So during a recent trip to the nearest LDS book store, only four hours away from Miami by car, I picked up Mario Facione’s amazing book “Mafia to Mormon.” This book is the true story of a Detroit temple worker who grew up nearly illiterate, became a medium-level mafia don and then got converted after conversations with two missionaries who wandered to his house. I’m still stunned at this story, most of all because it has taught me once again that the Lord’s ways are not ours.
My first thought upon reading this book was that Bro. Facione could not really have been much of a mob boss to be converted. He must have been on the edges of the mafia, right? Wrong. The first half of the book shows very convincingly how he once led dozens of illegal scams involving millions of dollars. He was right in the middle of the Detroit mafia scene. He owned several houses and had hundreds of thousands of dollars hidden away.
Bro. Facione describes himself as the kind of guy who used to beat up Boy Scouts (ironically, he ends up teaching them in the Church after his conversion, and they help him learn not to curse). He still writes and apparently talks in classic “Godfather” style, repeatedly saying the smartest thing a mafia man can do is “keep your mouth shut and don’t say nothing.” All of this begins to change when he travels to Salt Lake City to plan a mafia deal (in Provo, of all places), and he becomes fascinated with the SLC temple, which he saw from the air. Then, he has a dream where he is given a choice between two roads. He feels he is being warned that he needs to choose which road to take.
Just a few days later, two missionaries arrive at his front door. At first, he thinks they are trying to pull a scam on him. But something in the cleanliness and sincerity of their message draws him in. He takes the discussions and is shown a video of the temple and feels he simply has to get inside the temple. He is converted, baptized and a year later gets his endowments.
This sudden change brings huge problems to his life. His bishop warns him he has to change careers, and he writes convincingly that it’s impossible to leave the mafia alive. Yet he does. His wife divorces him and he is left nearly penniless, living in his only possession, a car, for a few days. But then somebody at church feels inspired to offer him a legitimate job, and it’s onto the straight and narrow from there.
A thought kept on going through my head as I read this inspiring book: “only the Lord knows the hearts of all people.” Who would have ever thought a man like Bro. Facione could be converted and turn his life around, yet he does. Come to think of it, who would have ever thought a man like myself could have been converted and turn my life around, yet I did. We all have a lot more in common with Mafia dons than we may think. This book proves it.
I think we too often have an “us vs. them” attitude about people in the world. All of those other people out there are just as important to our HF as we are. He tries to guide them and teach them and hopes they choose him. Their salvation is just as important to him as mine is.
3 Nephi 5:4-6
4 And now it came to pass that when they had taken all the robbers prisoners, insomuch that none did escape who were not slain, they did cast their prisoners into prison, and did cause the word of God to be preached unto them; and as many as would repent of their sins and enter into a covenant that they would murder no more were set at liberty.
5 But as many as there were who did not enter into a covenant, and who did still continue to have those secret murders in their hearts, yea, as many as were found breathing out threatenings against their brethren were condemned and punished according to the law.
6 And thus they did put an end to all those wicked, and secret, and abominable combinations, in the which there was so much wickedness, and so many murders committed.
Danithew, it appears the gospel would solve a lot of societal ills.
It also proves that you never know who will accept the gospel. The gathering of Isreal continues…..
I don’t know anyone who’s life was as incongruent with the gospel as mobster. Yet I do know from personal experience that sometimes the last people you expect are the ones who end up joining.
My friends who I thought were so close to accepting the gospel haven’t joined and might never. If I made a list of my friends and their likelihood of joining the church, the one I’d put second from the bottom of list did join.
This is why the Spirit is so important in missionary work. If we base it all on who we think may join, we may well be wrong.
The authors and publishers of this book will be sued in lots of wrongful death actions when the missionaries read it and start getting killed after tracting out mob bosses… 😉
I’m skeptical. If he really was a wise guy he would have murdered. That would have come up in his baptismal interview and he would then have to make confession to the mission pres who would have advised him that part of the repentance process would be confession to the police. Then, assuming a plea bargin, if he qualified for baptism, he would be LDS in jail for a long, long time.
My guess is he was a bill collector for the mob, not a real wise guy.
Wow, Steve, you sure know a lot about the careers of mobsters. Your case, however, is quite compelling.
I’ve read that book, can’t remember when. It’s quite an interesting story, but I, too, was skeptical that they let him walk away clean.
Geoff B., I only threw in that scripture because (by my reading) it suggests teaching the gospel to mobsters as a solution to the problem of secret combinations. I guess it helps if the discussions are being taught to a captive audience in prison.
There is a Mario Facione who is big in Republican politics here in Oakland county and who makes his living disposing of confidential documents. Maybe there are two Mario Faciones here, but I doubt it. If it is the same guy, I can’t believe that if he were a member of a crime family or an associated soldier his sordid past wouldn’t have come out before.
Me thinks Mario might be pulling a fast one on some gullible Utah folk who see an Italian last name and think “wise guy” right off the bat. I’ll have to get the book and run some of the info past some people here in Michigan to see if it pans out, but I wouldn’t be suprised if it didn’t.
Do so, Mr Mike in Michigan. I’m inclined to believe the fellow, but no harm in a little investigation, right?
Mario is my High Councilman, spoke in Sac Meeting a couple of weeks ago. He seems genuine, and I believe his story (some of which he related in his talk, although I missed some due to taking out screaming kid) In his talk he spoke by name about some of the people in his book who were members involved in his conversion, these are people I know or know of, and it all seems to check out.
His talk prompted me to buy his book, once I have read it I will be able to better judge if he gave it the old “Paul H. Dunn” treatment, or not.
But I will add.. in the realm of miracles that have been wrought on this earth, and in this dispensation, I think the mob letting a legbreaker go (but at a cost.. he had to pay them off a large sum of money to be let out of the progam, not sure if it was just a straight payment, or money he owed) it not even in the top 100!
Porter, thanks for reminding me to tell the skeptical commenters out there that, according to his book, Mario did indeed have to pay a lot of money to get out of the mob. I found his account very believable and remarkable, but I also agree that compared to, for example, the Kirtland temple experiences in the 1830s, it’s not much of a miracle. But it was definitely one of the more arresting stories I’ve read in a while.
We baptized a man who owned a liquor distribution company. He put off his baptism because he wanted to sell the business before he got baptized. He didn’t feel that he could sell booze and be a member. (Perhaps he should talk with Brother Marriott.) So, there he was newly baptized and unemployed. Isn’t faith great? BTW, he was offered an important job with the school system. Happy as a clam.
In my early twenties I was briefly and unwittingly involved in organized crime with a Mafia-connected Irishman in the San Francisco Bay area. He wasn’t part of an Italian mob family, but he subcontracted from one on the east coast. When I decided to leave his employ, I feared for my life and was followed by his “associates” for a couple of weeks. For a while I thought I was going to be murdered. I hitchhiked to Salt Lake City, and asked for political asylum from Alvin R. Dyer who was then in the First Presidency. I reasoned that the Mafia was the church of the devil, and that the Church of Jesus Christ could protect me from my former associates. Elder Dyer, who was at the time writing a book on the church of the devil, counseled me that the Church couldn’t help me except to give me good advice. He told me that if I lived through my predicament, I should repent of my sins and become active in the Church, preferrably in a rural Mormon community where the Mafia doesn’t have much presence.
It was quite a scare for me. It scared me straight. I’ve been active in the Church ever since. A lot of saints, who for the most part lead very sheltered lives, don’t realize how well organized evil men are in the greater society. They are just as well organized as good men.
Thanks for pointing out this man’s book. I’ll bet that most of it is true. I hope to read it.
Mario Facione is my step-dad. He married my mom in 1985. For those of you skeptical about this story, it IS legitimate. No, he wasn’t involved in murders and beating people up. That’s what Hollywood would have you believe a ‘mobster’ is. However, there are many roles people play in the organization, and killing people is only one of them. You can read his book to know what his role was.
Yes, they let him walk away clean. However, they ruined him financially in every way humanly possible. He lost everything. The ironic thing is that during his interview to leave the organization, the head of his organization said something to the effect of, “I’ve heard of the Mormons. They are good people. If you live your life the way they live, then we’ll have no need to worry about you.”
We are examples. People watch us. His life was spared because of the examples LDS members set, that this head-mobster had seen. And if you look at the bigger picture of things, my dad’s life was spared as he had more important work to do – raising a family, doing temple work for deceased family members, church service, etc. It was not his time to go.
There are lots of examples in the scriptures of people who should have died due to the surrounding circumstances, but whose lives were spared by our Heavenly Father. Look at the story of Daniel and the lion’s den in the Old Testament. He shouldn’t have survived.
Take care – Jeff
I’ve read his book and think that it is an amazing story of faith. Plus quite humorous – I love the stories he shares of teaching the YM in his ward and them helping him to overcome his swearing etc. I think it’s a wonderful example of people who are so committed to the gospel but are also still human and trying to overcome their weaknesses. I would definately recommend it, there aren’t many people who would sacrifice as much as Facione for what they believed.
I have met Mario Facione a few times. Seems like a great man. My father home teaches him, or they are companions ( i don’t recall ).. and they serve together in high priests group in the ward..he mentioned he was writing a book last year, and i had forgotten about it..just did a word search and found myself here..
When I last visited my father in Milford, he told me some great stories of Mario – classic things he has said and done in church…an amazing story…
I picked up this book because I thought it would be of interest to my husband who had ties to a loan shark and was able to get out of that business. I ended up reading the whole thing myself first and I have to say I believe every word. I felt so much so that I had just told my former sister-in-law that I would forgo my normal Sunday and play bingo with her. That afternoon I finished to book, I decided I wasn’t going to work or playing bingo, but going to church where I belong.
I offered my husband $50 to read the book ( he doesn’t normally read). I left it on his dresser as I left for church. He read the book in one day and said “the guy to too much like me”. I believe his story, and his influence.
I’ve just finished reading the book. It’s been one of the books I’ve read in less then a week. The story of Mario Pacione’s conversion is very powerful. His faith is as strong as the faith of Abinadi or Joseph Smith’s. He was ready to give up his life for the Gospel. I would encourage those who are skeptical about the story to look deep into their life and build a stronger faith and testimony. The book of Mario Pacione is based on faith producing miracles.
Thank you, Mario
Silvana L.E.
Why is it that when something incrediable happens we do everything we can to discount it and negate it? I’m sure if the Prophet Joseph Smith lived in this time among these people no one would believe his story either.
I just returned from a fireside in Fresno, CA, where Mario Facione was the guest speaker. I read his book about a month ago in preparation for this fireside. His book made me get the good kind of goosebumps; to know that a man who had more money than he could ever spend, and a lifestyle that granted him whatever he wanted, was willing to give it all up, even his life if necessary, to walk away and devote himself fully to the Church. Hearing him tonight, and witnessing his sincerity and humility, reaffirms to me how much more I could be doing to help build up the kingdom and share with my friends and neighbors the happiness that the gospel brings to my life. Thank you, Mario, for speaking tonight, for coming forward and sharing your story with others, and for listening to the Spirit and exercising faith and trust in the Lord. You are an example and inspiration, and I hope you and your family continue to be blessed.
Pattie (visitor)
I was at a Youth Conference where Mario spoke. I do not doubt his sincerity one bit. He spoke with humility. He got nothing but inconvenience for coming and then thanked us for the opportunity. The money from his book goes to the Church. I watched him mingle with the kids. I him listen with real interest and heard him encourage them with love and compassion. In a world where there are so many lies, he is a shining truth.
Thank you Mario for a wonderful book. If we´ll read this book with our hearts we´ll know it´s true. I know it. What happened to Mario reminds me of Job. He choosed the lord and lost everything, including his whife and friends. Mario did too but he, as well as Job, not only got it all back, but new and better. Mario is a wonderful example for all of us. Thank you again Mario, and keep up the good work.
With love
Eric Velasquez