Mormon museum reports 14 rare books stolen

SALT LAKE CITY – A completed accounting of rare books taken during a Wednesday break-in at the Pioneer Memorial Museum puts the total at 14, two more than initially believed, the museum director said Thursday.

Thirteen of the books taken are early editions of the Book of Mormon, the central text of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Two were first editions published in 1830, the same year the church was founded by Joseph Smith.

The other book taken was an 1852 copy of the Doctrine and Covenants, another Mormon text written by Smith.

“It’s really sad,” museum director Edith Menna said, adding that she believes the thieves knew exactly what they were looking for when they entered the museum sometime early Wednesday.

The value of the missing books is estimated at over $100,000, although local rare book dealers believe the loss could be more than $300,000.