leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on W. W. Phelps (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
William Wines Phelps (February 17, 1792 – March 7, 1872) was an American author, composer, politician, and early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement. Born in Hanover Township, Phelps played a significant role in the growth of what would become the LDS Church. He married Sally Waterman Phelps, who stayed by his side through years of challenging religious and frontier life. He worked on both practical and spiritual projects, from printing important church texts to writing hymns that are still used in worship today.
As a printer, Phelps produced the first edition of the Book of Commandments, which later expanded to become the Doctrine and Covenants, a key scripture of the LDS Church. Joseph Smith appointed him assistant president of the church in Missouri, making him one of the most trusted early leaders. He was also a member of the Council of Fifty, a group with political and religious goals. Though honored, Phelps had a famously rocky relationship with Smith. He testified against Smith in court, which led to Smith's arrest and Phelps's own excommunication.
Phelps was excommunicated from the church three times, showing both his clashes with church leaders and his strong desire to return. Each time, he sought and gained readmission. He eventually made up with Joseph Smith and became a ghostwriter for him, drafting letters and documents in Smith's name. This dual role highlighted Phelps's unique position as both a rebel and a vital contributor to the church's early writings.
After Joseph Smith was killed in 1844, Phelps sided with Brigham Young during the succession crisis that split the Latter Day Saint movement into competing groups. He followed Young to the Salt Lake Valley during the westward migration. In Utah, Phelps stayed active in civic and religious matters, continuing his lifelong pattern of involvement in both religious and everyday life. He also conducted meteorological observations, adding to the scientific understanding of the region's weather. He passed away in Salt Lake City on March 7, 1872, at the age of eighty.
Before Fame
William Wines Phelps was born on February 17, 1792, in Hanover Township, when the young United States was still shaping its institutions and culture. He trained as a printer, a trade that in the early nineteenth century put a person at the center of public discussion, political debate, and the spread of new ideas. Phelps ran a newspaper in New York, got involved in the Anti-Masonic movement, and honed his skills as a writer, editor, and political commentator.
His encounter with the emerging Latter Day Saint movement in the early 1830s changed his career path entirely. After reading the Book of Mormon and meeting Joseph Smith, Phelps was baptized into the church in 1831. Smith quickly saw the value of his printing skills and writing talent, and Phelps was sent to Missouri to start a press for the church. This assignment put him at the edge of both America's westward expansion and a new religious movement, shaping his future endeavors.
Key Achievements
- Printed the first edition of the Book of Commandments, precursor to the Doctrine and Covenants
- Composed numerous hymns, several of which remain in the current LDS Church hymnal
- Served as assistant president of the LDS Church in Missouri under Joseph Smith
- Appointed to the Council of Fifty, a select inner council established by Joseph Smith
- Supported Brigham Young during the 1844 succession crisis, helping consolidate the Utah-based branch of the church
Did You Know?
- 01.Phelps wrote the hymn 'The Spirit of God,' which was sung at the dedication of the Kirtland Temple in 1836 and remains in the current LDS hymnal.
- 02.He served as a ghostwriter for Joseph Smith, composing official letters and documents that were published under Smith's name.
- 03.Phelps was excommunicated from the LDS Church three separate times and was readmitted each time.
- 04.He printed the first edition of the Book of Commandments in 1833 in Independence, Missouri, though a mob destroyed most of the printed copies before distribution.
- 05.Phelps conducted meteorological observations in Utah, contributing early weather data to the scientific record of the Great Basin region.