John R. Winder's discovery of the Church

While working at a leather shop in London, England, John R. Winder discovered a small scrap of paper on the floor that had been torn from a letter. He felt impressed to pick up the fragment and was struck by the words written on it: 'Latter-day Saints.' Having never heard the name before, he inquired with a coworker, who provided information about the Church and mentioned that a branch held regular meetings in the city. Driven by curiosity, Winder attended a service where he crept up the back stairs to peer through a banister at the congregation. He listened intently as Elder Orson Spencer preached, and he later recounted the profound impact of the experience, stating, 'I thought he knew I was there, for every word he spoke fit my case and seemed to be for my express benefit.' Following this encounter, John and his wife, Ellen, joined the Church and were baptized. They remained in England for five years before embarking for Zion in 1853 with their three children.