In 1970 Luis Magin Florez was approached by two missionaries who told him they had a book that was a history of ancient America.
Magin, an expert in ancient Mesoamerican art, was intrigued by this version of American history. He was well-known for his own paintings using Mayan and Incan images. He studied art in Colombia and Argentina, and his paintings are on display in many Latin American countries and in the United States."I didn't know the word `Mormon,' " he recalled. "I received the book, but I didn't believe what the missionaries said about it."
One afternoon a few days later, "it was very hot so I didn't work." He sat down and glanced through the Book of Mormon. On the first page was a scripture inviting the reader to ask the Lord if the book was true. "That was a very unusual scripture."
The afternoon was hot, and he dozed off to sleep. As he awoke, he felt surrounded by a very beautiful spirit. Later, he again opened the Book of Mormon, and "I felt the beautiful spirit again. I read, and cried, and read again," he said. "The Book of Mormon opened up our past to me just like it was a movie.
"I saw the way our people used to live," said Magin, whose ancestry is both Incan and Spanish. "The book is very valuable."
He later found missionaries and was taught the discussions and was baptized. Today, Magin and his wife, Irma Diana Florez de Magin, and their daughters Il Angel and Deseret are members of the Los Angeles 4th Ward. He is a high councilor in the Spanish-speaking Huntington Park California West Stake.