Phillip Graehl grew up in a nonreligious household and therefore had only a scant interaction with his family’s religious tradition. He recognized some societal antagonism against this tradition and felt that it was incongruous with what he experienced while observing extended family members who were active in the faith, but for decades he did not have the motivation to pursue any investigation into the matter.

At age thirty-eight, he felt that he had achieved all of his life goals; that is, marriage, professional career, house in the suburbs, financial security, etc., and yet found that he was sorely unfulfilled. He woke up to the fact that the world had lied to him as to the sources of happiness. Prompted by his wife, he began a study of the Bible and came to know the truth that Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the world, and that He and His gospel are the Source of true happiness.

From there he felt the need to investigate the religious roots of his family, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

He dug out a neglected copy of the Book of Mormon his kindly grandmother had given him many years before, and he began to read. What followed has been transformative to his ensuing life. Through his reading and accompanied with confirmation by the Holy Ghost, he came to know with surety the divinity of Jesus Christ and the veracity of His gospel. He came to know that the Book of Mormon was true, and that the Lord had restored His Church to the earth preparatory to His Second Coming. He also came to understand the purpose of life, where he had come from, where he was going, and why the conditions of this life are as they are. These assurances have not removed challenges from his life but have helped direct his course in life, and given him hope even in times of trial.

The author is a retired orthopedic surgeon who lives in Texas with his wife of thirty-eight years. He has one son