"Praise to the Man" originally titled "Joseph Smith"

This hymn is a favorite one to sing about Joseph Smith and that great love that he had in his work while here on the Earth.  Interesting things I didn't know about this hymn.

• It used to be titled "Joseph Smith" instead of being called "Praise to the Man"
• The second verse has also changed due to being more "neighbor like".  It used to say "Long shall his blood, which was shed by assassins/Stain Illinois, while the earth lauds his fame."  Because he was murdered in cold blood by a mob in Illinois.  Now that our relationship with the people of Nauvoo, Illinois is more peaceful with us Latter-day Saints, they changed to the wording.  Now it reads "Plead unto heaven, while the earth lauds his fame." 

I did though know that it was written by William W. Phelps who at first was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, then fell away and became an enemy to Joseph Smith.  A while later he realized the error of his ways and pleaded unto Joseph Smith to forgive him, Joseph Smith did forgive him.  This song is a poem to a tribute to Joseph Smith.

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.

Chorus
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.

Chorus

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.

Chorus

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.

Chorus