Title page of Collection of Sacred Hymns, 1835.
Phelps continued to write and collect hymn texts, with assistance from Frederick G.
In December, 1834, The Evening and the Morning Star was replaced by a new publication: The Messenger and Advocate. On July 20, 1833, a mob destroyed the church's printing office in Independence, and the publication of the Star was moved to Kirtland, Ohio – the headquarters of the church at that time. The first of these hymns published by Phelps was "What Fair One Is This". Many of these lyrics were written by Phelps, while others were borrowed from various Protestant sources and edited by Phelps. These appeared as text only (no music) in The Evening and the Morning Star, the church's semimonthly newspaper. Phelps in June, 1832 in Independence, Missouri. The first Latter-day Saint hymns were published by W. However, in the meantime, other followers continued to write, arrange, and collect hymns. Due in part to this ambiguity in the revelation and in part to persecutions and the constant uprooting of the church in those early days, she was not able to compile a hymnbook for several years. Initially, it seems that this revelation was interpreted to mean that Emma Smith was commanded to select which hymns were appropriate for use in the worship services of Latter Day Saints and not necessarily to compile a hymnbook.
For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads. In July 1830, Joseph Smith stated he received a revelation from God for his wife, Emma, to select hymns for the Church of Christ:Īnd it shall be given thee, also, to make a selection of sacred hymns, as it shall be given thee, which is pleasing unto me, to be had in my church. Families in the church are encouraged to sing hymns at home during Family Home Evening and other family gatherings. Additionally, hymns sung by a choir or the congregation may be included as an intermediate number. Many meetings in the LDS Church, including sacrament meeting, begin and close with a congregational hymn. 14 List of LDS hymnals published, 1835–2002.