I would enter both as eighth notes, joining them with the dotted tie. Another option would be to enter the quarter notes in one layer, and the eighth notes in either another layer, or another voice.

To separate the staves, go to the Staff tool, and drag the lower staff by the handle at the left.

Dotted ties are unnecessary here and clutter the look of the score. There’s a place for them in critical editions but that doesn’t apply here.

There are many ways to crack this nut. Hymnals have been doing it for centuries without dotted slurs. You can put both syllables on the whole note—singers really know what to do. Others use cue sized eighth notes entered in a second layer—only necessary if the verse rhythm is syncopated instead of being evenly spaced.

The most common convention is to notate rhythm of the first verse and just enter the subsequent lyrics. Not at my Mac at the moment but I can post examples. 

One can muck this up with unnecessary dotted ties and small half notes etc. but it would clutter the score and would not tell singers anything they can't already see.

Here's the original print version of the verse (begin at SOLO). The other six verses are lyrics only on the pages. 

I won't argue with you, but you've never worked with our temple choir...

Ha! Leaving that alone! 40 years with Lutherans and Catholic choirs, been there...

Browsing through my copy of the 1948 Union Hymnal. Counting the number of dotted ties. You know how many I see.

Thank you for your help..  and inputs.. I really appreciate it!   I'll be posting another question!

Gary