Book of Mormon Flown on Apollo 16 by John Young

Extraordinary Book of Mormon carried to the moon on Apollo 16 by Commander John Young and presented to NASA photographer M. Edward Thomas following the mission, signed and flight-certified opposite the title page in blue felt tip, "This Book of Mormon flew on Apollo 16 to the moon & returned to earth, John Young, 7/7/72." Published in Salt Lake City, Utah, by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1964. Bound in soft white faux leather 3.5 x 5.5 wrappers as a triple combination, containing the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. The first free end page bears an ownership inscription: "Please return to: Ruth C. Thomas, (Mrs. Ed Thomas), 373 Dover Street, Satellite Beach, Florida, 262-4619." Presented in a wooden display case with engraved plaque: "This Book of Mormon flew on Apollo 16 and returned to Earth by CMDR John Young." In fine condition. Accompanied by a full letter of authenticity from Zarelli Space Authentication, an official vintage color glossy 10 x 8 NASA photo of Young handing this book to Thomas upon his return to Kennedy Space Center in May 1972, and several packets of provenance information concerning the history of this flown Book of Mormon and the conversion and baptism of M. Edward Thomas. This book is also known to be manifested as "1 White Book of Mormon" on John Young's Personal Preference Kit (PPK) list for the Apollo 16 Command and Service Module 'Casper' (CSM-113).
In his capacity as NASA's astronaut photographer, Marion Edward Thomas (known as 'Ed') spent countless hours with America's spacemen and grew to closely know them. While working with John Young in 1972, he was inspired to ask if the Apollo 16 commander planned to take a Bible to the moon with him. Young agreed that having the Lord's book with him on the momentous occasion was a good idea, and Ed promised to provide him with one. Fearing that the family's heirloom Bible may not return if tragedy struck, his wife—a devout member of the LDS Church—lent her personal, purse-sized Book of Mormon for the task. John Young proceeded to carry this Book of Mormon to the moon and return it safely to Earth, where it became central to the conversion and baptism of Ed Thomas, the only non-LDS member of his family. This flown Book of Mormon led to Thomas's introduction to Spencer W. Kimball, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who became the most influential figure in his spiritual development: the two grew to be close friends, and Thomas served as a photographer for a number of Kimball's trips and special events. Thomas would be baptized—by his son, to whom President Kimball had delegated his personal authority while ill—in Salt Lake City on October 5, 1981. As an important sacred text flown to the moon, that proved pivotal to one man's conversion, this is a truly awe-inspiring relic of Apollo 16.
Format: Book