"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

God be with you till we meet again.

This weekend was General Conference for us that are Latter-Day Saints.  Every first weekend in April and October we get to hear from our church leaders to give us council, advice, and any else they need to tell us about.  I enjoy listening to them speak to us.  I picked this hymn to share because we don't know when we will see each other again.  Especially those that are out of Utah state.  This is not the end of the postings or the blog just figured to say that I'm thinking of you and wish for the Lords comfort to you.      

God be with you till we meet again;
By his counsels guide, uphold you;
With his sheep securely fold you.
God be with you till we meet again.

[Chorus]
Till we meet, till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus’ feet,
Till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again.

2. God be with you till we meet again;
When life’s perils thick confound you,
Put his arms unfailing round you.
God be with you till we meet again.

3. God be with you till we meet again;
Keep love’s banner floating o’er you;
Smite death’s threat’ning wave before you.
God be with you till we meet again.

Text: Jeremiah E. Rankin, 1828–1904
Music: William G. Tomer, 1833–1896

To those who have had a close friend die on them.

If you have known someone that has been real close to you as a friend, mentor, buddy, etc.  I hope that this hymn will help you in this difficult time you are facing.

This hymn is called "O My Father"

O my Father, Thou that dwellest in the high and
glorious place, when shall I regain thy presence
and again behold Thy face?  In Thy holy
habitation, did my spirit once reside?  In my
first primeval childhood was I nurtured near Thy side?

For a wise and glorious purpose Thou hast placed me
here on earth And withheld the recollection
of my former friends and birth; yet oft times a
secret something whispered, "You're a stranger here," and I
felt that I had wandered from a more exalted sphere.

I had learned to call thee Father, thru the Spirit
from on high, but, until the key of knowledge
was restored, I knew not why.  In the heaven's are
parents single?  No, the thought makes reason stare!  Truth is
reason; truth eternal tells me I've a mother there.

When I leave this frail existence, When I lay this
mortal by, Father, Mother, may I meet you
in your royal courts on high?  Then, at length, when
I've completed all you sent me forth to do, with your
mutual approbation let me come and dwell with you.