William Wines Phelps (1792-1872)

Biography
Publisher, Poet and Orator of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A writer of considerable ability and especially prolific of hymns, including "The Spirit of God Like a Fire Is Burning" and "Now Let Us Rejoice" which celebrate the restoration of the latter-day Church. Both of these were sung in the dedicatory services of the Kirtland temple.

Timeline

 * 1792 : Birth in New Jersey
 * 1800 : Parents move to Homer, New York
 * 1814(est) : Moves to Ohio, but soon returns to New York
 * 1815 : First Marriage - Stella Waterman (1797-1874) in Homer NY
 * 1823 : Moves to Trumansbourgh NY, begins publishing newspaper Lake Light
 * 1827 : Moves to Canadaigua NY - begins publishing anti-Masonic newspaper Ontario Phoenix.
 * 1830 : Aspires to the office of Lieutenant Governor of New York
 * 1830-Apr-04 : Purchases copy of Book of Mormon, just 3 days after the organization of the LDS Church.
 * 1831-Jun : Follows Joseph Smith and Mormon movement to Kirtland Ohio and is baptized there.
 * 1831-Sep : Follows group of Mormon settlers to Independence Missouri, begins publishing Evening and Morning Star, a major Mormon newspaper.
 * 1833-Jul-20 : Missouri mob attacks his home to destroy his printing press and early copies of the churches Book of Commandments.

Research Notes

 * Alva Phelps (1813-1846) is a distant cousin of Mormon Pioneer W.W. Phelps - both are descendants of Noah Phelps (1693-1765) and Maria Anna Dyer (1699-1764).