WILLIAM WINES PHELPS
The Mormons were in Missouri at the time. Phelps was warning the church members essentially not to get involved with the slavery issue. The Mormon Church tended to support the institution of slavery at that time although Mormons themselves did not own slaves. However, we should remember that the Mormons themselves were a very persecuted group and Phelps and other Church leaders probably didn’t want their members alienating the non Mormons more than they already did by their existence. This was very similar to the Roman Catholic Church leaders at the time. The Catholics were also a persecuted minority and the Catholic Bishops often supported slavery—especially in the South to try and avoid hostility from the power structure and the majority. Some individual Mormons and individual Catholics were much opposed to slavery. See {629158} and {629154} for more on the Mormons and slavery. Later, Smith altered his early view.
William Wines Phelps 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 ghost writer for Smith, was called by Smith to serve as assistant president of the church in Missouri, and served on the Council of Fifty. After Smith's martyrdom, he supported Brigham Young as the church's new president.
