John Cummard's Conversion and Testimony

“I was born in Liverpool, and for many years was a regular attendant at Saint Cyprian's Episcopal church. I was a member of the choir, and took a great interest in the services. I had, however, for some time been troubled with doubts regarding the truth of the doctrines taught there, and had become somewhat agnostic in my views. One Sunday evening, while walking home from church, I saw a crowd of people listening to a speaker. I stopped to hear what he had to say, and found it was a 'Mormon' elder. He was speaking on the first principles of the Gospel. I was very much impressed with his remarks, and invited him to my home. My wife was not at first inclined to give the elder a hearing, but when I told her that he had explained many principles which I had often thought about, and she saw that I was getting interested in matters pertaining to religion, she became reconciled, and she decided to remain at home the evening the missionary was to visit us and hear what he had to say. Elder William A. Morton, who was then laboring in the Liverpool conference, visited us, and explained the Gospel to us in a very clear and simple manner. We were both deeply interested, and felt that we had found the truth. We continued to investigate the principles of the Gospel, and the more we learned the more we were convinced that they were the teachings of the Savior. The Lord enlightened our minds so that we were able to comprehend the truth and planted in our hearts testimonies concerning the divinity of the mission of His servant Joseph Smith. We were baptized and confirmed members of the Church, and have rejoiced from that time up to the present. We have had the privilege of bearing our testimonies to many of our friends and neighbors, and have seen the fruits of the Gospel in our own lives and in the lives of others. We are grateful to the Lord for the light and knowledge He has given us, and we pray that we may be faithful to the end.”

— John Cummard, The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, Vol. 70, No. 4