Moses Mahlagu was a preacher in Soweto, South Africa, who had a small library in his church building. One day, a copy of the Book of Mormon showed up in the library, probably put there by a relative. The book did not have the lower half of its title page, however, so he did not know who published the book.
"It is very good," he told his fellow preachers. "We fight every day over what the Bible says about baptism. We fight about the name of the church. The Book of Mormon is very clear on these points, and on the sacrament. People will have no need to fight if they read both the Bible and the Book of Mormon."
He began to preach from the Book of Mormon and gathered many followers. Eventually, friends told him about the Church that published the Book of Mormon, and where this Church had a meetinghouse in the city. The first time he traveled to the meetinghouse, no one was there. On his second visit, however, he made contact with Church members and was taught by the missionaries. However, he was not baptized for 14 years until the revelation on the priesthood was received.
"It was not difficult for me to wait to be baptized because from the time I received the teachings of the Church, almost everything became clear to me," he said. "I got pamphlets and copies of the Book of Mormon and read them to my friends. I gave people copies of the Book of Mormon and the pamphlets, and told them how good and true the Church was. In my heart I knew the Church was true, and that there was no other true Church."
Others responded to his teachings. Fluent in nine languages, he taught many people in his home about the teachings of the Book of Mormon. A number of these people have been baptized also.
"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. You can read about it in the Bible, and even more clearly in the Book of Mormon," he said.
Brother Mahlagu has served as elders quorum president in the Soweto Ward, and as a groundskeeper at the Johannesburg South Africa Temple.
"Going to the temple with my wife was a high step," he said.
Illustration by John Clark. From ALL ARE ALIKE UNTO GOD, by E. Dale LeBaron, pp. 151-61.
