Going Back in Time

This past week, I was able to visit the Crandall Museum in Provo, UT.  From the outside, this old-fashioned building does not give the impression that behind those brick walls lies the world's largest and most accurate Gutenburg printing press exhibit.  On the contrary, it appears to be an old house, but oh, how I was wrong.  As you enter the side door, you are greeted by four elderly gentlemen (all of which are experts in the history of the printing press).  At least two of these gentlemen had been printing with one of these old-fashioned presses since he was 14.  

The tour began in Europe with Gutenburg.  We learned how hard it must have been for him to create the press.  Trial after trial each led him a step closer to his final product.  He not only had to create the machine, but he had to figure out how to hold the paper, keep it aligned, create each letter, make a thick ink, create a way to get the ink onto the mold evenly without going into the crevices of each letter, and so much more.  This man was a genius!  He was truly inspired with what he did.  We still use the same formula for ink, and the same metal alloy to create the letter molds.  In these hundreds of years and with our technology, we have not evolved much.  It's impressive.  

After we learned about Gutenburg and the first printing of the Bible, we traveled "across the sea" to America to learn about the role the printing press had on the American Revolution.  It was the press that really helped the revolution progress.  Papers and pamphlets could be printed to spread ideas and news about independence.  Also, the Declaration of Independence was able to be printed and circulated.  

Nearly 5o years later, the press was used to circulate something of even greater importance, The Book of Mormon.  In lightning speed over a period of around 8 months, 5,000 copies of the Book of Mormon were able to be printed.  This helped spread the religion and contributed to the conversion of thousands.  We owe so much to Gutenburg and his wonderful printing press.