[MUSIC - "HOSANNA ANTHEM"] Hosanna, hosanna to God and the Lamb! Let glory to them-- As an author and poet, W. W. Phelps's impassioned lines articulated the essence of Joseph's teachings. Twenty-six of the texts that appeared in the original hymnbook were either written or adapted by him.

Your lyrics always stirred me, William. You're very kind, but I have come because I need your help. I feel I must write another hymn. In the past, W. W. Phelps had given musical expression to many of the teachings of the man from humble beginnings in Vermont. When I finally came to Kirtland, I told the Prophet that I was ready to do the will of the Lord.

With the gathering in Kirtland well underway, Joseph turned his attention to Missouri, which the Lord had revealed was to be Zion, the New Jerusalem. There were fundamental differences between the old settlers and the steady stream of new arrivals coming to Jackson County. I must admit, my newspaper publications may have served to fan the flames of prejudice. Kirtland was the edge of the frontier. Missouri proved to be the raw frontier. It was a border state, the old citizens mostly Southerners. The influx of so many Yankees threatened to upset the balance of power. In July 1833, a mob terrorized the Saints at Independence. We will rid Jackson County of the Mormons peaceably if we can, forcibly if we must.

"We were driven out," I wrote to the Prophet. "The mobs swear if we come back we shall die. We wait patiently for the word of the Lord." When Joseph received word of the conditions in Zion, he turned to the Lord for guidance once again and received a revelation directing him to defend the Saints in Missouri. Before leaving with Zion's Camp, Joseph wrote me another letter regarding one of my criticisms. "Dear Brother Phelps, you have given us to believe that there are glaring errors in the revelations.

If we have made mistakes in punctuation, we say by way of excuse that we did not think so much of the orthography as we did the subject matter. The word of God means what it says." In Missouri, W. W. Phelps, David and John Whitmer, and Oliver Cowdery were brought before the high council, accused of selling their lands in Jackson County when they received specific direction otherwise. Phelps was deeply offended by the accusation. The council was convinced that W. W. Phelps was in rebellion. Oliver Cowdery openly rejected their authority. On Independence Day, Sidney Rigdon delivered an address which became known as the Salt Sermon. Do we not have the same rights and privileges as other men? "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, ... it is ... good for nothing, but to be cast out, and trodden under foot of men." Oliver Cowdery and I, as well as several others, felt the discourse was directed at us. It seemed a veiled threat. And fearing for our safety, we left Far West a few days later.

"As a special witness of the State, I depose and swear that Sidney Rigdon and Joseph Smith said they meant to resist the law, and if a sheriff came after them, they would kill him." Why would you sign such an affidavit? You helped send a man you loved, a man you knew was a prophet of God, to a filthy prison for one of the most trying times of his life.

I shall regret it for as long as I live. During this time I became racked with guilt for my actions. I wrote to the Prophet in Nauvoo: "Brother Joseph, you know my situation, and God knows it. I am as the prodigal son, though I never doubted or disbelieved the fulness of the gospel. I have done wrong. I ask forgiveness in the name of Jesus Christ of all the Saints." "Dear Brother Phelps, it is true that we have suffered much because of your behavior--the cup of gall was filled to overflowing when you turned against us. However, we are yet alive.

I shall be happy once again to give you the right hand of fellowship. Come on, dear brother, since the war is past, For friends at first, are friends again at last.

Yours, as ever, Joseph Smith, Jr." The nearer we get to our Heavenly Father, the more we are disposed to look with compassion on perishing souls. We feel we want to take them upon our shoulders and cast their sins behind our backs.

I have struggled to understand Joseph's capacity for forgiveness and love. And I'm grateful, too, for how that Spirit must have influenced the Church when he read my letter to them here in Nauvoo. In the congregation there would have been victims of inhumane cruelty. People who had lost everything, even loved ones. Husbands who had watched their homes and property be destroyed. Families who had trudged through the bitter snows of Missouri and Illinois. I have often wondered, if I had been one of them, could I have cast a vote of forgiveness and agreed to bring W. W. Phelps back into fellowship?

Yet the vote of the congregation was unanimous. I had violated his trust, but he took me back into his.

The last time I saw Joseph was early that morning at Carthage.

I told him I would die with him.

I think you will write your hymn, William.

And the words will come.