By Alyse Parks
A Utah man has compiled a book similar to the 'Guinness Book of World Records' that documents various feats in the world of Latter-day Saints.
The book is called 'The Skousen Book of Mormon World Records and Other Amazing Firsts, Facts & Feats' and includes everything from the first Mormon in space to the largest pie baked by a Latter-day Saint woman.
Paul Skousen, the author of the 480-page 'Mormon Records' has been gathering Latter-day Saint facts and history since 1988.
'I was the Utah editor of an LDS newspaper, the Latter-day Sentinel, and people sent me news story ideas all the time,' Skousen said. 'Some were very interesting, such as the man who flew the highest kite in the world, or another who performed 1,000,000 baptisms for the dead. These were not newsworthy, but they certainly had my interest, so I started to collect them.'
After a few years of collecting information, Skousen wondered how many Latter-day Saints had set actual world records.
'I decided to hunt down both world records and records within the Church, and spent my lunch hours, evenings and weekends scouring through bound volumes of the Church News, Daily Universe, Church magazines, the Deseret News, and other publications all dating back to about 1900,' Skousen said. 'This process took me years!'
By 2002, Skousen was ready with approximately 2,300 records, which he cut down to the 1,600 most interesting.
In the collection of records, even 'Jeopardy''s' all-time winner Ken Jennings is included.
Among the entries are such things as the first Latter-day Saint Heisman Trophy winner - Ty Detmer, and the first Latter-day Saint test tube baby.
Lee Redmond, the Mormon woman with the longest fingernails in the world, Latter-day Saint or otherwise is also included in the compilation.
In the book there is also a man from Murray who holds the official Guinness world record for inflating 661 balloons in one hour.
This book has caused some excitement to arise among members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
'I think it''s great that there is a book about Mormons who have done such amazing things,' said Wendee Green, a senior majoring in business finance from Hooper, Utah. 'Who knows, this book may give inspiration to other members of the church to want to do amazing things.'
The book chronicles more than 1,600 achievements by Mormons everywhere.
'I would be interested in reading this compilation,' said Jennifer Slusser, a senior majoring in public relations from Tennessee.
Slusser thinks 'Mormon Records' will be a top seller in Utah.
'I think it''d be a perfect coffee table book, so when you''re just sitting around, you can read up on your Mormon trivia facts,' Slusser said. 'People are always saying ''so and so is Mormon'', and now by reading this, you can actually know who is a member of the church.'
The book is still a work in progress. New record holders are still trying to be found for a Volume Two that is still in the works.
'I have always been amazed at the things people accomplish when they are at their best,' Skousen said. 'I believe that membership in the LDS Church was always an advantage because it helped people refine their personal lives for whatever endeavor they approached or handicap they needed to overcome. When a Mormon shines, the world takes notice.'