SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - One point five million dollars; that's the asking price for a very special piece of Mormon history.
Monday, ABC 4 got a unique look at the Joseph and Emma Smith family bible.
What's so special about this bible?
"I believe it to be an exceptionally rare Mormon artifact," said Salt Lake rare books dealer Ken Sanders, "I believe its living history if you will. It's unique!"
In fact it's so rare, it's selling it for $1.5 million.
After the martyrdom of Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints, his wife emma kept the bible until she died.
The book stayed in the family until 1979 when it was sold to an outsider.
Since then, the book's owners have stayed anonymous.
"I'm not at liberty to discuss the current owners of the bible," said Sanders.
The book's current owners contacted Sanders, and Monday morning it went on display in hopes of finding a buyer.
During the short time our cameras were there, about twenty people came into the small bookstore, asking specifically for the book.
"We just wanted to see a piece of history, something that meant so much to somebody else," said Jordan Farr, who came down from West Haven.
But the book will remain in a locked glass case during the day, a heavy safe at night. And even though the LDS Church has not officially said the authenticated the book, Sanders says experts have already signed off in its authenticity.
"I would not be taking possession of this book and offering it for sale and lending my reputation to it if i had any iota or suspicions about the provenance of the book or its authenticity," said Sanders.
The book contains the only know full Joseph Smith family tree, including a seventh son, never named, since he died at birth.
But how set in stone is the one point million dollar pricetag? We tried bargaining with him. Our photographer offered him $200 for it.
"Is it cash?" joked Sanders.
Sanders says this book really belongs in the LDS Church library, but the Church has not yet expressed interest in purchasing it.
If you are interested in purchasing this book, visit www.kensandersbooks.com.
n identical copy belonging to Joseph Smith's brother Hyrum is now in BYU's special collections.
