Joy to the World (Phelps) facts for kids
"Joy to the World! The Lord Will Come" is an adaptation by W. W. Phelps of the popular Christmas carol "Joy to the World". The adapted song was included in A Collection of Sacred Hymns, the first Latter Day Saint hymnal, which was prepared for publication in 1835 and published in February 1836 as well as all English-language hymnals published by the LDS Church since 1948.
The textual changes typify the millennial expectation and theology of the Latter Day Saint church. The version of the song published in the current (1985) hymnal of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints uses the Phelps text except for the first two lines, which reflect Watts' original words.
Side-by-Side Lyrics of Phelps and Watts
The changes were made by W. W. Phelps from the original version written by Isaac Watts.
Joy to the world, the Lord will come! Rejoice! rejoice! when Jesus reigns! No more will sin and sorrow grow, Rejoice! rejoice! in the Most High, |
Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Joy to the world, the Saviour reigns! No more let sins and sorrows grow, He rules the world with truth and grace, |
See also
- Isaac Watts, author of the original version