Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith - Praise to the Man

Praise to the Man who communed with Jehova!

The last of the mourners passed through the Mansion House at 5:00 p.m. on June 29, 1844. The coffins of Joseph and Hyrum were nailed closed and taken by hearse to the graveyard, though to elude malicious tampering, the bodies of the two Church leaders had been taken secretly to another location.

William W. Phelps, close associate of the Prophet Joseph, gave a stirring funeral sermon for the martyred Church leaders. "They can rest from their labors, and their works shall follow them," he declared. "Mourn not; these sons of God are safe; dry up your tears; confess the hand of the Lord in all things, and comfort each other with the sweet hope that their lives were precious in the sight of all heaven."

Phelps paid final tribute to the prophet of the Restoration, writing the hymn "Praise to the Man": "Hail to the Prophet, ascended to heaven! Traitors and tyrants now fight him in vain. Mingling with Gods, he can plan for his brethren; Death cannot conquer the hero again."

Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah!
Jesus annointed that Prophet and Seer.
Blessed to open the last dispensation,
Kings shall extol him, and nations revere.

Hail to the Prophet, ascended to heaven!
Traitors and tyrants now fight him in vain.
Mingling with Gods, he can plan for his brethren;
Death cannot conquer the hero again.

Praise to his mem'ry, he died as a martyr;
Honored and blest be his ever great name!
Long shall his blood, which was shed by assasins,
Plead unto heav'n while the earth lauds his fame.

Great is his glory and endless his priesthood.
Ever and ever the keys he will hold.
Faithful and true he will enter his kingdom,
Crowned in the midst of the prophets of old.

Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven;
Earth must atone for the blood of that man.
Wake up the world for the conflict of justice.
Millions shall know "Brother Joseph" again.