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Keith McCord reportingYou've no doubt heard of the "Guiness Book of World Records." It's been documenting various human feats for years.
Well, a Utah man has put together a similiar compilation of records: Mormon records.
There are a lot of *firsts* that have involved members of the LDS faith:
--First Mormon in Space-- Jake Garn;
--First LDS Heisman Trophy winner-- Ty Detmer;
--Even Ken Jennings-- "Jeopardy's" all-time winner!
These and hundreds of other entries are listed in Paul Skousen's "Book of Mormon World records." He's been gathering LDS facts and esoterica since 1988.
Paul Skousen, Author: "I was editor of an lds newspaper.. People would send me messges about things... They weren't newsworthy.. So i'd jot them down."
The 480-page book has everything from largest pie baked by an LDS woman; the first LDS test tube baby.
As you might expect, Paul Skousen has met a lot of interesting people while compiling all this!
How about the LDS balloon guy?
Paul Skousen: "Casey Williams in Murray can inflate 661 of these in one hour. That's an official guiness world record."
And then there's Lee Redmond-- she has the longest fingernails in the world-- LDS or otherwise. Here's Paul measuring them-- at 31 and a half inches!
One thing about this book, is that it's still a work in progress. The editors are looking for new record holders. So, if you think you've stacked dominoes higher than anyone else, catapulted a pumpkin farther, or been hit by lightning many times, let 'em know."
Paul Skousen's favorite item has a personal connection--when he acquired this bag of shredded paper years ago -- he calls it the Church's most famous garbage.
Paul Skousen: "We're right in the middle of the coverup in the Iran-Contra affair. And Ollie North has to shred the evidence. I'm on duty in the situation room, he came in borrowed our shredder, and I took the bag as a souvenir."
Just one of 16-hundred entries in Skousen's Premier edition. Yes, Volume Two is in the works.
When he gets a tip, Paul tries to verify each one. He says he's trying to confirm a story about an LDS couple, in Missouri, who have 21- children.
