In The Book

When a friend suggested he move away from the "fairytales of the Bible" and religion altogether, David Boice decided to visit fifty-two churches in fifty-two weeks first. What started out as a small personal project turned into a YouTube channel, chronicling his stops. On his second round of that, he visited a congregation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for first time, in Madison, Wisconsin, and was not only introduced to the Book of Mormon, but experienced an embrace unlike any he had before. David was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 13, 2024 1 Nephi 8

Yangzi Jin grew up in Wuhan, China, and after joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the United States as an exchange student, served a mission on Temple Square in Salt Lake City. One day, she received an assignment to give a Mandarin tour to a blind teenage boy, Conner Green, who had recently been adopted by a Utah family. Conner and Yangzi’s connection to their hometown and language fueled their friendship, and the seeds of testimony for Conner as he heard the gospel of Jesus Christ read to him one verse at a time. Yangzi first read the Book of Mormon in October 2005 and was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on December 31, 2005. Conner was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on September 13, 2014 and listened to Yangzi read the Book of Mormon to him through audio recordings in 2016. Alma 32:42-43 Mosiah 14:5

Vincenzo di Francesca (1888-1966) was on his way to a pastor’s house one cold, winter morning of 1910 in New York City when he saw a book lying on a barrel of ashes, its leaves blowing in the wind. When he picked it up, he saw there was no frontispiece, and the book was unnamed. Flipping through it, he saw the names Mosiah, Lamanite, Isaiah, and others, and wondered what it could be. Vincenzo lived by the teachings of this book for twenty years in the face of ridicule, not knowing where it had come from, and spent another twenty trying to join the Church, experiencing what seemed like insurmountable obstacles to do so. Vincenzo first read the Book of Mormon in 1910 in New York City, and was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on January 18, 1951 at Imerese, Italy. Vincenzo's words were recorded by Tommaso Cardullo "I Will Not Burn the Book!" Ensign 1988 Moroni 10:4-5 Alma 7:10

Over six feet tall at age fifteen and professional basketball in his sights, Ricky Stafford was finding his mojo as a freshman in high school when his world seemed to shatter overnight. Suddenly diagnosed with leukemia, Ricky was admitted to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah to start treatment. What started as a major setback turned into a gift when he opened the scriptures with real intent for the first time. Ricky grew up reading the Book of Mormon, and turned to it while he was in the hospital with leukemia at age fifteen. Ether 12:27

When Minnie Budd read the Book of Mormon for the first time in Gwelo, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) in 1950, she knew it was true, but there were no missionaries or other members of the Church in the town, nor could she get baptized for seven years. That didn’t stop her, however. She started sharing the book with everyone she met, and began running church meetings from her house, not knowing how far reaching her efforts would be. Minnie first read the Book of Mormon in 1950 and was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in October of 1957. 4 Nephi 1:12

As told by historian Susan Easton Black, converts to the Church of Jesus Christ in the 1800s when Joseph Smith was prophet, had heard about the record found near the Smith family farm. Whether they saw the plates themselves or held the printed Book of Mormon in their hands and gained an immediate testimony of it, none of them would ever deny the veracity of the record, whether they stayed or fell away from the Church. Converts mentioned in this episode are: William Huntington (1784-1846) Jared Carter (1801 – 1849) Noah Packard (1796-1860) Parley P. Pratt (1807 – 1857) Oliver Cowdery (1806 – 1850) David Whitmer (1805 – 1888) Martin Harris (1783 – 1875) Peter Whitmer, Jr. (1809 – 1836) Christian Whitmer (1798 – 1835) Jacob Whitmer (1800 – 1856) John Whitmer (1802 – 1878) Hiram Page (1800 - 1852) Joseph Smith, Sr. (1771 – 1840) Hyrum Smith (1800 – 1844) Samuel H. Smith (1808 - 1844) Lucy Mack Smith (1775 – 1856) Joseph Smith, Jr. (1805-1844) For more testimonies of early converts to the Church, refer to Susan's book Stories from the Early Saints: Converted by the Book of Mormon (1992) Susan first read the Book of Mormon when she was eleven years old. 1 Nephi 1:1

Stephen Jones' parents got married and joined the Church in 1979 in the southern United States, and both decisions were met with some disdain. Whether it was weakness, preconceived notions, or the law, they held onto the Book of Mormon, and looking to their faith, Stephen learned to turn to the book too. Stephen first read the Book of Mormon in the 1990's at age twelve, after being baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at age eight. 2 Nephi 4:17-20

Jerusalem was the place of Lindsey Perlman’s dreams as an observant Jew, but by the time she made it there, she had already come across a church she also wanted to attend on Shabbat, but logistically couldn't. She was led to this church when, while studying Hebrew, the words of the prophets, and rabbinic teachings, she began reading another book; a book about the House of Israel, covenants, and the greatest rabbi who ever lived. Lindsey first read the Book of Mormon in 2016 and was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on October 29, 2022 2 Nephi 9:26 2 Nephi 9:53

When they first met at the Moscow Conservatory in the 1970s, Igor and Vesna Gruppman were both budding violinists absorbed in the world of music. What befell them when they made their way to the western banks of the United States would not only include the opportunities and freedom they were looking for, but also an instrument unlike any they had heard of before. Igor and Vesna read the Book of Mormon for the first time around the summer of 1980 and were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shortly after Alma 29:9 3 Nephi 17:21-24

Despite Paul Alan Cox’s congenital illness, he was sent to Samoa as a young missionary. The service rendered to him by a Samoan man coupled with his love for the Polynesian people, charted the course of his prolific career as an ethnobotanist, and a life practicing the healer's art. Paul read the Book of Mormon as a youth, and had completed reading it five times before leaving on his mission to Samoa on January 6, 1973 Ether 12:27 Mosiah 18:30 Mosiah 2:17 & 19 Alma 37:6

Olga Campora was denied entrance to college in Czechoslovakia because she wasn't a communist. After reapplying with a new strategy, she was accepted, and introduced to yoga. One yoga practice after another, a holy book in her hands, and against all odds, Olga came across God. Olga first read the Book of Mormon in the fall of 1980 in the Czech Republic and was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on July 11, 1981 Click to access the audio clip of Nicolae Ceausescu's speech about the invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 used in this episode. 2 Nephi 2:25