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President Russell Nelson visits Australia, credits truth of the Book of Mormon for church’s growth

President Russell M. Nelson has seen The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints triple in size in Australia since he became an apostle 35 years ago.

The reason for the growth, he told 8,000 members Sunday night at the International Convention Centre in Sydney, is simple: The Book of Mormon.

It’s true, the 94-year-old leader said of the faith’s signature scripture. “Without the Book of Mormon, there would be no gathering of Israel.”

The visit to Australia, home to nearly 154,000 Latter-day Saints and five of the faith’s temples, marked Nelson’s third stop on his nine-day Pacific tour, according to a news release.