Sign #2 - The Discovery of Printing

The religious Reformation was arriving, preparing the people and nations to break away from religious domination.

Movable type was discovered in 1440 A.D. allowing people to learn more.

One of the first books to be published in 1456 A.D. was the Gutenberg Bible,
http://myloc.gov/Exhibitions/Bibles/TheGutenbergBible/ExhibitObjects/GutenbergBible.aspx?Enlarge=true&ImageId=57a8720b-4c19-4b16-be4f-be12364a0296%3a15e4d512-00e0-47bf-8646-4e0431c67c2d%3a300&PersistentId=1%3a57a8720b-4c19-4b16-be4f-be12364a0296%3a3&ReturnUrl=%2fExhibitions%2fBibles%2fTheGutenbergBible%2fExhibitObjects%2fGutenbergBible.aspx

which opened up the scriptures to the common people and not be controlled by the clergy only. The clergy gave fierce opposition and persecution to those who were printing the bible and getting it out to the people.

Thomas Paines "Rights of Man" was a major factor in the Revolutionary War and united the colonists in their struggle for independence and freedom.

But the establishment of the Constitution in 1789 opened the real freedom of the press to America when they included the Bill of Rights.

Go to
www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html

THE BILL OF RIGHTS

Amendment 1

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The printing press opened the way for the printing and distributing of the Restored Gospel through the Book of Mormon and the words of Living Prophets today.