Joseph Holbrook Receives a Spiritual Witness While Praying Among the Thistles — Converted by the Book of Mormon

In the fall of 1832, Joseph Holbrook first encountered the Book of Mormon through his cousin Mary Ann Angel. He was so captivated that he stopped his farm work in the middle of the day to read it — an unheard-of thing for a man who had been brought up never to idle on a weekday.

His wife was alarmed and insisted he return to work. He went back to digging potatoes, but found his mind was entirely consumed. He then went to a large patch of thistles nearby and knelt down to pray:

'I no sooner closed my eyes than it seemed as though the whole thistle plantation was in motion. I opened my eyes. I could see nothing the matter. I closed my eyes the second time when it seemed as if there was a whistle wind among the thistles, yet I felt no wind. I continued my prayer for the forgiveness of my sins and for the Lord to lead me right and show me the truth of Mormonism.'

He rose from his prayer resolved: 'I would go to the house and read the Book of Mormon, work or no work.' He read the entire book through in two days and three nights, and when he returned it to his cousin, told her plainly: 'I believed it was true and that God was at the bottom of the work.'

He was baptized on January 7, 1833.