100 years ago
Pres. Samuel W. Richards of the Eastern States Mission ran across what was believed to be the first copy of the Book of Mormon while visiting Palymyra, N.Y., in October 1896, according to the Nov. 10, 1896, Deseret Semi-Weekly News.
Pres. Richards and Elder D.R. Gill Sr., a missionary, traveled to upstate New York and went to the Hill Cumorah. After stopping there, they continued on to Palmyra and called on Pliny T. Sexton, president of the First National Bank in Palmyra, who was in possession of the first Book of Mormon printed. Mr. Sexton gladly showed them the book which he kept in a pasteboard box.
"He prizes the book very much, because he gave $5,000 for it," the missionaries reported. "Mr. Sexton does not know the contents of the book as the folded sheets are as they came from the binder, bound that way as was the custom many years ago, untrimmed."
The missionaries had a pleasant conversation with Mr. Sexton and he purchased some tracts from them.
The elders said, "Upon leaving Mr. Sexton he was very particular to ask us to call again at any time we might be in the neighborhood."
Quote from the past
"As intelligent beings, it is for us to comprehend all truth so far as we are capable of understanding it." - President John Taylor, in an address given in February 1882 in the Assembly Hall on Temple Square.