Elvis Pressley's Book of Mormon --> Bogus

[smac97]

Here:

Quote

For almost 30 years, a copy of the Book of Mormon has been preserved in the historical collections of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The book was published in 1976 with a soft, light blue cover featuring a golden Angel Moroni. Within the book there are handwritten markings on nearly one of every six pages — the majority are underlining or curved brackets, but three dozen of the pages contain handwritten words. The first page contains the signature “E. A. Presley” and on the last page (in the index) was written, “Father, I want more! I need more now. Help me!” The content and placement of the annotations suggest that Elvis Presley read this copy of the Book of Mormon from cover to cover.

The idea of Elvis Presley cherishing the Book of Mormon has captured the popular imagination of some Latter-day Saints. The story of this book has been told by fireside speakers, classroom teachers, newspaper columnists, and an independent filmmaker. And the story continues to circulate throughout the market for “uplifting” books and social media.

However, after carefully analyzing the historical opportunities for Presley to have read this volume and the handwriting throughout its pages, I affirm that Elvis Presley did not write in this Book of Mormon. A detailed presentation of the analysis with photographic evidence will be published in a forthcoming issue of BYU Studies, but my findings about the book’s history, its forged signature, and its forged annotations are summarized here.

The book’s donor claimed to have given the book to Elvis Presley on Aug. 2, 1977. He died 14 days later, and the book was allegedly returned to the donor who shared it with a few people before it was transferred to the Church in 1989. 

...

Elvis Presley did not write in the Book of Mormon now held by the Church History Library. Annotations suggesting that Elvis wanted to be baptized, that he believed his daughter needed the Church, and that he suspected his death was imminent are fabrications manufactured to deceive. Forgeries are often accepted because they provide something that people already want; in this case, a story of the conversion of a celebrity.

The whole article is worth a read.  

The article doesn't mention the name of the donor, but her identity is easily discoverable (she was apparently a hug Elvis fan, a groupie, attended dozens/hundreds of his concerts, etc.).  And since she was a member of the Church, it would seem that she (rather than someone in Pressley's family/entourage) would have had an incentive to fabricate this thing, either as a "faith-promoting rumor," to self-aggrandize and bolster her status as a superfan of Elvis Pressley, etc.

I am glad we are getting rid of stuff like this.

Thanks,

-Smac

 

[Avatar4321]

 I always would have thought that if he did get a Book of Mormon it would have been from Ed Parker with their mutual love of the martial arts.

oh well I’m sure he has heard and accepted the gospel since then

[Duncan]

Sounds like they should have had a little MORE conversation😃

Edited November 15, 2018 by Duncan

[Avatar4321]

51 minutes ago, Duncan said:

Sounds like they should have had a little MORE conversation😃

I’m going to have a Blue Christmas with all these bad jokes

[Scott Lloyd]

2 hours ago, smac97 said:

Here:

The whole article is worth a read.  

The article doesn't mention the name of the donor, but her identity is easily discoverable (she was apparently a hug Elvis fan, a groupie, attended dozens/hundreds of his concerts, etc.).  And since she was a member of the Church, it would seem that she (rather than someone in Pressley's family/entourage) would have had an incentive to fabricate this thing, either as a "faith-promoting rumor," to self-aggrandize and bolster her status as a superfan of Elvis Pressley, etc.

I am glad we are getting rid of stuff like this.

Thanks,

-Smac

 

I had understood the donor was the Osmond family. 

Olive Osmond did give a copy of the Book of Mormon to Elvis. This is undisputed, insofar as I know (Merrill and Olive told me so during a phone interview in the ‘90s). .

After Elvis’s death the copy was returned to the Osmonds by his estate (or at least someone purporting to be therefrom) and was in turn conveyed to the Church History Department. 

At least that had been my understanding. Am I wrong in this? I’m open to better, more accurate information if need be. 

Edited November 15, 2018 by Scott Lloyd

[smac97]

Just now, Scott Lloyd said:

I had understood the donor was the Osmond family. 

Olive Osmond did give a copy of the Book of Mormon to Elvis. This is undisputed, insofar as I know (Merrill and Olive told me so during a phone interview in the ‘90s). .

After his death the copy was returned to the Osmonds by his estate (or at least someone purporting to be therefrom) and was in turn conveyed to the Church History Department. 

At least that had been my understanding. Am I wrong in this? I’m open to better, more accurate information if need be. 

Hmm.  The name I found was "Cricket Coulter."

See here (2002 D-News article):

Quote

Never one to scream or be pushy, Cricket politely handed Elvis copies of her newsletter whenever he came down to the gates of Graceland to greet fans. Before long, she says, he invited her to join his entourage on outings to the local amusement park he rented after hours.

"I never put him on a pedestal — I treated him like anybody else," says Cricket, who now takes special joy in wearing a "TCB" (Takin' Care of Business in a Flash) lightning bolt necklace that she says Elvis gave her.

In return, after Cricket joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1976, she gave Elvis her Book of Mormon when he commented that she "suddenly seemed at peace with her life."

That book — complete with notes in the margins believed to be written by Elvis — is now in the LDS Church's historical archives. Cricket claims that Elvis was planning to be baptized into the faith in September of 1977.

And here:

Quote

Picture this: Elvis' gyrating hips planted primly on a Mormon pew -- or the King of Rock 'n' Roll working as an LDS missionary in heaven, serenading the unsaved. This vision is not too difficult for Cricket Coulter, an LDS convert who began her lifelong adoration of Elvis in the fifth grade. The fiftyish Coulter, who lives in Orem, claims that in the months before he died, Elvis was close to converting to Mormonism. She gave the "King" a copy of The Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants. Months after his death on Aug. 16, 1977, The Book of Mormon in which Elvis reportedly scribbled notes was returned to Coulter. Real or not, the writing in the blue paperback book has become yet another faith-promoting rumor circulated among Mormons with the same enthusiasm as speculation that actor Jimmy Stewart and filmmaker Walt Disney at one time looked into joining the church. At least this legend has a paper trail. Coulter loaned the book that supposedly bears Elvis' notations to Mormon entertainer Alan Osmond, who gave it to Ed Pinegar, an LDS general authority, who donated it to the LDS Church's historical department. "We believe Elvis owned it, but we make no claims about the authenticity of the handwriting," says Bill Slaughter, an archivist for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

Hmm.

Thanks,

-Smac

[Scott Lloyd]

37 minutes ago, Scott Lloyd said:

I had understood the donor was the Osmond family. 

Olive Osmond did give a copy of the Book of Mormon to Elvis. This is undisputed, insofar as I know (Merrill and Olive told me so during a phone interview in the ‘90s). .

After Elvis’s death the copy was returned to the Osmonds by his estate (or at least someone purporting to be therefrom) and was in turn conveyed to the Church History Department. 

At least that had been my understanding. Am I wrong in this? I’m open to better, more accurate information if need be. 

 

31 minutes ago, smac97 said:

Hmm.  The name I found was "Cricket Coulter."

See here (2002 D-News article):

And here:

Hmm.

Thanks,

-Smac

OK, I refreshed my memory by looking up my story on line. 

I now recall that Sister Osmond told me she gave a Book of Mormon copy to Queen Elizabeth, but she only spoke of having had religious conversations with Elvis. 

Also, Merrill and Olive told me they had received Elvis’s book from his fan club after his death. 

And my story doesn’t say they donated it to the Church. We may be talking about two separate books here. 

Sorry. I should have reviewed my story before posting. Here’s a link to it: 

https://www.thechurchnews.com/archive/1993-08-28/renowned-osmonds-leave-west-for-spot-in-heart-of-ozarks-5630

Edited November 15, 2018 by Scott Lloyd

[Duncan]

40 minutes ago, Scott Lloyd said:

 

OK, I refreshed my memory by looking up my story on line. 

I now recall that Sister Osmond told me she gave a Book of Mormon copy to Queen Elizabeth, but she only spoke of having had religious conversations with Elvis. 

Also, Merrill and Olive told me they had received Elvis’s book from his fan club after his death. 

And my story doesn’t say they donated it to the Church. We may be talking about two separate books here. 

Sorry. I should have reviewed my story before posting. Here’s a link to it: 

https://www.thechurchnews.com/archive/1993-08-28/renowned-osmonds-leave-west-for-spot-in-heart-of-ozarks-5630

I've said this online but IF and the Osmonds or anyone else probably, maybe gave a copy to Elvis but that doesn't mean the copy mentioned in the article is that same copy

[Tacenda]

1 hour ago, Duncan said:

I've said this online but IF and the Osmonds or anyone else probably, maybe gave a copy to Elvis but that doesn't mean the copy mentioned in the article is that same copy

http://www.ldsliving.com/The-Day-Elvis-Presley-Attended-Early-Morning-Seminary/s/77866

[MustardSeed]

I’ve always thought it strange how We Mormons get excited about celebrity endorsements.  As if celebrity opinion carries special weight, or as if perhaps we ourselves trust a celebs experience more than we do our own.  

I guess it happens everywhere, which is why athletes get rich endorsing Nike.  

But I do find it almost embarrassing. 😕 

This one time, America’s Sexiest Man signed my instrument.  I might admit that was pretty bragworthy....but he was such a jerk that find it devalued my instrument. 🎷 

[hope_for_things]

http://holyfetch.com/elvis-presley-mormon/

Some similar comments on this website that I like for debunking Mormon myths.  

Quote

Elvis read the Book of Mormon and was to be baptized?
Somewhat true
Grant A. Anderson, church history specialist in the LDS Archives, has confirmed that the archives do have a Book of Mormon reputed to be Elvis Presley’s. It is a 1976 edition and includes several handwritten notes by “The King” himself. Some notes include: “My daughter Lisa is 9. She needs this Church. Please help her.”, “Faith…I want more! I need more now. Help me!”, “I could never deny that which I know in my heart to be true.”, and “Gold Records…Real ones!”

Whether the book actually was owned by Elvis or is a forgery has not been determined. “All we know is what has been told us,” Anderson said. He said that the book’s history of transfer looks consistent and logical, but the church has conducted no handwriting tests on it.

So how did the book end up in the LDS archives? It was donated by Alan Osmond. The history of the book is this – a sister missionary named Cricket Butler gave Elvis the Book of Mormon. Two days after his death, Elvis’ father gave the book back to her. She then gave the book to Alan Osmond, telling him that Elvis always talked about the Osmonds and she thought they should have the book. To protect Elvis’ privacy and to preserve the sacredness of the book, the Osmonds donated the book to the LDS church. They had one copy made, which Alan and Donny gave to Lisa Marie.

Butler also claims that Elvis was to be baptized, but this statement it still unconfirmed.

There may be other Elvis Books of Mormon out there. Elvis apparently received another copy from the late Ed Parker, who was his karate instructor, bodyguard, and church member.

 

[Duncan]

3 hours ago, hope_for_things said:

http://holyfetch.com/elvis-presley-mormon/

Some similar comments on this website that I like for debunking Mormon myths.  

 

So, now they know for sure it's a forgery

[Scott Lloyd]

6 hours ago, MustardSeed said:

I’ve always thought it strange how We Mormons get excited about celebrity endorsements.  As if celebrity opinion carries special weight, or as if perhaps we ourselves trust a celebs experience more than we do our own.  

I guess it happens everywhere, which is why athletes get rich endorsing Nike.  

But I do find it almost embarrassing. 😕 

This one time, America’s Sexiest Man signed my instrument.  I might admit that was pretty bragworthy....but he was such a jerk that find it devalued my instrument. 🎷 

Not a thing wrong with being thrilled when someone one admires embraces the gospel, say I. It’s akin to rejoicing when a loved one embraces the gospel. 

Edited November 16, 2018 by Scott Lloyd

[MustardSeed]

2 minutes ago, Scott Lloyd said:

Not a thing wrong with being thrilled when someone one admires embrace the gospel, say I. It’s akin to rejoicing when a loved one embraces the gospel. 

Makes sense I guess

[smac97]

A follow-up:

Quote

Artifacts are an element of religious history.

Within the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Director of the Church History Library claimed that one important artifact was determined to be “nuthin’ but a forgery.”

The Director, Keith A. Erekson, said, “From the very first day, it just didn’t add up. I’d look at it and think, there’s something wrong here.”

Since 1989, a copy of the Book of Mormon has been preserved in the historical collections of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which some had claimed had been annotated and autographed by Elvis Presley.

...

Erekson noted that since the first day the book had been donated, others had questioned whether or not the book was authentic. He said that despite a general resemblance to his signature, significant differences appear in nearly every letter.

Erekson and others encourage members of the church not to lose faith when stories like these come out.

BYU Religion Professor, Casey Griffiths, said, “I think its part of being a mature member of the church, to recognize that sometimes memories are faulty and that things that we thought are important really aren’t.”

Rare book collector and forgery expert, Reid Moon, noted, “That’s why we’re encouraged to base our testimony on the scriptures, and not an artifact.”

Well said.

FWIW, Reid Moon runs a boutique shop in The Riverwoods in Provo that is worth visit if you have time.

Thanks,

-Smac

[Calm]

I challenge it was ever an important artifact. It gave us no info about doctrine or history. 

[Jeanne]

On 11/15/2018 at 8:24 AM, smac97 said:

Here:

The whole article is worth a read.  

The article doesn't mention the name of the donor, but her identity is easily discoverable (she was apparently a hug Elvis fan, a groupie, attended dozens/hundreds of his concerts, etc.).  And since she was a member of the Church, it would seem that she (rather than someone in Pressley's family/entourage) would have had an incentive to fabricate this thing, either as a "faith-promoting rumor," to self-aggrandize and bolster her status as a superfan of Elvis Pressley, etc.

I am glad we are getting rid of stuff like this.

Thanks,

-Smac

 

Do you look for stuff like this Smac???  I wish I had your kind of time!!