Mormon founder bible on sale for $1.5m
(KSL.com): The rarest of rare books, a one-of-a-kind family Bible, has surfaced in Salt Lake City. It’s going on sale at an asking price of $1.5 million. That’s because its original owner was evidently Joseph Smith Jr., the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "It is in fact, unique," said rare books dealer Ken Sanders. "It’s the only copy in the world, the family Bible belonging to the founder of Mormonism and his first wife, Emma Hale Smith." Sanders has been keeping the book locked up in a safe at his Salt Lake City store while he looks for a buyer.
He said the 1831 edition of the Bible was originally purchased by Joseph Smith Jr. when the family lived in Kirtland, Ohio. It’s been out of sight for many years, apparently cherished for generations by descendants of Emma Hale Smith. In 1979, the Smith family sold it to a friendly outsider, Buddy Youngreen. He published photos of it in the LDS "Ensign" magazine in 1984.
Category: World News
