Joy to the World (Phelps)

"Joy to the World! The Lord Will Come" is an adaptation by W. W. Phelps of the popular Christian Hymn "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 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 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.

[edit] The changes were made by W. W. Phelps from the original version written by Isaac Watts.

Phelps Adaptation Joy to the world, the Lord will come! And earth receive her King; Let ev'ry heart prepare him room, And saints and angels sing. Rejoice! rejoice! when Jesus reigns! And saints their songs employ: While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains, Repeat the sounding joy. No more will sin and sorrow grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He'll come and make the blessings flow Far as the curse was found. Rejoice! rejoice! in the Most High, While Israel spreads abroad, Like stars that glitter in the sky, And ever worship God.

Watts Original Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, And heaven and nature sing. Joy to the world, the Saviour reigns! Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains Repeat the sounding joy. No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found. He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love.  

Phelps’ rewrite turns a familiar carol into a subtle proclamation of the coming of Christ that aligns with LDS eschatology. The added verses focus on the Second Coming rather than the original’s celebration of the Nativity, giving congregations a way to link Advent anticipation with the church’s millennial hopes. Because the words sit comfortably beside the original melody, choirs can slip it into any service without rehearsing a new tune, making it a practical staple for family‑friendly worship and youth concerts.

When selecting a version of "Joy to the World (Phelps)" for a family gathering, look for a balance between vocal clarity and a light instrumental backing. Recordings produced by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir tend to feature a full brass section that adds gravitas, whereas smaller acoustic renditions work better for intimate living‑room sing‑alongs. Check that the track includes the first two lines from Isaac Watts—most modern LDS albums retain these—to ensure the melody feels familiar to guests who may know the secular version.

Many listeners assume the Phelps adaptation has supplanted the original "Joy to the World" in LDS hymnals, but it coexists with the traditional text. The current 1985 hymnal deliberately retains the opening two lines from Watts, signalling respect for the historic carol while presenting the revised verses as a theological supplement. This duality can confuse newcomers who expect a single, unified version; recognising the two‑part structure helps singers navigate the transition from the well‑known opening to the uniquely Latter‑Day Saint verses.