In The Book

A Mother’s ”Twig” in Rhodesia: Minnie Budd

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

Moroni’s Appearance to Joseph Smith, the Plates, and the Translation: Matthew C. Godfrey

Exactly two hundred years ago, the teenage Joseph Smith, Jr. kneeled down to pray after a day’s work on the Smith family farm. The heavenly messenger sent in response to his prayer bore news of an ancient record on golden plates buried in the ground and of Joseph’s prophetic call to translate them. Matthew C. Godfrey, former managing historian of the Joseph Smith Papers, explains what happened that night, adding his own experience with the Book of Mormon at age seventeen.

Matt was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at age eight, and learned how to read by reading the Book of Mormon at age four. 

Moroni 10:3

They Never Denied It: Early Converts to the Church and the Witnesses of the Book of Mormon with Susan Easton Black

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

 

 

The "Outsider" of Parramos Finds her Father: Amanda Barrios McPeek

Growing up in the heart of the Guatemalan Civil War of 1960-1996, Amanda Barrios McPeek wasn’t accepted by her own family or the people in her town of Parramos, because of the way she looked. When she came across the missionaries in Antigua, and read the Book of Mormon for the first time, she not only learned that God accepted her and loved her, but that she was his daughter.

Amanda first read the Book of Mormon in November of 1996, and was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on January 5, 1997 

 

2 Nephi 26:33

Strength from the Book in the Deep South: Stephen Jones

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

Aspiring Rabbi and His Burning Book: Jason Olson

An aspiring rabbi, Jason Olson was studying at Hebrew High School in Scottsdale, Arizona in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s. When talk of the Messiah started circling, Jason brought his questions to the high school lunchroom where he would discuss the topic with his friends. One day, he had a copy of the Book of Mormon in his hands, and unwilling to give it back to his friends or be found with it in his possession at home, he decided the only way to dispose of it would be to burn it… but, something stopped him in his tracks.

Jason first read the Book of Mormon in November of 1999 and was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on August 16, 2003

3 Nephi 9:19-20

3 Nephi 15:6-8

Another Jewish Book: Lindsey Perlman

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

Dubbing the Book of Mormon Into Their Tongue: David Taylor

Some of the first people David Taylor met on his mission in Peru were Chinese immigrant restaurant owners, and indigenous Peruvians who barely spoke Spanish. Unable to communicate with them, David started picking up phrases so he could speak with them, planting the seeds for the work he now does dubbing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Book of Mormon videos into indigenous languages. Had it not been for one Thursday morning during his junior year of high school when he read the Book of Mormon for the first time, David wouldn't be where he is today. 

David first read the Book of Mormon on October 30, 2014 and was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on November 14, 2014

Watch this to see how the In Their Own Tongue project came to be!

Moroni 10:4-5