but he bore it worse than Joseph, and never forgot it. The Prophet had some difficulty in getting altogether free from the tar, and the stamping severely injured his chest, but "the Lord healed him up again," and next day (March 26th) it is reported that he was "acknowledged to be the President of the High Priesthood," at a General Council of the Church. A few days later he set out the second time for Missouri, and arrived at Independence on the 24th of April.
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During his two weeks' stay in Missouri, it was resolved to publish the revelations in book form, and to establish at Independence a journal called The Evening and Morning Star under the editorial direction of Elder W. W. Phelps, a brother who performed a very important part in the history of Mormonism. The career of "W. W.," as he is familiarly styled, has been somewhat chequered, but he still lives, and is "not to taste of death." He is about eighty years of age, and has the promise of living till Jesus comes again.[1] He is a singular genius, greatly gifted in interpreting disentombed inscriptions, especially upon old coins. He is usually credited with having furnished the political papers of Joseph with their "highfalutin," and distorting several languages to make the word "Mormon" mean "more good," although pro-
- ↑ Since the foregoing was written, the Salt Lake papers have published the following notice:
"Phelps—William Wines Phelps, born in the State of New Jersey, February, 1792, died March 7th, 1872, in Salt Lake City."
Alas, poor Phelps! Often did the old man, in public and in private, regale the Saints with the assurance that he had the promise by revelation that he should not taste of death till Jesus came. The last time that the Author spoke with "Brother" Phelps, the latter was fully satisfied that the revelation of Joseph Smith could not fail in its fulfilment.
