I had made the 8-hour drive from Oregon, U.S.A. to Provo, Utah to see my girlfriend at Brigham Young University.  She took me to the fast and testimony meeting of her BYU ward.  I was intrigued and astounded to see young people my own age actually standing in line awaiting their turn to bear their testimonies and to cry in front of the congregation.

That’s the first thing that I remember about the trip.  The second thing I remember is perhaps the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to me.

Following the church meetings my girlfriend took me to her apartment where her five roommates and the recently-returned missionary boyfriend of one were gathered.  When the returned missionary realized that he was in the presence of a non-member, he proceeded to give me the first discussion right there in front of those six girls.  It was highly embarrassing.  I remember absolutely nothing about the episode except the pain it was causing me.

But during the discussion he turned to my girlfriend and asked a question which became the third thing that I remember about the trip.  He asked, “Do you have a Book of Mormon you could give him?”

Burned indelibly into my mind is a picture of my girlfriend seemingly being launched from her chair by a spring, and running to her bedroom to get the book.  She returned with the marked and underlined copy that she was using in her Book of Mormon class.

I protested that she needed the book, but she replied that she could get another.

I was excited.  I had wanted a Book of Mormon for a long time, but no one had ever offered me one.  I thought that it was perhaps a secret book that only the properly-initiated could have.

That book became the best thing that ever happened to me.  I took it home to Oregon and stood it upright in the center of my desk.  I let it stand there for two weeks as I looked at it and savored the moments.  I knew something was going to happen when I started to read it.

The thing that happened when I began reading was that light came into my head.  As I read I could literally feel light pushing the darkness to the back of my head.  Though I had been severely depressed for a long time, I couldn’t have told you that my mind was full of darkness, yet there was that light inexorably pushing the darkness back.

Because of that light, all I wanted to do was to read that book.  It was a pain to have to go to work.  I just wanted to sit in my cold December bedroom, wrapped in a blanket, and read that book.

That was 50 years ago this coming December.  On January 9th I knelt in the middle of my bedroom and told my Father in Heaven that I wanted to be baptized.

I asked my girlfriend’s father what I needed to do.  He replied that I’d have to take the missionary discussions.  I found where the missionaries lived, and knocked on their door one evening.  It didn’t dawn on me until many years later that by knocking on their door I’d reversed the roles between missionaries and investigators.  I wonder if they’d been praying for someone to teach, and if they turned any cartwheels behind the door as it closed.

Elders Pace and Sullivan answered the door together.  I nervously delivered the little speech that I’d memorized.

“Hi.  My name is James Kerns.  I’d like to hear your discussions.  I’ve already read the Book of Mormon, so I promise not to give you any trouble.”  (I’d heard about the ill treatment some missionaries received, so I wanted to put their minds at ease about me.)

My girlfriend came home from BYU to play the piano at my baptism 4 March 1967.  Two and a half years later we were married.

My baptism was a highlight of my life.  So was my marriage.  But the best thing that ever happened to me was the Book of Mormon.  But for it, there would have been neither a baptism nor a marriage.

Because of the Book of Mormon, light came into my life.  My depression vanished, and I’ve lived happily ever after.

Because of the Book of Mormon, I learned who Jesus Christ is.

Because of the Book of Mormon, I got rid of all my sins, and a huge burden was lifted from my soul.

Because of the Book of Mormon, I became sealed to God.

Because of the Book of Mormon, my wife was sealed to me for all eternity.

Because of the Book of Mormon, we now have 60 descendants, all of whom are faithful, and actively participating in the Church.

Because of the Book of Mormon, I’ve had innumerable opportunities to serve and have been able to positively touch more lives than I can count.

Because of the Book of Mormon, like Nephi, I have been able to live “after the manner of happiness.”  (2 Nephi 5:27).

Because of the Book of Mormon, like Ammon, “my heart is brim with joy.”  (Alma 26:11).

Tomorrow I will finish reading the book for the 60th time.  I’m trying to catch up with my 45-year-old son who has read it once for every year of his life.  I’ll be caught up when I’m 72.  By reading three chapters per day, I finish it quarterly.  I never get tired of it.  I love that book.

Truly, the Book of Mormon is the best thing that ever happened to me.