First Hymn Selections, Redeemer of Israel

A National Historic Landmark

First Hymn Selections

On 1 May 1832 W. W. Phelps was given the task to "correct and print the Hymns which had been selected by Emma Smith, in fulfillment of the revelation." [1] The first issue of The Evening and the Morning Star came off Phelps' press in June. "Redeemer of Israel" was among the six hymns printed in this issue.

Inspired by a hymn by Joseph Swain, Phelps rewrote the song capturing "both the excitement and struggles of the new movement," [2] comparing the trials of the church to those of the ancient Hebrews. [3]

Transcriptions of the following are available:

Entry for 1 May 1832 in Joseph Smith's Manuscript History, 1839, Book A-1
Redeemer of Israel as first printed in The Evening and Morning Star
Swain's "O Thou in Whose Presence" and Phelps' "Redeemer of Israel" side by side comparison

Notes:

[1] Joseph Smith, Manuscript History, 1839, A-1, LDS Church Archives, Salt Lake City; Dean C. Jessee, ed., Papers of Joseph Smith, 1 (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book Company, 1989), 381-382.

[2] Richard Clothier, “The Singing Saints: A Festival of Hymns and History,” for meeting during John Whitmer Historical Association, 2002.

[3] Roy A. Cheville, They Sang of the Restoration: Stories of Latter Day Saint Hymns (Independence, Missouri: Herald House, 1955), 33.

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Kirtland Temple > Hymn Resources > Emma Hymn Festival > First Hymn Selections

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Kirtland, Ohio 44094
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