1. O give me back my Prophet dear
And Patriarch, O give them back
The Saints of latter-days to cheer,
And lead them in the gospel track!
But O they’re gone from my embrace,
From earthly scenes their spirits fled.
Two of the best of Adam’s race
Now lie entombed among the dead.
2. Ye men of wisdom, tell me why.
No guilt, no crime in them were found.
Their blood doth now so loudly cry
From prison walls and Carthage ground.
Your tongues are mute, but pray attend,
The secret I will now relate
Why those whom God on earth did lend
Have met the suffering martyrs’ fate.
3. It is because they strove to gain,
Beyond the grave a heav’n of bliss,
Because they made the gospel plain
And led the Saints to righteousness;
It is because God called them forth
And led them by his own right hand
Christ’s coming to proclaim on earth
And gather Israel to their land.
4. It is because the priests of Baal
were desperate their craft to save,
And when they saw it doomed to fall,
They sent the Prophets to their grave.
Like scenes the ancient Prophets saw,
Like these the ancient Prophets fell,
And, till the resurrection dawn,
Prophet and Patriarch, farewell!