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).