MormonTimes.com: Original 'Poor Wayfaring Man' had different tune

Published: Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008 12:02 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
New research has recovered the more upbeat tune John Taylor used when he sang "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" to Joseph Smith just before the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was murdered on June 27, 1844.

The tune had been lost to history. For 140 years, church members have sung the song to a different tune, one commissioned by Taylor himself.

A year before President Taylor died in 1887, he sang the song for composer Ebenezer Beesley the way he sang it at Carthage jail in Illinois before a mob stormed the building and shot and killed Smith and his brother Hyrum Smith and wounded Taylor and Willard Richards.

Read the full story and download a copy of the music at MormonTimes.com

Recent comments

I'd really like to see a scanned copy of the original in addition to...

Mark | Nov. 6, 2008 at 12:58 a.m.

A great discovery. It's confusing that this tune is referred to as...

Frans Heijdemann (musician) | Oct. 12, 2008 at 4:26 p.m.

Warren,
I believe I found the original tune to "The Spirit of God"...

Kurt | Oct. 12, 2008 at 10:51 a.m.

previousnext

Latest comments

It would appear that most of the comments are from people who've never been...

To James: Tmac doesn't HAVE to work that hard in Houston either. He...

Actually, "Greg" is the one who proposed these changes, so I am surprised...

re: Fred | 4:23 a.m. July 10, 2009 //Perhaps they didn't burn it because...

Changes in downtown Provo?

of all you Provo citizens and your short-minded, short-sighted lives. The...

Hooray! Yura is amazing. I am glad he has the opportunity to pursue his...

I totally agree.. There are so many great players who play in all the...

I'm okay with Okur staying as long as Boozer is gone. Its the combo of the...

Science is not settled

I continually see your posts that humans are not affecting global warming.......

This will be the best trade that was never made. What does Tyrus Thomas do...

Advertisements