William Wines Phelps (February 17, 1792 – March 7, 1872) was an early leader of the Latter Day Saint movement. He printed the first edition of the Book of Commandments that became a standard work of the church and wrote numerous hymns, some of which are included in the current version of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' (LDS Church) hymnal. He was at times both close to and at odds with church leadership. He testified against Joseph Smith, providing evidence that helped persuade authorities to arrest Smith. He was excommunicated three times and rejoined the church each time. He was a ghostwriter for Smith. Phelps was called by Smith to serve as assistant president of the church in Missouri and as a member of the Council of Fifty. After Smith's death, Phelps supported Brigham Young, who was the church's new president. Early life Phelps was born in Hanover Township, New Jersey on February 17, 1792. He was named after American Revolutionary War general William Wines (also spelled "Winds"). His father, Enon Phelps, and mother, Mehitable Goldsmith, moved the family to Homer, New York, in 1800. Phelps was a descendant of the Puritan leader William Phelps. He was mostly self-taught, acquiring knowledge in various areas such as theology, meteorology, and history. He once sought the office of lieutenant governor of New York. He worked as an apprentice to a printer. On April 28, 1815, he married Sally Waterman in Smyrna, New York. The pair had ten children: eight daughters and two sons. After marrying Sally, Phelps began publishing the Western Courier in Homer in 1820. In this capacity, "he verbally attacked his foes and they him." He next moved to Trumansburgh, Tompkins County, New York, where he edited the anti-Masonic newspaper Lake Light. In 1827, he relocated to Canandaigua, New York, where he published and edited another anti-Masonic newspaper, the Ontario Phoenix. Phelps was described by Dean Jessee as "one of [the] founders" of the anti-Masonic movement in New York. Involvement in Latter Day Saint movement Phelps purchased a copy of the Book of Mormon from Parley P. Pratt on April 9, 1830, just three days after Church of Christ was organized. He and his wife Sally Waterman read the book and "became converted to its truth." Phelps then met Joseph Smith on December 24, 1830, and became convinced that Smith was a prophet. On April 29, 1831,