Mormon World Records

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An article in today’s Deseret News led me to the Mormon World Records website. The article came about because of an earlier article that apparently wasn’t researched enough: just which ward has the most twins? Who knew such things could be so controversial or competitive?

Paul Skousen, the keeper of the website and writer of the book The Skousen Book of Mormon World Records is quoted in the article: “There’s a lot of enthusiasm,” he said. “People enjoy associating with others of like mind, and they like to hear the success stories of other members of the church. It’s not just about being pious and reverent on Sunday; people really do lead rich, full and interesting lives.”

I would have said, “My goodness, what a hyper-competitive, prideful bunch.” His way is much more kind and optimistic. However, I’m all for self-improvement and challenging oneself, and this seems like just the ticket for a ward or youth activity. It looks like you have to buy the book to find out most of the records, and I’m afraid I don’t plan on buying it, but there are a few records on his website. For example:

(2001 World Record) In October 2000, Richard Jones, a high priest in Sandy, Utah, pushed off from the Canary Islands off the west coast of Africa and rowed across the Atlantic Ocean. His 133 day trip had some close calls with a freighter at night and the U.S. Navy, but otherwise he arrived safely at the Bahamas in February 2001. The trip was record breaking. He became the oldest person ever to row an ocean. He was the first American to row the Atlantic. And, he was the first person ever to row an ocean towards his native country. The total distance rowed by Brother Jones was 4,576 miles.

I have to admit, that is pretty impressive. So what would you like to do? Be the Mormon with the heaviest squash? Be the Mormon human cannonball shot the farthest? Be the Mormon with the longest toenails? So many ways to excel, so little time…

(By the way, it appears that the Overlake 1st Ward in Tooele, Utah, which has 13 sets of twins, all 18 or younger, is the new record-holder.)

8 thoughts on “Mormon World Records”

  1. I was a section manager in the construction of the world’s longest burrito. We used 5,280 12 inch tortillas, but there was some overlap so the burrito _only_ came out to about 3,600 feet. I was unable to eat burritos for almost two weeks afterwards, and I hadn’t even had any that day.

  3. I was in a ward with 2 sets of twins and a set of triplets in the nursery and only one child who would have been in their class would have been a single birth.

    Wandering, very funny. I’ve seen that record in person.

  4. …this guy must have had nothing better to do with his time…what bunch of tripe!

    …what about a the largest Mormon family ever, or the person who paid the most tithing in one donation…

  5. Come on you guys.. are you all that curmudgeon?

    It is a fun book.. we got it for Christmas, the kids love it. Living out here in the midwest, it is fun to read about other LDS in stuff in addition to stuff in Church News and the Ensign.

    It is all in good fun, not meant to be anything other than mental bubblegum.. which has it’s place.. we can’t read Cleon Skousen all the time.

  7. I’m with porter – sometimes fluff is needed and this fits the cultural bill 🙂

  8. Solicito copia del discurso del Elder Skosen sobre la expiacion y las Inteligencias.
    Desde ya muchas gracias.

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