Days after the funeral, coulter says, vernon presley gave her back the. At that time bobby kauo taught him the discussions. Over the years people retold the tale, including in the pages of newspapers, inspirational speaking and the like. Ap file photo elvis presley, the king of rock n roll, performs in.
Elvis felt pressured to marry priscilla and trained her. Erekson, church history library director published 14 nov 2018 8. When grandma olive osmond gave elvis presley and the queen of england the book of mormon. Elvis presleysigned copy of the book of mormon a forgery. I shared the signature from the books first page and 17 annotations.
Elvis presley did not write in the book of mormon now held by the church history library. Mother osmond, elvis presley, queen elizabeth, and the. Elvis was seeking the truth and receiving missionaries. Over the next several years, various speakers, newspaper columnists, and even a documentary film producer made claims that elvis really had made these markings. He was given a book of mormon and visited with missionaries a number of times. And the story continues to circulate throughout the market for uplifting books and social media. Some say that this is where elvis got his love for music and performing. Tears of a king portrays the last days of the king of rock and roll and the possibility that during that time elvis was reading the book of mormon.
Skousens book pauls mormon bathroom reader, inside elvis welltraveled book of mormon were a series of handwritten notations, reportedly made by elvis, including. This is the tale of elvis presley, the book of mormon, and a story that wasnt. In 1989, a copy of the book of mormon was donated to the church of jesus christ of latterday saints containing, purportedly, marginal annotations made by elvis presley. Anderson, church history specialist in the lds archives, has confirmed that the archives do have a book of mormon reputed to be elvis presleys. When grandma osmond gave elvis presley and the queen of.
An interesting connection is surfacing about elvis presleys interest in the lds church. That courage and conviction led her to sharing the book of mormon with the likes of elvis presley and queen elizabeth. Rob diamond has written and is directing tears of a king which explores that part of elvis life. Welch on the dates and events surrounding the translation of the book of mormon in 1829. 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. One was rivertons mike corfield, who was serving an lds mission on the island of kauai in 1961. The handwriting is clearly forged and the provenance is. The book was subsequently returned to butler by elvis father, vernon, two days after elvis death. Elvis presleysigned copy of the book of mormon a forgery, historian says posted. 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 latterday saints. Starting at the end of the 80s a story came to be told of a book of mormon written in by elvis presley. Cherokeephoenician dna connection book of mormon evidence. Report by brigham young university folklore student catherine eslinger, who collected information from rebecca gunderson.
Annotated book of mormon by david hocking and rod meldrum page 91. While he was filming blue hawaii 1961, filmmakers used the polynesian cultural center as one of the locations. That book is now in the possession of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. In 2007, an independent film shown at the sixth annual lds film festival in orem, utah, used the book as its launching point for a highly creative look at presleys. 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. What do you think of when someone mentions elvis presley. Did you know elvis received several copies of the book of mormon, took missionary discussions. Man gave elvis a book of mormon during filming of blue. Diamond uses a series of flashbacks of the singers life to tell the story and admits to taking license by inserting presleys conversations with a mysterious man. One such connection is a copy of the book of mormon, believed to be given to presley by a fan named cricket butler, was donated to the church some time ago by a member of the osmond family, who also knew the famous singer. Nine children with 34 gold and platinum records, hit television shows, over 102 million records sold worldwide, and an international following in the uk to rival that of the beatles success in the united states. Presley and on the last page in the index was written, father, i want more. And a new elvis movie is being filmed in utah, inspired by that archived book of mormon and the story behind it.
After drawing my own conclusion that the handwriting in the book of mormon was not made by elvis presley and receiving encouragement from handwriting experts in the church history department, i submitted writing samples independently to five elvis presley authenticators. And, at every opportunity, olive sought to share those lifechanging beliefs with those she metno matter their title. Later, if not found in some form originating also in scotland, the name made its way across the border to that country, then on. The day elvis presley attended earlymorning seminary lds living. It serves as an accompaniment to the article by john w. Elvis was brought up in the assembly of god denomination. At the time of his death, was elvis presley contemplating becoming a mormon. Annotations suggesting that elvis wanted to be baptized.
The name presley is derived from the old english preost, meaning priest, and leah meaning forest clearing history. He had many friends that were members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints commonly called the mormon church who. Keith erekson is an awardwinning author, teacher and public historian who serves as director of the church history library in salt lake city, utah. Orem, utah abc 4 news a movie linking elvis presley with the lds church premieres thursday night in orem. Elvis and priscilla presley during their wedding ceremony in. Elvis book of mormon catherine eslinger manuscript. The woman who gave elvis presley and the queen a book of. Sadly, the elvis edition of the book of mormon, upon closer examination, has been ruled an obvious forgery. Elvis presley and priscilla beaulieu presley first met when he was 24 and she was 14. Did elvis presley write in this copy of the book of mormon. Those with whom she shared her faith and gave a copy of the book of mormon included celebrities like elvis presley and royalty like queen elizabeth. The story of this book has been told by fireside speakers, classroom teachers, newspaper columnists, and an independent filmmaker.
Elvis his latest flame remix hot girls shuffle dancing. His latest flame by elvis presley remix with hot girls dancing the shuffle. David stewart in his online article found on the churchs website titled dna and the book of mormon, quotes fellow lds scholar martin tanner, contributor to the neil a. Elvis presleys copy of the book of mormon a forgery. A book of mormon possibly elvis presleys personal copy, reputed to have been in his room when he died is indeed in the archives of the. The handwriting is clearly forged and the provenance is highly improbable. It is a 1976 edition and includes several handwritten notes by the king himself. The book of mormon was given to the lds church by members of the osmond family, who received it from a woman named cricket butler. Olive may davis was born in samaria, idaho, on 4 may 1925. Elvis presleys book of mormon movie released on thursday.
What you probably dont think of is his spiritual side, witnessed by notes he left in a book of mormon. Elvis karate instructor, the late ed parker, was a church member who discussed mormon theology between kicks and chops and may have given him another. In paul skousens book brother pauls mormon bathroom reader, he tells of a day when elvis reportedly attended seminary. Elvis presleys copy of the book of mormon aint nothin. A book of mormon possibly elvis presleys personal copy, reputed to have been in his room when he died is indeed in the archives of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. He and his family were regular and loved attendees. Elvis read the book of mormon and was to be baptized somewhat true. All shook up over the elvis book of mormon news mormanity. Maxwell institute for religious scholarship formerly farms, who explains his position. And a new elvis movie is being filmed in utah, inspired by that archived book of. Tears of king shows spiritual side of elvis deseret news. The idea of elvis presley cherishing the book of mormon has captured the popular imagination of some latterday saints. Keith erekson, director of the church history library, confirms that the signature in a copy of the book of mormon purportedly autographed by elvis presley is in fact a forgery.
The movie looks at the period when presley studied the teachings of the lds church. The content and placement of the annotations suggest that elvis. Looks like the king wanting to get baptized was just latterday hearsay. Elvis received a copy of the book of mormon from olive osmondwho gave copies of this sacred scripture to many famous people, including the queen of. According to a 2006 documentary, tears of a king, elvis had been reading and making notes in the book of mormon, and talking to missionaries about converting a few months before his untimely death. Even the osmonds got into the tale, telling people of the kings interest in the church.
Alan osmond gives a book of mormon to his friend elvis, and receives it back after his death. On various pages throughout the book, are handwritten notes, believed to be written by presley. Erekson, church history library director, elvis presleysigned copy of the book of mormon a forgery, historian says, also available at meridian magazine. Former missionary says he taught elvis the discussions. And the story continues to circulate throughout the market for uplifting books and social. The idea of elvis presley cherishing the book of mormon has captured the popular imagination of latterday saints. With the recent publication of my complete analysis in byu studies, i thought id answer the ten most common questions ive received about elvis presley and the book of mormon. Butler, a friend of elvis, gave the book of mormon to him in the months preceding his death. Most instances of the surname presley and variants pressley and pressly are thought to be ultimately of english origin. Did you know elvis received several copies of the book of mormon, took missionary discussions, and even visited an earlymorning seminary class. 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.
Several people claim to have given him a copy of the book of mormon. Though elvis presleys name may be well known to mormons, his personal connections to mormonism are less familiar. The book of mormon helped to convert or strengthen almost all active members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, so they love to give the book to others. The book of mormon was translated by joseph smith the prophet from ancient records and gives an account of people who used to live in north and. Elvis good relationship with latterday saints was due in large part to latterday saint and martial arts expert ed parker, who elvis referred to as my second daddy, according to parkers book inside elvis. Elvis presleys graceland, the official guidebook kath, laura on. Elvis presleys copy of the book of mormon aint nothin but a forgery, church history experts say. One of presleys secretaries reported that mormons sent literature and books to elvis, jehovahs witnesses mailed issues of the watchtower to. And is a copy of the book of mormon now housed in the archives of the church of jesus christ. The day elvis presley attended earlymorning seminary. Ereksons, which analyzes a frequently told story that elvis presley made notes in a book of mormon and concludes that the notes are not elviss.
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