William Wine Phelps (1792–1872) was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement who served as a printer, editor, poet, and hymn writer. Though his relationship with the church was tumultuous—including excommunication and rebaptism—his literary and theological contributions left an indelible mark on Latter-day Saint worship and thought. Several of his hymns remain among the most beloved in the LDS hymnal, exploring themes of cosmic scope and human divine potential.
Born in Hanover, New Jersey, Phelps worked as a printer and newspaper editor before his conversion to the Latter Day Saint faith in 1831. His professional skills proved invaluable to the young church. He established the first church printing operation in Independence, Missouri, where he published The Evening and the Morning Star, the church’s first periodical, and printed the Book of Commandments. When mobs destroyed his printing press in 1833, he relocated to Kirtland, Ohio, where he continued his publishing work.
Phelps served as a scribe and close associate of Joseph Smith, assisting with the translation of Egyptian papyri and the production of church publications. He helped compile the first LDS hymnal in 1835. However, his involvement in questionable financial dealings in Missouri led to his excommunication in 1838. He testified against Joseph Smith during the Missouri persecutions, an act that deeply wounded their relationship.
In 1840, Phelps wrote a letter of repentance to Joseph Smith, who responded with the famous words: ‘Come on, dear brother, since the war is past, / For friends at first, are friends again at last.’ Rebaptized and restored to fellowship, Phelps resumed his work for the church. After Joseph Smith’s death, he followed Brigham Young to Utah, where he continued writing and served in various civic capacities until his death in Salt Lake City.
Phelps’s hymns explore profound theological themes that resonate with transhumanist thought. If You Could Hie to Kolob contemplates the infinite nature of existence—endless space, eternal time, and the boundless potential of intelligence. The Spirit of God celebrates knowledge, vision, and the restoration of ancient truths. His lyrics articulate a cosmology in which humanity participates in an eternal process of learning, progression, and glorification—themes that anticipate modern discussions of human enhancement and cosmic purpose.