RICK & AMY MCGEEA BOOK OF MORMON FIRESIDE

AN ORIGINAL BOOK. A LIVING TESTIMONY.

The Value of
Knowing Christ.

Hold an original 1830 Book of Mormon. Hear the stories of the Restoration. Share a Christ-centered evening with Rick & Amy McGee.

Bring a fireside to your group Step inside the story

Wards · Stakes · Youth · YSA / No speaking fee

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BOOK. A DEEPER FOCUS ON THE SAVIOR.SCROLL TO EXPLORE
01 / THE EXPERIENCEHISTORY YOU CAN GET CLOSE TO

Nearly two centuries old.Still deeply personal.

Rick and Amy bring an original first edition, historical materials, and stories from places central to the Restoration. It's a chance to ask questions, get close to the history, and deepen your appreciation for Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon.

I.

Hold the history.

View and carefully handle an original 1830 edition, take a photo, and hear how its pages came to be.

II.

Join the conversation.

Compare editions, examine manuscript replicas, and try the gold and weight comparisons. Questions are part of the evening.

III.

Remember what matters.

Consider the book's greatest value: its witness of Jesus Christ and the invitation to know Him more personally.

02 / FROM THE GROVE TO THE PRINTED PAGE

A story worth
holding onto.

I / A QUESTION IN A GROVE

A place to begin.

The fireside begins in the world of early nineteenth-century America and Joseph Smith's search for answers. Rick and Amy share photographs from the places where this history unfolded.

FAITH · QUESTIONS · BEGINNINGS

II / FROM MANUSCRIPT TO TYPE

One page at a time.

Translation, witnesses, and a printer's manuscript lead to a remarkable undertaking in Palmyra. Explore the work behind the printed pages and Martin Harris's sacrifice to help finance them.

TRANSLATION · WITNESSES · SACRIFICE

III / THE FIRST EDITION

A book enters the world.

E. B. Grandin's shop printed 5,000 copies of the first edition. Rick and Amy bring one of those original books, making the distance between that moment and this one feel a little smaller.

PALMYRA, NEW YORK · FIRST PUBLISHED MARCH 1830

IV / THE QUESTION THAT REMAINS

What is it worth to you?

An old book has a price. Its message asks a more personal question. The evening returns to Jesus Christ, the passages we cherish, and the value of knowing Him.

Share this experience with your group
First-edition history · Church History Library ↗
03 / MORE THAN A SLIDE ON A SCREENA PERSONAL CONNECTION TO THE PAST
Rick examining an early Book of Mormon and historical materials at a library
Careful study. A lifelong love of the book.

WHAT RICK & AMY BRING

Real pages.Remarkable history.Lasting meaning.

An original 1830 Book of Mormon is the centerpiece. Around it is a collection you can examine, compare, and talk about together.

From a printer's manuscript replica to a simple weight comparison, each item gives the history something you can see and feel.

Rick and Amy guide the handling of original artifacts and coordinate the setup with your group.

01 / THE ORIGINAL

A first edition
from 1830.

View and carefully handle a rare Book of Mormon printed at E. B. Grandin's press in Palmyra, New York.

02 / ACROSS THE YEARS

Different editions.
One conversation.

See an 1854 Liverpool Mission copy, a Jackson County first edition, and a modern Gen Z adaptation.

03 / BEFORE THE PRINTING

The words
in handwriting.

Examine full-size photos of the 1829 printer's manuscript and a 24-page replica folio showing Oliver Cowdery's handwriting.

04 / A SENSE OF WEIGHT

Gold in your hand.
Weight you can feel.

Use a 3-ounce piece of 18-karat gold to discuss the weight of plates made of pure gold. Then try lifting a 50-pound comparison weight.

05 / THE WITNESSES' ACCOUNTS

A closer look
at the plates.

Examine a detailed replica of the gold plates, based on descriptions from the witnesses.

06 / AN UNEXPECTED CONNECTION

Mother Goose
and the gold plates.

See an 1833 Mother Goose book that references the gold plates, one of the collection's less familiar connections.

04 / YOUR HOSTS

Meet Rick
& Amy McGee.

A shared love of history.
An even greater love of the Savior.

Years of study, Church service, and visits to the Sacred Grove, Nauvoo, Adam-ondi-Ahman, Kirtland, and the Grandin Press shape the stories they share.

Parents of seven and grandparents of four, Rick and Amy love meeting people of all ages. They have visited more than 120 temples worldwide. Their hope is that each evening brings people closer to Jesus Christ.

A little more about Rick & Amy

Rick grew up in Missouri and served a full-time mission in Virginia. Amy earned her BA in music from BYU-Provo.

Rick has worked as a real estate broker and developer for more than 30 years. Together, they own and manage shopping centers in Springfield, Missouri, and enjoy hiking and traveling.

Between them, their Church service includes Area Public Affairs, Elders Quorum President, High Councilor, Relief Society President, and several years teaching early-morning seminary.

Four of their seven children have served missions. Their family also includes a filmmaker and a YouTube creator whose videos have received more than 70 million views.

Southern Hills Ward
Springfield Missouri South Stake

Invite Rick & Amy
Rick and Amy McGee together in the Sacred Grove
Rick & Amy · The Sacred Grove
Rick and Amy beside a historical printing press
Where the pages came to life.
Rick and Amy holding hands outside a temple during their travels
Rick & Amy · Faith, family, and places that stay with you.

SHARED WITH GROUPS LIKE YOURS

For groups large
and small.

From a fifth Sunday in a ward to youth gatherings and Church history tours, Rick and Amy bring the collection and the conversation to your setting.

Wards, stakes & seminaries

Fifth Sunday presentations across the U.S. and Canada, plus stake and seminary events in Nevada, Missouri, Utah, Georgia, Arkansas, New York, and Ohio.

Youth & young single adults

A home-stake fireside with more than 250 youth, other youth gatherings, and a presentation at the 2025 Salt Lake Young Single Adult Conference.

The conference welcomed more than 20,000 attendees overall.

Missions & leadership training

Training for 18 mission presidents at Hill Cumorah, and a presentation for the Columbus Ohio Mission in Kirtland.

Church history tours

Co-hosted tours in Kirtland, Ohio, and Palmyra, New York, with Joe Jackson Restoration Tours.

ONE QUESTION TO TAKE HOME

What passage has
brought you
closer to Christ?

The history draws us in. His message stays with us.

Let's share an evening together

05 / A FEW HELPFUL DETAILS

An evening for
your people.

Tell us a little about your group. Rick and Amy will work through the details with you personally.

Who is the fireside for?

Wards, stakes, youth groups, young single adults, seminaries, missions, and other church groups are welcome. Share who is coming and what you hope they will take away.

Is there a speaking fee?

There is no speaking fee. Any travel arrangements or related costs can be discussed directly with Rick and Amy.

Will Rick and Amy travel?

Inquiries from any location are welcome. Include your city and preferred dates so you can discuss travel and availability together.

Can we hold the original and take a photo?

Yes. Guests can view and carefully handle the original 1830 edition and take a photo. Rick and Amy guide the handling and arrange the experience to suit your group and setting.

Can we arrange a fireside on short notice?

Rick and Amy are flexible with short-notice requests when their schedule allows. Send your preferred date and location, and they will confirm what is possible.

Can we speak with a reference?

Rick and Amy offer Bishop Matthew Alder of the Southern Hills Ward in Springfield, Missouri, as a reference.

(417) 413-4404bishop.southernhills@gmail.com

How long is the fireside? What should we provide?

Share your available time, venue, and audience size in your inquiry. Rick and Amy will confirm the presentation length, room setup, and audiovisual needs with you before the event.

06 / LET'S MAKE IT PERSONAL

An old book.
A new conversation.
Your group.

Invite Rick and Amy to share an evening of history, conversation, and faith.

REACH RICK DIRECTLYrlmcgee@gmail.com ↗Call Rick: (417) 839-0537No speaking fee. Short-notice requests welcome.
01 / YOUR GROUP
Who are we gathering?

Start with your group and the kind of evening you have in mind.

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