Help me rock Mormon history post-layoff,car dying

From 2020 to 2023 I had my best job ever–researching the life of Joseph Smith. I made momentous discoveries–some of my biggest ever–that I am continuing to work into publication now - on Oliver Cowdery as a co-translator of the Book of Mormon, Emma Smith’s ministerial authority, Joseph Smith’s relationship with Fanny Alger, and much more. But when my employer was hit by a collapse in stock values, I was laid off. Adding to the trouble, my car died. To avoid a car payment when my income was uncertain, I used several thousand dollars I’d saved up to get a Toyota Camry that should have lasted another 100,000 miles. Within three weeks I found it had a cracked engine head, and my mechanic has advised me to not fix it. Because Utah has no lemon law for used cars, my several thousand dollar investment is simply lost–and at the time I can least afford it.

I’m starting to pick up Mormon history research work from clients that requires me to get to various archives, and I’m exploring the prospect of a Mormon history-related job that would require me to commute to Salt Lake.

Post-pandemic, the average cost of a used car is about $25,000. But I’d be content with something reliable but much cheaper.

To keep me moving forward in life and in my history work, so I can get to archives for my own projects and for research clients and to potentially commute to Salt Lake, I’m trying to raise $6000 for a Toyota Prius that a fan of my work is making available to me before anyone else.

That amount would, literally, keep me moving. And anything beyond that would help with bills and advance my work of publishing my bombshell discoveries of the past few years.

Despite the layoff and the car troubles, and other, non-financial troubles that are among the most difficult I've ever faced, I'm in high spirits and ready to launch forward in research and publishing–and in the next phase of my life. My Camry turned out to be a lemon, but as the old saying goes, when life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade. With your help, I'll do just that.