Before there was a Book of Mormon to place on a shelf, there were handwritten pages to protect, a printer to persuade, and a bill that somebody had to pay. In Palmyra, New York, the bill came to $3,000. Martin Harris put his property behind it. Upstairs in Egbert B. Grandin’s shop, the work began one small piece of metal type at a time. The first edition looks wonderfully unfamiliar to a… Read more
The journey to Alvin Smith’s grave begins with a climb that feels both physical and symbolic. My son and I made our way up a steep hill in Palmyra, New York, toward a small cemetery that has been resting quietly for nearly two centuries. It is not much larger than a football field, yet the sense of history contained within its boundaries is immense. The hill rises above part of the town,… Read more
It Began with a Newspaper Clipping in Palmyra While visiting the Grandin Printing Press in Palmyra, New York, I noticed a framed clipping from an 1830 edition of The Reflector, a local paper. The display explained how the editor, Abner Cole, had printed unauthorized excerpts from the Book of Mormon before it was officially released. That small piece of paper told a much bigger story. It marked the beginning of one of… Read more
LDS Flow A comprehensive online experience for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.