Dear Will:

Sometimes my wife Dana and I will go to dinner someplace new (it happens) and I’ll order something unfamiliar that sends me into a state of gastronomic ecstasy before I’ve so much as swallowed the first bite. I’ll immediately say to Dana, Ooooh, you gotta try this. One time we were at Citrus City Grille and I ordered the halibut something-something with the whatever sauce and it was so AMAZING that, had we not been in a public place, I would have licked the plate clean and then scraped the surface off of the porcelain with my incisors. Even if Dana had been on some weird no-sauce diet I would have pinned her down and force-fed her before leaving the restaurant.

Officer O’Malley (driving): “Why did you do that to your wife, Mr. Watkins.”

Me (cuffed in the back of the patrol car): “Just for the halibut.”

So it goes with just about anything we love. See a great movie? You want to tell all of your friends to go see it—preferably as soon as possible. Same with a good novel or an amazing night of theater. I think I personally may have sent several dozen people to Zov’s over the years all because of the Chocolate Bomb you see here (well, not all because the Chocolate Bomb, but that dessert alone is reason enough to clear your calendar and drive to Tustin at your earliest convenience). Without apparent provocation I will sit you down at the nearest computer to make you watch Heart perform “Stairway to Heaven” live at the Kennedy Center (so good). It’s as if I have become a self-appointed spokesman for these things—and for Walden and Galaxy Quest (trust me) and Steinbeck and Bryce Canyon—all in the hope that others will enjoy them as much as I do.

The Book of Mormon is another case in point—delightful in a way that brings a whole new meaning to AMAZING. There’s something for everybody in that remarkable book. For instance, have you ever been asked to do something that seemed impossible? Or have you ever felt overwhelmed by an assignment that seemed beyond your capabilities? Or have you ever felt discouraged by how easily you get weighed down by personal shortcomings? If you answered yes to any of those questions, you should definitely become acquainted with the story of Nephi in the Book of Mormon’s opening chapters. It will speak to you.

Do you sometimes find yourself missing friends or loved ones who have moved away or passed away or simply stopped calling? Are you ever lonely? No doubt you’ll find personal connection with the tragic tale of Amaleki. Or have you ever done something you regretted—and you have trouble believing you can ever be forgiven? Enos and Alma felt the very same way. If you ever feel isolated, awkward, unpopular, or unsafe, alone in the midst of a crowd, you might be surprised to find out that you have a lot in common with Moroni (yes, that Moroni—the guy on top of the temple).

That’s pretty much how the Book of Mormon works. When you read it you’ll discover many others as well—real people, all-too-human, struggling with problems not too different from your own. As their stories unfold—their failures, their struggles, their miraculous triumphs—you’ll find comfort, solace, insight, and truth. And woven throughout you’ll see the principles and doctrines of Christ made real with inspirational clarity.

So if you haven’t read the Book of Mormon lately—or ever—you gotta try it. It will bless your life. And if you don’t have a copy of your own, I’ve got one right here that you can have. Let me know if you want it, and I’ll drop it off on my way to Zov’s.

PW