Stories from the Early Saints : Converted by the Book of Mormon

by Susan Easton Black

Book by Susan E. (editor) Black

Paperback

First published July 1, 1992

About the author

Susan Easton Black is a retired professor of Church History and Doctrine at Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah. She is also an author of several books related to Joseph Smith, Jr. and the early history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Christopher Angulo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gem of a compilation. It was refreshing to read these stories, to see what drove these early saints to the Book of Mormon. I especially love the story of a speaking in tongues duel, and the guy who just wanted to find a strange work.

[Etta Mcquade · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was touched that my husband John H. Thompson's great-grandfather Zera Pulsipher was included with his touching remarks about how he became acquainted with the Book of Mormon. Wilford Woodruff also mentions how Zera Pulsipher "bore testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith and the divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon" and how it favorably affected him.

[David Yaede]

George

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was to be a definitely interesting book to see: the history of the Saints as they experienced the change that was brought around by the publishing of the Book of Mormon, how they may have initially met it, their responses, their courage and ultimately how it wove them together as a people who didn't only worship together but suffered for the fullness of the Gospel that they had been awaiting of. Within the lightness that was glowing from the darkness of religious freedom conflicts there was a need that was being fed to find the truth.

The author does a wonderful job in combining various members of the church whether it was a Witness, Presidents, family members or even the common man and/or woman whose life was uprooted by this wind of change. The reader is given genealogical information on the person, a background of who they were or what they were participating in, their beliefs and then the introduction to how the Book of Mormon touched them or how they were given the news of its upcoming arrival.

Some of the entries are a bit dry and hard to be interested in while others will touch the heart. There is a careful balance the preserves the voice and the touch felt by these people whose world was changed so much that they were willing to change the world in return even amidst such suffering, fear and death.

A good book for those interested in LDS Church history!

[Cathi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a small book (just 100 pages), but it is packed with wonderful biographical information, journal entries, and historical excerpts about many people who were converted to the Book of Mormon in the early days of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I loved reading about the lesser-known people especially. Great book and a good way to start my year!