Phelps purchased a copy of the
Book of Mormon from
Parley P. Pratt He and his wife, Sally, read the book and "became converted to its truth."
Kirtland, Ohio Phelps moved to
Kirtland, Ohio in 1831. Most of the copies of the Book of Commandments were destroyed in the raid. During his stay in Kirtland, Phelps acted as "co-steward over the modern revelations" alongside Joseph Smith, editing the sections of the Doctrine and Covenants for publication. Phelps wrote "at least thirty-five of the ninety hymns" included in the first LDS hymnal. and, in that capacity, he helped found the town of
Far West, Missouri, purchasing the land for the town using church funds alongside
John Whitmer. He served as
postmaster in Far West. Unlike Cowdery and the Whitmers, Phelps remained in Far West. He appears to have had a short-lived détente with church leadership. On July 8, Smith received a revelation saying that Phelps and fellow dissenter,
Frederick G. Williams, could be ordained as
elders and serve missions abroad. As part of the
1838 Mormon War, at the time of the Mormon surrender of Far West on November 1, Phelps was one of the Mormon negotiators. But during the treason hearing of Smith in Richmond, beginning November 12, Phelps was one of several who bore witness against Smith and other leaders, aiding in their imprisonment in Missouri until April 1839. According to
The Joseph Smith Papers, "his testimony helped lead to Smith's incarceration in the
Liberty, Missouri, jail in winter 1838–1839." This led to Phelps's excommunication in
Quincy, Illinois on March 17, 1839. Phelps thus reunited with the church through
rebaptism sixteen months after his excommunication. He moved back to Kirtland in May 1841. == Nauvoo years ==