The way I became interested in the Book of Mormon was through American history, which, after approximately 12 years, led to my baptism into the Church.
I grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs. With my parents' encouragement, IO developed during my elementary school years a keen interest in American history, particularly the American Revolutionary War and the associated events occurring in Philadelphia. Although I did not have any specific beliefs in God, I intuitively felt the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were inspired documents, that the Founding Fathers were inspired men, and that America was a promised land.In the mid-1960s, when I was a teenager, my family drove out West for a summer vacation. Among the places we visited was Temple Square in Salt Lake City. I was very impressed by the beauty of Temple Square and wanted to purchase a souvenir. Having learned that the Book of Mormon claimed to be a record of an ancient American civilization, I was intrigued. I purchased as my souvenir a soft-bound missionary copy with the cover picture of Moroni blowing his trumpet.
On our drive back to Philadelphia, I opened up the Book of Mormon, read Moroni's promise on the front page, turned the page over, and then saw "A Few Interesting Book of Mormon References." To my delight, the first items on this list contained references to American history, including that America's history was foretold more than 2,500 years ago. (1 Ne. 13.) There were references to Columbus (v. 12); the fate of the Indians, (v. 14.); the Puritans, (v. 16); and the Revolutionary War. (v. 17-29.)
A few entries down was this reference to the Constitution:
"No kings to rule America. Read 2nd Nephi 10:10-14."
I read the references a number of times and felt an instinctive kinship with this book that assigned to the Founding Fathers a special role in history that corresponded with the high esteem in which I held them.
For the next 12 years, wherever I went - to summer camps, college, law school - the Book of Mormon went with me. I picked the book up from time to time and read the passages on American history. I even tried to read the book from the beginning and to read other passages, but was never able to sustain the effort. Only the verses about Columbus, the Puritans, the American War for Independence, and the passage that no kings would rule the United States maintained my interest.
In August 1978, I was browsing through a bookstore and noticed a book titled America, B.C. by a Harvard University professor. The book reviewed evidence of ancient settlements in the Americas by people from the Near East. I was reminded of Thor Heyerdahl's The Ra Expeditions and thought to myself that if the theories of this Harvard University professor were correct, then the Book of Mormon may, in fact, be exactly what it says it is - a record of an ancient American civilization that had its origins in the Near East.
Several weeks later, I called the missionaries and asked them to teach me about the Book of Mormon and the Church. An Elder Maxwell and an Elder Baker began giving me the discussions and asked me to read 3 Nephi 11 about the Savior's visit to the Americas. I came to verses 37-38.
As I read these verses, I felt a strong spiritual presence in the room, which was like nothing I had ever felt before. It was as if someone were speaking into my ear that these verses are true and were meant not only for the Nephites but also for me.
When the missionaries next visited my house, I asked, to their astonishment, what one needed to do to be baptized. Two weeks later, Elders Maxwell and Baker baptized and confirmed me a member of the Church.
Although I possessed a copy of the Book of Mormon for 12 years, it was only after putting Moroni's promise Moro. 10:3-5T to the test that I came to understand that the Book of Mormon is true, that there is a God in heaven, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christ's restored Church on earth, and the only Church that enables us to return to Heavenly Father.