William W. Phelps (1792

Mormon History 1830-1844

William W. Phelps (1792–1872)

Convert of 1830, assistant president of the church in Missouri, scribe to Joseph Smith, member of the Literary Firm, church printer, editor, song-writer. Excommunicated, warned out of Missouri in 1838, returns to the church in 1841.
Baptism	1831 Trip to Independence	Family

Born	William Wines Phelps, February 17, 1792, in Hanover, Morris Co., New Jersey, the first of twelve children.	FamilySearch™ Ancestral File v4.19
Died	March 7, 1872 in Salt Lake City.	FamilySearch™ Ancestral File v4.19
Father	Enon Phelps (Nov. 18, 1766–Feb. 7, 1855)	FamilySearch™ Ancestral File v4.19
Mother	Mehitable Goldsmith (1763–Apr. 12, 1854)	FamilySearch™ Ancestral File v4.19
Marriage	April 28, 1815 marries Sally Waterman.	FamilySearch™ Ancestral File v4.19
Newspaper editor	Edits the Western Courier in New York, starts Lake Light in Trumansburg, and the anti-Masonic Ontario Phoenix (1827/1828) in Canandaigua. (Dean Jessee refers to William as "one of [the] founders" of the anti-Masonic movement in New York.)	Revelations, 87; Vogel has W. W. starting to edit the paper in 1828. Early documents 3:5. PWJS, 688.
Book of Mormon	April 9, 1830 purchases Book of Mormon from Parley P. Pratt.	Alice Phelps to Walter Dean Bowen, Who's who, 223.
Joseph	December 24, 1830 meets Joseph and is convinced he is a prophet.	¶ W W Phelps Letter 6
Writes Eber D. Howe Book of Mormon	I have read the book, and many others have, but we have nothing by which we can positively detect it as an imposition, [273] nor have we any thing more than what I have stated and the book itself, to show its genuineness. We doubt—supposing, if it is false, it will fall, and if of God, God will sustain it.	W. W. Phelps to Eber D. Howe, Jan. 10, 1831, Mormonism unvailed, 272–273.
Sidney Rigdon	I had ten hours discourse with a man from your state, named Sidney Rigdon, a convert to its doctrines, and he declared it was true, and he knew it by the power of the Holy Ghost, which was again given to man in preparation for the millennium: he appeared to be a man of talents, and sincere in his profession.
Jailed to prevent baptism	[April 29, 1831] I was thrown into prison at Lyons, N.Y. by a couple of Presbyterian traders, for a small debt, for the purpose, as I was informed, of "keeping me from joining the Mormons."	¶ W W Phelps Letter 6
Jailed for debt	[April 30, 1831] While I was in Palmyra, comparing the "Book of Mormon" with the Bible, to find out the truth, and investigate the matter from public good, — — — —, members of the church and pretended Anti-masons, sent their foolish clerk from Canandaigua, and took me with a warrant, and obtained a judgment against me, on a balance of their account. This was done after I had engaged a passage home, having learned that my family were sick. An execution was sworn out on the spot, and I was hurried to jail in the course of the night, where I shall stay thirty days, "in durance vile," for a double purpose.	"Retribution," Geneva Gazette and Mercantile Advertiser, May 11, 1831. Source
New York to Ohio	June 9, 1831 leaves Canandiagua, takes Erie Canal system to Buffalo, arriving June 12.
Revelation addressed to	June [15], 1831 arrives in Kirtland, requests a revelation. Joseph tells him the Lord calls him to be baptized, ordained, assist Oliver Cowdery in the printing office, and accompany Joseph and the rest to Missouri.	D&C 55
Baptism	June 16, 1831 baptized.	¶ W. W. Phelps Letter 6
Missouri tour with Joseph	June 18, 1831 leaves Kirtland for Jackson County with Joseph, Sidney, Martin, Edward, Joseph Coe, and A. Sidney Gilbert and his wife >.	W. W. Phelps to editor, July 31, 1831, Ontario Phoenix, Sept. 7, 1831. Source June 19 is the departure date in MH-C, 126.
Independence	July 14, 1831 arrives at Independence.	¶ W. W. Phelps
Lamanite women revelation	July 17, 1831 Joseph gives revelation recalled by William in 1861 authorizing missionaries to marry Indian women.	¶ Ezra Booth Letters (8–9)
Preaches in Indian territory	[July 18, 1831 preaches to] a western audience over the boundary of the United States, wherein were present specimens of all the families of the earth; Shem, Ham and Japheth; several of the Lamanites or Indians—representative of Shem; quite a respectable number of negroes—descendants of Ham; and the balance was made up of citizens of the surrounding country, and fully represented themselves as pioneers of the West.	HC 1:189-91.
High priesthood	October 1, 1831 ordained to the High Priesthood by Joseph Smith.	¶ Minutes of October 1, 1833
Steward of revelations	November 12, 1831 named as one of the "stewards over the revelations and commandments." Others are Joseph, Martin, Oliver, John Whitmer, and Sidney.	D&C 70:1–3
Superintend Zion schools	January 24, 1832 Conference in Zion. Oliver Cowdery, William W. Phelps, and John Corrill are to superintend schools.	FWR, 234,
Attend to poor	April 26, 1832 William is among the leaders "bound together by a bond and covenant that cannot be broken by transgression, except judgment shall immediately follow … to manage the affairs of the poor, and all things pertaining to the bishopric both in the land of Zion and in the land of Kirtland." The others are Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris, Sidney Rigdon, Edward Partridge, John Whitmer, Sidney Gilbert, and Newel K. Whitney.	D&C 82:11–12
Literary Firm, book	April 30, 1832 the Literary Firm, of which William is a member, decides to print 3,000 copies of the Book of Commandments. William, Oliver, and John Whitmer are to "select for printing such as shall be deemed by them proper, as dictated by the Spirit & make all necessary verbal corrections." William is also to "correct" hymns selected by Emma.	Minutes of April 30, 1832 United Firm At the end of July, Joseph decides not to release the revelations to the committee. ¶ Joseph to W. W. Phelps William authored 29 of the 90 songs in the first hymn book (1835).
Evening and Morning Star	June 1832 publishes first issue of The Evening and the Morning Star in Independence. Fourteen issues are published before the press is destroyed on July 20, 1833.	Papers 1:26n2.
Rebuked by Joseph	July 31, 1832 Joseph is upset by William's letter. He denounces William, Edward, and the Missouri church generally. Sidney was furious when he read William's letter and he had to be temporarily removed from office.	Joseph Smith to W. W. Phelps, July 31, 1832
Cordial letter from Joseph	November 27, 1832 Joseph writes a cordial letter to William.	Joseph Smith to W. W. Phelps, November 27, 1832
Critical letter from Joseph	January 14, 1833 Joseph responds to a letter from W. W. Phelps, criticizing the brethren in Zion of the judgments of God if they do not repent.
Writes for high council to Kirtland	February 26, 1833 with Oliver Cowdery and John Corrill, William writes an epistle on behalf of a special conference of high priests in Kirtland to the brethren in Kirtland.	Minutes of Feb. 26, 1833 // HC 1:327.
"Free People of Color" article angers citizens	July 1833 issue of the Evening and Morning Star, edited by W. W. Phelps, includes an article titled "Free People of Color," which quotes from the laws of Missouri the circumstances under which free people of color can come to the state. Jackson county citizens are infuriated. An Extra is printed on the 16th, quoting paragraphs in the same issue that blacks are not to immigrate and are not accepted into the church.
Citizens' ultimatum Home, press destroyed	July 20, 1833 a gathering of Jackson county citizens declares Mormons must leave the county immediately. They present their demands to W. W. Phelps, A. S. Gilbert, and Bishop Edward Partridge, who ask for time to consult with other leaders in Missouri and Ohio. The mob raze the printing press office—where William and his family live—force A. S. Gilbert to close the store, and tar and feather Edward Partridge and Charles Allen.	¶ Missouri Persecutions (3) ¶ Missouri Persecutions (2) ¶ Edward Partridge
One of six to offer themselves as ransom	July 23, 1833 W. W. Phelps, Edward Partridge, John Corrill, John Whitmer, A. S. Gilbert, and Isaac Morley meet with Jackson county citizens' committee and offer themselves as a ransom for the church "willing to be scourged or die, if that would appease their anger toward the church." Instead, the citizens agree to stop the violence and the Mormons agree to leave the county by April 1, 1834.	EMS 2, no. 15 (Dec. 1833): 114. ¶ Missouri Persecutions (3)
Sings in tongues	September 11, 1833 sings in tongues about the Nephites at council.	¶ Minutes of September 11, 1833
Mob rampage	May 1, 1834 writes to the Star that last week the mob burned most of 170 Mormon structures. Also Clay county depredations. Some non-Mormons leaving Jackson. Only God can stop the mob.	To the Star, May 1, 1834
Named for endowment	June 23, 1834 named to receive Kirtland endowment.	¶ Minutes of June 23, 1834
High council presidency	July 3, 1834 high priests in Missouri select David Whitmer as first president, assisted by W. W. Phelps and John Whitmer.	Minutes of July 3, 1834
Counsels branches on diplomacy	July 31, 1834 assigned with David Whitmer, Orson Pratt (h), and Lyman Wight (h) (swh) to visit churches throughout Missouri, instructing members "how to escape the indignation of our enemies."	Minutes of July 31, 1834
Missouri public relations	August 24, 1834 reports public relations effort to mollify Missourians.	That the Destroyer May Pass
Silences Parley	Winter 1834–1835 suspends (silences) Parley P. Pratt for leaving Missouri in debt. Parley had offered to pay, but the creditor refused payment in view of Parley's church service. William: "such conduct was not the way of the pure in heart." Parley stops officiating in the New Portage area. (Joseph overturns the ruling in early February.)	Parley P. Pratt, 145.
Leaves for Kirtland	April 28, 1835 leaves Missouri for Kirtland with son Waterman and John Whitmer.	Whitmer history typescript in J. Whitmer, 137.
Works D&C	May 17, 1835 arrives in Kirtland and lives in Joseph's home while working on the 1835 D&C.	Whitmer history typescript in J. Whitmer, 137.
Joseph as speaker Kirtland conditions	May 26, 1835 hears Joseph preach for three and a half hours—"one of the greatest sermons I ever heard." He couldn't live in Kirtland—too expensive—but members keep commandments.	¶ W. W. Phelps to Sally, May 26, 1835
Pledges $500 for temple	June 25, 1835 subscribes $500 for House of the Lord.	HC 2: 234.
Scribe for Book of Abraham	July 3, 1835 Michael H. Chandler arrives in Kirtland to exhibit four Egyptian mummies and rolls of papyrus covered with hieroglyphics. "Some of the Saints" in Kirtland purchase the artifacts and, "and with W. W. Phelps and Oliver Cowdery as scribes," Joseph begins translating the scrolls.	HC 2:235. William leaves for Missouri on
1835 General Assembly	August 17, 1835 General Assembly approves 1835 D&C. William reads the testimony of the Twelve about the book and Oliver's Article on Marriage, which is included as the last section.	¶ Minutes of August 17, 1835 ¶ Minutes of August 17, 1835
Revelation: takes honor to himself Riches promised Be lawyer	September 22, 1835 revelation through Joseph: William "shall have the desires of his heart in the gift that pertaineth to writing the law of God and in being an instrument in writing to lift up an ensign to the Nations … [but] the Lord will chasten him because he taketh honor to himself. … because of his liberal soul, the Lord will make him rich, even with treasures of gold, silver, precious stones, and with all precious metals." To be lawyer.	William W. Phelps journal qtd. in New Mormon studies.
Council of presidency of church	September 26, 1835 participates in "the council of the Presidency of the Church" (First Presidency and presidents of Zion) to resolve differences with the Twelve."	Minutes of September 26, 1835 term: council of the presidency of the church
Future of the Lamanites	The Indians are the people of the Lord; they are the tribes of Israel; the blood of Joseph, with a small mixture of the royal blood of Judah, and the hour is nigh when they will come flocking into the kingdom of God, like doves to their windows; yea, as the book of Mormon foretells—they will soon become a white and delightsome people …	W. W. Phelps to Oliver Cowdery, "Letter No. 11, " MA 2, no. 1 (Oct 1835): 193.
Israelites at North Pole	there may be a continent at the north pole, of more than 1300 square miles, containing thousands of millions of Israelites, who, after a highway is cast up in the great deep, may come to zion, singing songs of everlasting joy.	Ibid, 194.
School of the Prophets	November 2, 1835 attends organization of the School of the Prophets.
Under condemnation, repents	November 8, 1835 "The word of the Lord cam[e] unto me saying that President Phelps & President J. Whitmer are under condemnation before the Lord, for their errors <for which they made satisfaction the same day>	Papers 2:68 // HC 2:304. Dean Jessee notes that the insertion is in W. W. Phelps' hand.
Temple dedication William's hymns	March 27, 1836 dedication of the House of the Lord. Three of the six hymns sung are William's: "Now Let Us Rejoice," "Adam-ondi-Ahman," and "The Spirit of God."	HC 2:416–417, 426–427.
Temple feet washing	March 29, 1836 David Whitmer washes W. W. Phelps' feet during the all-night temple session. William then washes John Whitmer's feet .	American prophet, 153.
Leaves Kirtland for Zion	April 9, 1836 leaves Kirtland for Zion with Edward Partridge, Isaac Morley, John Corrill.	HC 2:436.
Appoint building committee	November 15, 1836 William and John Whitmer appoint building committee for temple.	Minutes of November 15, 1836
Charged by high council	April 3–7, 1837 high council and bishop's council charge William and John Whitmer with exceeding their authority. Reconcile on the fourth day.	Minutes of April 3, 1837 Minutes of April 5–6, 1837 Minutes of April 7, 1837
Warned to repent	September 4, 1837 William and John Whitmer are warned in a revelation to Joseph that they must repent or be removed from their positions.	Revelation of September 4, 1837
Excommunicated	March 10, 1838 accused of profiting from Far West land deals and reneging on the $2,000 subscription to the house of the Lord that they did not pay, William and John Whitmer are excommunicated by the high council and congregation.	Minutes of March 10, 1838
Contacts apostles	June 1840 contacts Orson Hyde and John E. Page in Dayton, Ohio.	J. Whitmer, 94.
Warned out of Far West	June 1838 warned out of Far West "or a more fatal calamity shall befall you." Others warned are Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, John Whitmer, and Lyman E. Johnson.
May be ordained elder, be missionary	July 8, 1838 William and Frederick G. Williams have lost their standing, but may be ordained elders and serve missions abroad.	Revelation of July 8, 1838
"Betrayal"	October 1838 William is one of the men who meets with Colonel Lucas prior to the "betrayal" of Joseph at Far West, the others being George M. Hinkle, Reed Peck, John Corrill, and John Cleminson.
Accuses Sidney of Danite activity	November [12–18], 1839 testifies at the hearing in Richmond, Missouri, that he had tried to reconcile Mormons and non-Mormons. Charges Sidney Rigdon declared that those who refused to defend their brethren in Caldwell and Daviess counties would have their blood "spilled in the streets of Far West," and that at a meeting in Far West he witnessed Sidney place all present under covenant to kill any who attempted to flee the town.	Who's who, 44–45.
Excommunicated	March 17, 1839 excommunicated in absentia by a conference in Quincy.	Minutes of Mar. 17, 1839
1841 mission	May 1841 brief mission to the East.
Clerk of Kirtland conference	May 22, 1841 clerk of a conference of Kirtland Saints.	TS 2, no. 17 (July 1, 1841): 458.
Joseph's clerk	August 27, 1841 Robert B. Thompson, Joseph Smith's clerk, dies. W. W. Phelps replaces him.	Early documents 1:55.
William as editor	[George A. Smith, May 15, 1843:] When it came to the cool discretion necessarily intrusted to an editor in the control of public opinion, the soothing of enmity, he was deficient, and would always make more enemies than friends. But for my part I would be willing, if I were able to pay Phelps for editing a paper, providing nobody else should have the privilege of reading it but myself. Joseph laughed heartily and said I had the thing just right.	George A. Smith diary
Nauvoo endowment	December 9, 1843 endowed in the Nauvoo temple.	Revelations, 87.
Polygamy	February 2, 1846 sealed to Laura Stowell and Elizabeth Dunn.	Revelations, 87.
Leaves Nauvoo	February 1846 leaves Nauvoo with the main body of Saints.	Revelations, 87.
Winter Quarters	Lives in Winter Quarters until 1849.	Revelations, 87.
Excommunicated, baptized	December 9, 1847 excommunicated, rebaptized two days later.	Revelations, 87.
Salt Lake City Old Fort	1849 arrives Salt Lake Valley, builds adobe house in the Old Fort, in which he lives until his death in 1872.	Revelations, 87.
Mission to southern Utah	November 23, 1849 to February 1850 mission exploring southern Utah (counselor to Parley P. Pratt).	Parley P. Pratt, 463–468.
	Member, first board of regents, University of Deseret
	Member, Utah territorial legislature, 1851.
Hill Cumorah story	January 14, 1855 relates a story told him by Hyrum that Joseph, Hyrum, Oliver and one of the Whitmers went to the Hill Cumorah." As they were walking up the hill, a door opened and they walked into a room about 16 ft. square. In that room was an angel and a trunk. On the trunk lay a book of Mormon & gold plates, Laban's sword, Aaron's breastplate."	William H. Dame diary qtd. in New Mormon studies.

	Baptism
Far West Record date	The Far West Record reports Joseph Smith Jr. ordained W. W. Phelps an elder on June 6, 1831 which is not possible since he was not baptized until June 16:.	¶ Minutes of June [3–6], 1831
W. W. Phelps date	Now, notwithstanding my body was not baptized into this church till Thursday the 16th of June, 1831, yet my heart was there from the time I became acquainted with the book of Mormon; and my hope steadfast like an anchor, and my faith increased like the grass after a refreshing shower, when I for the first time, held a conversation with our beloved brother Joseph (December 24th, 1830) …	¶ W W Phelps Letter 6
Joseph's account	Joseph's 1839 history indicates the Phelps family arrived in Kirtland "while we were preparing for our Journey to Missouri, the middle of June." William asked for a revelation, which was provided (D&C 55)—a revelation commanding him to be baptized.	Papers 1:354.
Dementia	Before Brothyer died he lost all his judgment, lost all his mind reason, consciousness and all sense. He knew nothing, not even his name, nor how to eat, thus being unable to taste of anything, not even death. His mind gradually dwindled, withered and dried up. H	O Huntington, Jan. 1, 1881.

	1831 Trip to Independence
Cleveland	June 18, start for Cleveland.	W. W. Phelps to editor, July 31, 1831, Ontario Phoenix, Sept. 7, 1831. Source
Newark	To Newark, 176 miles on the Ohio Canal; "found it superior to the Erie Canal in point of better locks and wider excavation."
Dayton	To Dayton, 101 miles; "I passed through Columbus, the capital of the state, an ordinary town about as large as Geneva."
Cincinnati	To Cincinnati, 65 miles, by water, on the Miami Canal. "Cincinnati is a thriving place, as large as Albany, but not so handsome."
Louisville	To Louisville by steamboat,165 miles. "Arrived at Louisville on the 25th. This is a considerable southern city, with daily newspapers, hacks, and draymen (cartmen) thick as southern musketoes."
Shippingport	To "Shippingport, (or Shavingport,)" 1 1/2 miles; wait three days for a passage.	Shippingport Island is about 2 miles south of the center of Louisville.
Falls of Ohio	Viewed the Grand Canal round the Falls of Ohio—a magnificent display of human skill, which cost $900,000. Three superb locks of hewn stone, the largest of which, for high water, is 60 feet wide, 43 feet deep, and 300 feet long. Saw the Franklin, a boat of the largest size, mount through in a kind of "dreadful splendor."
	June 27 leave for St. Louis on the steamboat Don Juan.
	June 29 pass the mouth of the Ohio river, "where three States were in sight, in the 37th degree of north latitude, and the sun nearly over head."
Cape Gerardeau	June 30 sees sawmills on the Mississippi driven by current wheels "constructed like cider-mill screws, 100 feet long; halted at Cape Gerardeau, and saw Frenchmen using oxen to draw by the horns, lead piled up like cord wood; broke the boat wheels on Devil Island."
Genevieve, St. Louis	July 1 stop at Genevieve, then continue to St. Louis—"quite a city, with the small pox in it."
Cross Missouri	July 2 start for western Missouri—"saw in the first grave yard Roman Catholic crosses sprawled over the dead."	"At St. Louis, myself, Br. Harris, Phelp[s], Partridge, and Coe, went on foot by land to Independence, Jackson County, Missouri. where we arrived about the middle of July: and the residue of the company came by water a few days after." MH-A, 126 (W. W. Phelps, comp.).
Arrive July 14	From this time until the 14th, I passed through patches of timber, and fields of prairies till I arrived at Independence, 12 miles from the west line of the United States, containing the last, or outside post-office <.

	Never Taste of Death	O Huntington, Jan. 1, 1881.
Joseph: Phelps never taste death	Joseph once told W. W. Phelps and wife that they should never taste death.
	The manner of the fulfillment of that promise is rather singular. They supposed, and so did all that knew of the promise, that they were to never die, but the Lord does business in his own way and his way is not as the way of a man.
W. W. dementia	Before Brother Phelps died he lost all his judgment, lost al his mind reason, consciousness and all sense. He knew nothing, not even his name, nor how to eat, thus being unable to taste of anything, not even death. His mind gradually dwindled, withered and dried up.
Wife's death	His wife was killed instantly, so quickly that she had no time to taste of death. She was killed as she was dipping up a bucket of water from the ditch, a gust of Independence hurled a board from a house and it struck her on the neck breaking it instantly. “She never tasted of death nor even felt the blow.”

	Families
Wife	Sally (Stella) Waterman, b. July 24, 1797 in Franklin, NY md. April 28, 1815, at Smyrna, Chenango, NY d. Jan. 2, 1874 in Salt Lake City	FamilySearch™ Ancestral File v4.19
Children	William Waterman, b. Jan. 23, 1823 in Homer, New York d. June 6, 1886 in Stockton, CA Sabrina, b. Aug 30, 1816 in Homer, Cortland., NY d. Apr. 10, 1887 Mehitabel, b. July 3, 1819 in Wooster, Wayne, OH d. May 1877 Jerusha, b. Nov. 1, 1821 in Homer, Cortland, NY d. Jan. 13, 1822 in Homer Sarah, b. July 19, 1825 in Homer, Cortland, NY d. [1898] Henry Enon, b. Oct. 31, 1828 in Canandaigua, Ontario, NY d. Mar. 2, 1901 in Salt Lake City Mary, b. Oct. 19, 1830 in Canandaigua, Ontario, NY d. Nov. 21, 1831 James, b. Sept. 22, 1832 in Independence, Jackson , MO Lydia, b. Mar. 15, 1835 in Liberty, Clay, MO d. Mar. 24, 1923 in Salt Lake City Princetta/Princella, b. Mar. 20, 1837 in Far West, Caldwell, MO d. Aug. 31, 1838)	FamilySearch™ Ancestral File v4.19
Wife	Laura Stowell, b. 1825 in New York md. Feb. 2, 1846	FamilySearch™ Ancestral File v4.19
Wife	Elizabeth Dunn, b. 1828 in Alabama md. Feb. 2, 1846	FamilySearch™ Ancestral File v4.19
Wife	Mary Jones, b. 1796 in Hanover, Morris, NJ	FamilySearch™ Ancestral File v4.19; no tmentioned in Revelations, 87.
Wife	Sarah Betsy Gleason, b. [1796 in Hanover, Morris, NJ]	FamilySearch™ Ancestral File v4.19; not mentioned in Revelations, 87.
Wife	Harriet Schrider, b. [1796 in Hanover, Morris Co. NJ]	FamilySearch™ Ancestral File v4.19; not mentioned in Revelations, 87.
W. W. Phelps to Sally, May 26, 1835 W. W. Phelps to Sally, September 9, 1835 W. W. Phelps Autobiographical Letter Biographies