'The Book of Mormon made me want to know more': Student reveals why she converted to Mormonism after seeing comedy musical



Change of heart: Liza Hemingway, 21, has revealed that she was motivated to convert to Mormonism after watching The Book of Mormon

A student from Boston, Massachusetts, has opened up about her decision to convert to Mormonism after seeing Broadway musical The Book of Mormon.

Liza Hemingway, 21, said her life changed in September 2011 when she watched the play - which was created by the writers behind cartoon comedy South Park.



'After I saw the musical I was very intrigued,' the theater major, who was raised Congregationalist in a small town in Maine, told the Huffington Post . 'It led me to want to know more.'

The Book of Mormon is about two missionaries from the religious community - also known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - who travel to Uganda to share their message.

While the musical is often perceived as a satire on the religion, it made Liza curious to discover more about it.

So she visited Mormon.org , where she began chatting online to elders from the Mormon community, who gave her lessons about the religion.

Not long after the elders sent her their sacred text, the Book of Mormon, in the mail, Liza said she experienced 'warm chills' and knew that it was the presence of God.

Her conversion became complete when she was baptized into the religion in Utah in December 2011 - by the very same elder to whom she first chatted on Mormon.org.

Now, Liza regularly attends meetings at her local 'ward' for young adults in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Inspirational musical: The Book of Mormon (pictured) is a satirical play about two missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who travel to Uganda to spread their message

She's also planning on transferring to the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, the Mormon capital of the world. 'I'm taking a leap of faith,' admitted Liza, adding: 'I feel like it's where I need to be.'



Liza's family admit that they don't understand why she has decided to convert religions, but according to Desert News , she says their relationship is still strong.

'Because of this musical, a beautiful chapter in my life started and continues to grow'

'My mom will sometimes say, "I can't believe I brought you to that show. None of this would have happened,"' she explained.

'I tell her that it still would have, just in a different way,' she added.

On her blog, called Liza: Happy, Theatrical and Mormon , the 21-year-old expresses her thoughts about her conversion and the journey that led her there.

In an April 2013 entry, she wrote: 'Because of this musical, a beautiful chapter in my life started and continues to grow. I am so grateful for my church, what a blessing it is in my life.'

New life: Liza, who was baptized into the religion in December 2011, wrote on her blog: 'Because of this musical, a beautiful chapter in my life started and continues to grow. I am so grateful for my church'

Future plans: Now Liza (pictured with one of the elders from the Mormon community) is transferring to the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, the Mormon capital of the world

Liza's story has become an inspiration to other young men and women looking to convert.

In her biography on Mormon,org, she has written: 'Although it is a challenge as the only LDS person at my school, I know that by living my faith with courage and charity in my heart, I can be an example to others.'

Not everyone has viewed her conversion and the reasons behind it in such a positive light, however.