Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe GOLD CANYON, Ariz., Aug. 23 (UPI) -- A Gold Canyon, Ariz., woman is selling individual pages of an 1830, first edition of the Book of Mormon, a decision on which the church has refused comment. Helen Schlie said the book was on display for 35 years in a now-closed Latter Day Saints bookstore in Mesa, Ariz. Advertisement Schlie told the Arizona Republic she decided to sell the 294 fragile pages for $2,500 to $4,500 apiece to fund a pioneer town near Far West, Mo., for prospective LDS missionaries after her death. Schlie has promoted the framed pages in meetings, on her Web site and e-Bay. While church officials declined comment, Schlie's former pastor, LDS Bishop Alan Parry said he regards the book as scripture. Historian Buddy Youngren, who has owned five first editions of the Book of Mormon, said he "personally wasn't happy" about Schlie taking the book apart. However, Youngren also said: "It's only an old book. What she's doing is noble. Everything is first-class -- the frames, book, everything."
