Reprint of the original, first published in 1883.

Any member of the LDS Church has been told reasons why the Book of Mormon “just can’t be true”. One of the most common that seems to persist in folk culture is the myth that Sidney Rigdon wrote the Book of Mormon by basing it on the Spaulding Manuscript. The manuscript that Spaulding wrote and tried to sell to a publisher in 1812 contains the story of a group of ancient Romans that sail to the American continent and populate it. Sidney Rigdon supposedly read this manuscript during his acquaintane with the publisher, and used it as a basis for what would become the Book of Mormon. The first half of this book, the eleventh book in the Faith-Promoting Series, was originally published by Deseret Book in 1883 examines both the story behind the manuscript and the claims that Rigdon wrote the Book of Mormon. It was published the year that Spaulding’s original manuscript was found in papers donated to Oberlin University. It details not only the differences between the manuscript and the Book of Mormon, but also gives additional information that may be useful when a member of the Church is asked to defend the Book of Mormon from detractors. Following the Faith-Promoting Series book, I have also included the text of the original Spaulding Manuscript as it has been transcribed from the original manuscript submitted to the published by Spaulding. As an adventure story it has some interesting moments, but it really can’t compare to the Book of Mormon in excitement or depth. I hope that you enjoy perusing it, and that someday it will come of use to you when discussing the Book of Mormon.

This book, the eighth in the Faith-Promoting Series, is a collection of very precious stories from early Church history. Unlike other books written about the Saints in the early days of this dispensation, this book is compiled from the oral histories of the early Saints who lived the experiences. Just as Alma the Younger in the Book of Mormon asked an important question to the people of Nephi that applies to us as Latter-Day Saints as well. In Alma 5:6 he says, “And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, you that belong to this church, have you sufficiently retained in remembrance the captivity of your fathers? Yea, and have you sufficiently retained in remembrance his mercy and long-suffering towards them? And moreover, have ye sufficiently retained in remembrance that he has delivered their souls from hell?” As Latter-Day Saints, remembering the sufferings of the pioneers and early Saints, the mercies and long-suffering shown to them by our Heavenly Father, and learning of their deliverance by His hand will strengthen our faith and bring us closer to Him. I hope that all who read these miraculous accounts will gain strength from them, and see an increase in their faith. May we always “retain in remembrance” these stories.

Late one night in 1823, Joseph Smith, Jr., was reportedly visited in his family's farmhouse in upstate New York by an angel named Moroni. According to Smith, Moroni told him of a buried stack of gold plates that were inscribed with a history of the Americas' ancient peoples, and which would restore the pure Gospel message as Jesus had delivered it to them. Thus began the unlikely career of the Book of Mormon, the founding text of the Mormon religion, and perhaps the most important sacred text ever to originate in the United States. Here Paul Gutjahr traces the life of this book as it has formed and fractured different strains of Mormonism and transformed religious expression around the world. Gutjahr looks at how the Book of Mormon emerged from the burned-over district of upstate New York, where revivalist preachers, missionaries, and spiritual entrepreneurs of every stripe vied for the loyalty of settlers desperate to scratch a living from the land. He examines how a book that has long been the subject of ridicule--Mark Twain called it "chloroform in print"--Has more than 150 million copies in print in more than a hundred languages worldwide. Gutjahr shows how Smith's influential book launched one of the fastest growing new religions on the planet, and has been featured in everything from comic books and action figures to feature-length films and an award-winning Broadway musical.--Publisher.

This is the 16th book in the Faith-Promoting Series, and the second volume primarily written by George C. Lambert. Lambert worked closely with George Q. Cannon at Deseret Book, and after Cannon’s death he continued publishing volumes in this series. This book, just like the previous book in the series, Treasures in Heaven, has a special emphasis on temples and geneology work. The story of Thomas Briggs is one of a life-long pursuit to find geneological records. In spite of great personal and physical trials, including the amputation of his legs, Briggs made finding the names of his ancestors a priority in his life. He worked ofter at the Logan Temple, and before his death he had amassed a huge collection of geneology. George L. Farrell was a missionary in England in 1875. He had unique experiences with a number of people, and they continued later in his life when people he had ministered to there moved to Utah. The book concludes with a number of short experiences, regarding missionary work and the changes possible when the Spirit touches people’s hearts.

This is the 14th book in the Faith-Promoting Series, a collection of books written with young Latter-day Saints in mind. The stories contained in each volume are designed to be exciting to read, teach important gospel principles, and most importantly bring the reader closer to the Savior and show the Hand of God in the everyday lives of everyday Saints. This volume includes experiences from Orson F. Whitney, Briant Stevens, and Thomas A. Shreeve. Whitney was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, a notable writer of both fiction and non-fiction. He was assistant Church historian, as well as a teacher at BYU. Briant Stevens died not long after being ordained an Elder, but his shining example in the face of trials and suffering is inspiring. He was a true example of a normal member of the Church accomplishing extraordinary things with the help of Heavenly Father. Thomas A. Shreeve was born in England and joined the church there in 1864. Five years later he moved to Ogden, Utah, arriving on the second immigrant train to reach the Salt Lake Valley. In 1878 he was called on a mission to Australia, and served his mission in New Zealand. He organized the New Zealand mission and was witness to many miracles during that time. He was later ordained a patriarch in his home stake in Ogden.

Gems For the Young Folks, book four of the Faith-Promoting Series, is a volume of interesting stories about visions and dreams, healings, and divine impressions. This is a unique insight into the lives of many early Saints, their missionary work and other adventures, and testimonies about the goodness of the Lord. Like many other volumes in the Faith-Promoting Series, this book is a compilation from a number of authors, edited by George Q. Cannon, a member of the first presidency and founder of Deseret Book. Some of the authors remain anonymous, while others share experiences under their own names. Like all of the volumes in this series, and as the title suggests, it was written with Youth in mind. I hope that this volume will help to build the faith and strengthen the testimony of all who read it.