Stephen Jones' parents got married and joined the Church in 1979 in the southern United States, and both decisions were met with some disdain. Whether it was weakness, preconceived notions, or the law, they held onto the Book of Mormon, and looking to their faith, Stephen learned to turn to the book too. 

Stephen first read the Book of Mormon in the 1990's at age twelve, after being baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at age eight. 

2 Nephi 4:17-20