Mary Lightner Receives Book of Mormon and Begins Personal Study and Prayer

As a young girl in Kirtland, Ohio, Mary Elizabeth Rollins heard of the plates of the Book of Mormon being found by Joseph Smith. When Oliver Cowdery, Peter Whitmer, and Ziba Peterson arrived in Kirtland with the news of the restoration of the Gospel, they bore a powerful testimony by the Holy Ghost of the truth of the work. When a copy of the Book of Mormon came to Brother Morley's possession—the only one in that part of the country—Mary's desire to read it was so intense she earnestly pleaded with Brother Morley for permission to take it home and read it overnight. He finally relented: 'Child, if you will bring this book home before breakfast tomorrow morning, you may take it.' Mary was 'perfectly happy' with this 'coveted treasure.' She and her family read it all night. When she returned the book the next morning and told Brother Morley how far they had read and recited the first verse and the outline of Nephi's history, he was amazed and said, 'Child, take this book home and finish it, I can wait.' This experience marked the beginning of Mary's deep engagement with scripture and her path toward becoming a faithful member of the Church.