Week 41

I've had some pretty fun experiences while serving my mission. One happened to me this week. I have a friend who is in the Training Zone - Sister Robin Fuellenbach. She goes home at the end of the month to Salmon, Idaho, and I'll miss her. We walk together most days for our exercise and fresh air. We were talking with President Fenn the other day, and she mentioned to him that she had a first edition copy of the Book of Mormon in her locker at the office, and would he like to see it. I wanted to raise my hand and say I DO! He didn't have time just then, but I did. It has quite the story behind it. As you can see from the photos, it has lost its cover and there is significant water damage. However, all the pages are there. Her husband inherited the book from his father who was a missionary in Germany at the beginning of World War II. Because of the war he was sent back to the US to finish his mission in Tennessee. While tracting there in the backwoods, he came across a "hillbilly" who told him that he had a copy of that Book of Mormon. Of course he was curious and wanted to see it. The man told him that it had been pulled out of the mud in the Johnstown Flood [1889 catastrophic flood in Pennsylvania]. The missionary told the man that he would like the book and asked him what he would trade for it. The man said he needed a pair of pants, so the deal was struck and they made the trade. The family has since authenticated the book, and it truly is a first edition copy of the Book of Mormon. One of the features they look for is the diamond indentations in the paper, which you can see in the cover page. The expert they saw told them not to have the book recovered. He said that the story behind the book makes it so much more special. 

I held the book and turned the pages. It was an experience I'll never have again. But I realize today that no matter whether we hold a first edition or a paperback, whether we read it from our phones or listen wirelessly, it is priceless. My testimony of the Book of Mormon grows daily, as well as my gratitude for Joseph Smith and his prophetic abilities to bring the Book to this dispensation and make it available to me. A few years ago President Nelson spoke about the Book of Mormon in General Conference and asked us to consider what our lives would be like without it. I know that one thing I wouldn't know is the power of the atonement of Jesus Christ to take upon Him not only our sins, but every pain and sorrow, every burden and trial. I'm grateful for that reality and blessing in my life as I've felt carried through difficult times. The Book of Mormon is the word of God and evidence of His love for us, His children. I'm grateful for the sacrifices that have been made for me to be a member of the Church and for the Book of Mormon which blesses my life. And yours!