Celica Cruz Ayala of Puerto Rico decided to give a copy of the Book
of
Mormon to a friend. She obtained a blue, soft cover edition
of the Book
of Mormon and wrote her testimony inside, mentioning Moroni's promise
in
Mormon 10:4. Sister Cruz wrapped the book in paper with a
ribbon and
set out to deliver her present.
As she was walking along the streets of Ponce, Puerto Rico, she was
attacked by a bandit who stole her purse containing five pesos and
the
copy of the Book of Mormon. Sister Cruz was very shaken, but
physically
unharmed. A few days later she received the following letter
in the
mail:
Mrs. Cruz:
Forgive me, forgive me. You will never know how sorry I am
for
attacking you. But because of it, my life has changed and
will continue
to change. That book [the Book of Mormon] has helped me in
my life.
The dream of that man of God has shaken me and I thank God that
I found
you in those circumstances. I am returning your five pesos
for I can't
spend them. I want you to know that you seemed to have a radiance
about
you. That light seemed to stop me [from harming you, so] I
ran away
instead.
I want you to know that you will see me again, but when you do, you
won't recognize me, for I will be your brother. I am not from
you city.
But here, where I live, I have to find the Lord and go to the church
you
belong to.
The message you wrote in that book brought tears to my eyes.
Since
Wednesday night I have not been able to stop reading it. I
have prayed
and asked God to forgive me. I don't know if He will but I
ask you to
forgive me. Please forgive me. I thought your wrapped
gift was
something I could sell. [Instead,] it has made me want to
make my life
over. Forgive me, forgive me, I beg you.
Your absent friend.
(See F. Burton Howard, "My Life Has Changed," Church News, January 16,
1996, and President James E. Faust, General Conference, April 1996).