ON MORMONISM

I picked up By the hand of Mormon : the American scripture that launched a new world religion by Terryl L. Givens and I can recommend the introduction and first 2 chapters for a history of early Mormonism.  The book isn't as good on basic Mormon doctrine but you can try The book of Mormon : selections annotated & explained by Jana Riess

If you want to really dig into LDS teachings, I recommend Book of Mormon; Doctrine and covenants; Pearl of great price by Joseph Smith, published by Salt Lake City, UT : Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1998, c1981.

The most "Coast to Coast AM" story in Mormonism I've come across so far is the migration in about 600 BC of Lehi and about two dozen other Jews from Jerusalem to the New World, across the Pacific by boat. (Givens, pp. 44-51) According to Mormonism, these few people were the progenitors of all American Indian tribes!