“And again, verily I say unto you, let my servant William W. Phelps be planted in this place, and be established as a printer unto the church.” — Doctrine and Covenants 57:11¹

In July 1831, Joseph Smith directed that a printing office should be established in Independence, Missouri, and Edward Partridge dedicated the building in 1832. Its primary purpose was to print Church publications including key revelations and periodicals. Located on Liberty Street, this two-story brick building was the westernmost press in the United States.² William W. Phelps, the Church's printer, was to establish and run the printing office.³ He resided with his family on the first floor, while the printing press occupied the second.²

The office was responsible for producing fourteen issues of The Evening and the Morning Star, the Church's first periodical, along with the Upper Missouri Advertiser. The Book of Commandments was also started in this office. Unfortunately, on July 20, 1833, a mob attacked and destroyed the building, scattering type, wrecking the press, and bringing operations to an end.⁴

1. Doctrine and Covenants 57:11

2. “Printing office, Independence, Missouri,” josephsmithpapers.org

3. Saints, Volume 1, Chapter 14, 148-149

4. “Printing office, Independence, Missouri,” josephsmithpapers.org; Saints, Volume 1, Chapter 16, 177-178