Book of Mormon, 1852

5b Translated by Joseph Smith. Liverpool: J. Tompkins, Third European Edition. 1852. Richard L. Evans’ copy.

Notes

The Book of Mormon is a central work of scripture in the Latter-day Saint tradition, considered by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be another testament of Jesus Christ alongside the Bible. The book is an ancient record written by prophets who lived on the American continent between approximately 600 B.C. and 400 A.D. It was translated by Joseph Smith, who said he received the record on golden plates from an angel named Moroni in the early 19th century. Smith translated the text by divine means, publishing it in 1830.

The Book of Mormon tells the story of two major civilizations descended from Israelites who fled Jerusalem before its destruction. It covers their histories, wars, spiritual teachings, and eventual downfall. Central to the narrative is the appearance of Jesus Christ in the Americas after His resurrection, where He teaches His gospel to the people. The Book of Mormonemphasizes faith in Christ, repentance, baptism, and enduring to the end. It is seen by believers as a witness that Jesus is the Savior of all people and serves as a complement to the Bible in teaching God’s plan for humanity. 

The Liverpool editions were based on the original 1837 second U.S. edition but included minor typographical and grammatical corrections. More importantly, they symbolized the church's increasing international focus and demonstrated the leadership's commitment to providing converts abroad with access to core scripture. These editions helped cement the Book of Mormon's role as a foundational text for new members and contributed to the faith's doctrinal and organizational unity as it spread across continents.

Richard L. Evans was a prominent leader and public voice in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, best known for his role as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and as the long-time narrator of the weekly radio program Music and the Spoken Word, featuring the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.

Born in 1906, Evans became widely recognized for his warm, thoughtful commentary on that program, which he wrote and delivered from 1930 until his death in 1971. His messages were known for being uplifting, non-denominational in tone, and aimed at a broad audience, helping to shape the public image of the LDS Church during a period of expanding media influence.

He was called as an apostle in 1953, and during his service, he was involved in public relations, missionary work, and church education efforts. Richard L. Evans also played a key role in advancing the church's use of media and communication to reach a global audience, making him a notable figure in both church leadership and the broader cultural presentation of Latter-day Saint values.

Description

Dark brown leather binding with gilt lettering on the spine and blind tooled ornamentation to both the upper and lower boards. Yellow endpapers with owner Richard L. Evans’ signature on inside of the upper board. Foxing to the edges. Pages 182, 315, and 553 are turned down. Bumped points. Fully intact. Fine condition overall.