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Revision as of 02:41, 20 April 2008 by 71.221.128.115 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)"Praise to the Man" (originally "Joseph Smith") was a poem or a hymn written as a tribute to Joseph Smith, Jr. by Latter Day Saint leader and hymn writer William W. Phelps after Smith's death. The hymn was first published anonymously in the church newpaper Times and Seasons in August 1844, approximately one month after Smith was killed. Latter Day Saints (Mormons) consider Joseph Smith to have been a "prophet, seer, revelator, and translator". The hymn is still used in the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is hymn #27 in the current LDS Church hymnal.
Changes
Part of the original text of the second verse read, "Long shall his blood, which was shed by assassins, / Stain Illinois, while the earth lauds his fame." In 1927, in accordance with its "good neighbor" policy, the LDS Church officially changed the words "Stain Illinois" to "Plead unto heav'n".
Tune
Phelps originally suggested "Star in the East" as the hymn tune, which is probably the same melody as Star in the East from Southern Harmony.
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The LDS hymnal now uses a melody based on "Scotland the Brave" in honor of Phelps's Scottish heritage. The tune is modified to match the syllable count of the text.
References
- ^ Anonymous , "Joseph Smith", Times and Seasons, 5 (1 August 1844), p. 607.
- Smith was killed by a mob while imprisoned at Carthage, Illinois.
- George D. Pyper, Stories of the Latter-day Saint Hymns, their Authors, and Composers (1939) p. 100.