Melvin Wilbur's 1830 Book of Mormon

On 18 Jun 2010 as we were going to West Jordan for Shandra Atkinson's wedding the following day, we stopped to visit with Gerald Jones, the owner of the 1830 Book of Mormon that belonged to my ancestor, Melvin Wilbur! We were thrilled to meet Brother Jones! He has a huge collection of first edition books as well as many classics, etc. His entire home is filled with books and he knows and loves them like they were his children. He was so gracious to us and invited me to handle, photograph, and enjoy Melvin Wilbur's Book of Mormon while we were there. He told us many stories of how he acquired some of his books...and began talking about collecting first editions of the Book of Mormon in every language published. He had a Navajo Book of Mormon and when John saw that, he was thrilled because it was published within a few years of when he had worked to be able to put the Navajo language into written form. It was a tender moment for John to hold and see and read that book. Gerald had John sign his book with a note about working toward putting the Navajo language into a written form. As for Melvin Wilbur's book, it is in amazing condition for being such an old book. We decided it wasn't read very much because it was in such good shape; however, his signature appeared in two places and also a note about "This makes a good dissertation." Melvin apparently gave his book to another Rhode Island convert who took it as far as California. The story of how Gerald Jones ended up with the book is in the Article I mentioned in my last post and which I have attached to Melvin Wilbur's history. Melvin's father, interestingly enough, was named Lemuel.....years before the Book of Mormon was revealed. Melvin and Eunice named a son Alma, one Moroni, and one Elisha; also sons named Oliver, Joseph, and Amos. Their daughter, Phebe Eunice, is my ancestor. She married Rufus Walker, whose family disowned him for joining the Mormon Church. Melvin and Eunice were also shunned by their family for the same reason. A heavy price was paid for their testimonies of the gospel. I am so grateful to these ancestors who had the courage to accept the gospel and face the tribulations they did so that we, today, could know the fullness of the blessings we enjoy.