February 2010
Dear Family and Friends,
D&C 98:1 Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks;
2 Waiting patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are recorded with this seal and testament—the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted.
Chatburn and Downham under Pendle hill 3 Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable covenant that they shall be fulfilled; and all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my name’s glory, saith the Lord.

[Irish lad, John Hynes, learning indexing and doing family history—from “rubbish to life”]

[Pictured above is the hill called Pendle just south of the villages of Chatburn and Downham located twenty miles north and east of Preston in the River Ribble valley.] It was here that Elder Heber C. Kimball first came as an Apostle missionary in 1837. After baptizing most everyone in both villages (110 souls), on his third and final visit the children linked arms and walked with him for a distance, singing the songs of Zion. He recorded in his journal that he was so affected that he had to leave the road three times to bathe his eyes in the stream because he was weeping so profusely. He said, “I felt as if the place was holy ground. The Spirit of the Lord rested down upon me and I was constrained to bless that whole region of country.
When he returned home after his mission, he mentioned the circumstances to Brother Joseph, who said, “Did you not understand it? That is a place where some of the old prophets traveled and dedicated that land, and their blessing fell upon you.”
We feel similarly as we are led to share the restored Gospel with these dear people here on the Isle of Man. It is not by chance that we are so privileged to walk

, as it were, on the sacred ground of the heart with each precious son or daughter of God with whom we are blessed to be. Prayers have and are being offered, blessings have been given beginning in Heaven before the world was made and have continued down through the ages—blessings and prayers offered by missionaries, parents, priesthood leaders, patriarchs, and humble hearts from the beginning, all with the promise to be fulfilled by faith in the due time of the Lord. For the Lord has promised that though heaven and earth pass away, His word will not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by Him or His servants, it is the same. Ether 12:35 Although, the days will come, that heaven and earth shall pass away; yet my awords shall not pass away, but all shall be fulfilled.

[Pheobe Kenmore—a queen in God’s family a promise that will be fulfilled through faith.]

36 And, as I said before, after the atribulation of those days, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken, then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven, and then shall all the tribes of the earth bmourn; and they shall see the cSon of Man dcoming in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory;
37 And whoso atreasureth up my word, shall not be deceived, for the Son of Man shall bcome, and he shall send his cangels before him with the great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together the dremainder of his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

[Sister Pheobe Kenmore didn’t want to leave the Temple after receiving her Endowment.]

John Hynes has been a member since 1987. He was blessed with a wife and family and in his own words, “felt the Spirit every wonderful day”. Ten years ago he fell from a scaffold and severed his spinal nerve at the waist and is confined to a wheelchair for the remainder of this life. His wife left and his children are presently far from the Church. He has been plagued with pain, depression, alcohol, and self-pity over these past ten years. The answer to prayers and blessings fulfilled are miracles all—John wants to come back—in his words, from “rubbish to life”. We see him every other day now. He is feeling the Spirit again, paid his tithing and read his patriarchal blessing for the first time since his accident, and is coming to Church every Sunday. He is staying out of the pubs. His countenance is brighter; his attitude is upbeat and positive. His trust is in the Lord—he can become worthy to get a temple recommend. The other day during a lesson preparing for the Temple, the Spirit testified that his body would be renewed, glorified, and perfected. He said, at that moment, “I felt that my legs were normal and that I was whole again”—we all felt the Spirit and knew. Christ has come and will come with healing in his wings. We were given to know the real “healing” comes as a clear conscious, a pure heart, with unconditional love for all of God’s children, and a resurrected, glorified, perfected body (temple) forever our abode with and as our Heavenly Father.

[The smiles betray the heart that rejoices—Queens forever in the eternal realms where mothers never cease.]
Forever friends rejoicing over “tea” following a sacred day in the temple. Pheobe Kenmore is a beautiful lady that we are blessed to know and love. As all sisters are foreordained to be queens, so is she. Her story is not unlike many. Forty-seven years ago she became a member of the Church, married and was blessed with children. She could never quite get things together or as they say here, “sorted out” to go to the temple. Her activity in the Church was sporadic and without energy. Her children were all baptized but have not been active. Presently her youngest son lives with her and is a great blessing in her life. Her husband was abusive. They have divorced. Several years ago when she might have gone to the temple, she was stricken with a life threatening liver disease and was told that she wouldn’t live but a short time. She sought for and was given a blessing while in the hospital. Her liver began to regenerate giving her sufficient health and strength to prepare to attend the temple. However, she has been constantly up and down with many days in bed. Attending church is not always possible.

[Alex and Dot Moffett, Pheobe Kenmore, Sister Allen rejoicing together over “tea” after a day in the temple.]

With great faith and determination she set a date to attend the temple and when feeling poorly she would say, “I’m going no matter what happens, now is the time for me to go”. The ferry ride to England would be too much for Pheobe—she flew and we flew with her to Liverpool where we rented a small car big enough for us, our little bags, and Pheobe’s walker and wheelchair. We stuffed everything and everybody in and headed for Chorley and the Preston Temple. We left the Isle of Man on Monday the 15th of February and returned on Thursday the 18th. Pheobe’s strength and endurance over a four day trip was of great concern to all. The Lord blessed her—we all had cause to rejoice for her endurance and vitality the three days we were at the temple where she did her own endowments the first day and then she did her mother’s endowment the next day, her father’s was done also, and then she was sealed to her parents with her deceased brother. She had not felt so up and alive for three consecutive days in many years. She is planning her next temple trip in May and finding new names of her family for the temple.
D&C 128:22 Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth into singing. Let the dead speak forth anthems of eternal praise to the dKing Immanuel, who hath ordained, before the world was, that which would enable us to redeem them out of their prison; for the prisoners shall go free.
We could have no greater blessings than to participate in these miracles of faith with those we have learned to love so much. One such experience, with the promise of friends, family, and love forever, is worth every sacrifice required to obtain it. All of us are so very blessed to be offered to assist in the Lord’s work—to build up the Kingdom of God on the earth and to establish Zion.
Job 38:
4 Where wast thou when I laid the bfoundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
[The rising sun splashing light and life over the British Isles.]

Thank you all so very much for your love and prayers, friendship and support. Love always,
Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, Ron and Carol, Elder and Sister Allen

Jan 2010 Isle of Man

Dear Family and Friends, 29 Jan 2010



Being a child of the Living God is absolutely amazing! We are miracles everyone! In all of God’s creations, more numerous than the particles of the earth, we, His children are the best, we are awesome. We ......Chris is ready to baptize his brother Luke 20 Jan 2010. Chris was baptized 2 months ago in Scotland.....
are at once, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters. We are family and God is our loving Heavenly Father.


We continue to be overjoyed for the sacred experiences we are having here on the Isle of Man and with the precious territory of loving people to the core through the power and blessing of our Savior. There comes in the Bargain (God’s Promise), the shared burden of heartache and pain of those we are privileged to know and love. As we know, the physical afflictions are much easier to share and bear than the spiritual wounds of the soul of which the Savior personally experienced “the pains of all men”.


Recently a sister who had embraced the Gospel with all her heart, someone with whom we had shared some very tender and sacred moments, at a time of despair and discouragement over failed cancer therapy, turned completely away from the Church requesting no contact with anyone in the Church. We and all who have come to love her are heartbroken—we can learn much about .....After baptism of Luke .......
the Savior’s love for us from such experiences. This is part of what we covenant with the Lord—that we bear one another’s burdens and mourn with those that mourn.



Last Wednesday was a fantastic day not unlike most days. In the morning, Elder Allen passed his Isle of Man driver’s practical test and so qualifies for a UK driver’s license which is required after one year in the UK. Sister Allen will take her test the 3rd of March. The reason for the separation is: If we both failed the test, neither one of us would be able to drive for a month.
On the north end of the island we met with a dear young man in the Jurby prison. He is a member and we love sharing scriptures and Gospel truths with him. He will be in prison 4 or 5 years on drug charges—he is a bright, tender hearted lad who loves the Gospel. His story is tragic like many. His father is awash in alcohol almost .....Christmas morning on the Douglas water front.....constantly and his mother rejected him when he was a young boy. His desperate quest to be loved and accepted has brought to him at the age of 21 much pain and suffering from repeatedly broken promises.



From Jurby we traveled south to Onchan for a meeting with a couple baptized in August. He recently was ordained an elder. They are preparing for the Temple endowment. We share with them about the temple and family history. Reading and pondering the scriptures together truly nourishes our souls and prepares us to make sacred covenants in the Holy Temples.



From Onchan, in the middle of the island, we traveled to the south end of the Island to meet with a young mother, her 14 year old daughter, and her non-member partner whose father is Muslim. The mother has not come to Church since a very bitter divorce

.....Andrew Clague and son Matthew, a child of record.....

because someone in the ward sided with her former husband in the custody battle-- And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the arock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty cstorm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall (Helaman 5:12).

We are teaching them the Gospel with the hope and prayer that she and her daughter will return to Church and that her partner will come to know the Church is true and be baptized, that they will get married—that repentance and forgiveness will win the day. After sharing with them the plan of salvation, he said “it seems almost too good to be true” and, after a pause, that he would read the Book of Mormon and pray about it.

Such miracles have happened many times before over the world and can happen here. This is every missionary’s bright hope. In Ether 12:3-4 we read: “Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the

.....looking east toward the Irish sea from our apartment .....

souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being lead to glorify God.”

Again we traveled to the extreme north end of the island for a meeting with a dear lady, whose friend we met on the ferry. We have met with them four times before, they have come to church. We have enjoyed meals together, shared the Gospel and have shed tears together. She wants to get married, he will commit and then gets scared and runs. She knows the Church is true and wants to get baptized and has agreed to do so in

five weeks. Karen first became acquainted with the Church through a friend in England. Our meeting with Jonathan, her friend, on the ferry was not by chance. Our meeting with Karen was tender as we shared some Book of Mormon scriptures and testimony of the Restored Gospel with her. We returned to our apartment by 11:00 PM tired but fulfilled for the wonderful day we had had on the Isle of Man.

Our hearts are tender for the families of those dear friends at home who have recently suffered the loss of a close family member. We remember with much love and fondness our associations over the years and rejoice in the Promise given each of us that the feelings and sharing will continue in the not too distant future and in a far, far better place.


Thanks again for your love, prayers, and friendship. We love all things beautiful and you are all at the top of the list. Wherever we are and no matter our circumstance or our present endeavor, this

.....This scene is constantly changing.....

is our joy and blessing: “Therefore, hold up your alight that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the blight which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do. Behold ye see that I have prayed unto the Father, and ye all have witnessed. And ye see that I have commanded that anone of you should go away, but rather have commanded that ye should come unto me, that ye might bfeel and see; even so shall ye do unto the world; and whosoever breaketh this commandment suffereth himself to be led into temptation.” 3 Nephi 18:24-25.

Love always, Dad, Mom, Grandpa, Grandma, Sister Allen, Elder Allen.

25 December 2009

Dear Family and Friends,
May this letter find you filled with joy and love for your dear ones, for the Lord, for His birth, for His life, for His promise of a better world for us all forever. May your hearts be bursting with gratitude for the tender mercies and multitudinous blessings of our Heavenly Father. We send our love, indeed greetings with an attitude stronger than the cords of death. Connections with family and friends in and through Christ are our joy and our sacred burden. Sharing in all life’s experiences with the heart in and through our Savior is the essence of peace and joy in this world and gives hope with surety for a better world even Eternal Life.

Last evening, Christmas Eve, we enjoyed a smooth sail on the ferry from England to the Isle of Man, disembarking, after four hours, in Douglas about 6:00 PM. With us were the young missionaries, Elder Kingsley from South Africa and Elder Cowley from Sandy, Utah. On the outside passenger deck we meet many friendly people, some of whom give us an invitation to visit with them later in their homes. From such encounters on this recent ferry trip, the Lord blessed us with three “call backs”. We are presently teaching a couple who live on the very north end of the island. We met them on the previous ferry ride coming from the last zone conference. Karen (41)wants to get married and be baptized while Jonathan (47)has committed to get married but needs to feel the Spirit to want to be baptized. Last Sunday we had a sweet meeting with them and our Chinese friend Jei Shen (27) in our apartment. We shared a special Christmas message and enjoyed “tea”(dinner) that Sister Allen prepared—vegetables and fish. Jei and Karen both should be baptized in the near future.

Joining us for last evening’s Christmas Eve celebration were the young Elder Kingsley from South Africa, our District Leader and the tall Elder Cowley from Sandy, Utah. We enjoyed a meal prepared by Elder Cowley, his specialty dish of caramelized chicken over rice with sesame seeds. Together we read from Luke 2 the Christmas story. At appropriate times in the reading we sang together “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”, “Oh Little Town of Bethlehem”, and “Silent Night”. Our hearts were filled with love. In this simple setting of five of God’s children, repeated over the world countless times, is the real miracle of Christmas manifest—repentance, forgiveness, softened hearts, the healing power of Christ causing us to feel the “song of redeeming love”. We are happy to be together and not alone nor ever will be because of the miracle of the perfect love of Jesus Christ in our lives. Alma 5:26 And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?[Picture - Shelly Nattida Roberts, Yanisa (Ning) Sananueah, Daneille Yanisa Roberts.] There are experiences that are so profoundly imbued with love, repentance, and forgiveness unto a mighty change in heart that we are left breathless as it were with joy—we are led to say, “that one experience, a gift from God, makes all the effort, time, rejection, separation from family, and trials of faith worth every minute a missionary”—the mission becomes a great blessing, a choice experience to be savored forever. Such has been our blessing with this little family baptized the 12 of December 2009. We bask in the midst of miracles. Sharing heartache and burdens is an equal part of God’s plan of happiness. One such blessing is multiplied by many if we have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to feel. Alma 26:37 Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen.
D&C 76:23 For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—
Ning said after being baptized and confirmed, “I want to keep this good feeling all the time. How you do it?” Jei Shen is on the right of Sister Allen—she is our “adopted daughter” from China. 24 That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God. [Picture - Ning said after being baptized and confirmed, I want to keep this good feeling all the time. How you do it?” Jei Shen is on the right of Sister Allen—she is our “adopted daughter” from China. ]

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Love, Mom and Dad, Ron and Carol, Elder and Sister Allen.

[Picture - Looking toward the Lakes District, England, across a calm (rare) Irish Sea. The air is always fresh and clean.]

We echo the words Jehovah after the creation, “The earth is glorious” It will be our eternal home.

30 November 2009
Dear Family and Friends,
Back from Liverpool with President’s signature.Joy is a welcome companion of all who serve others in the Kingdom of God on the earth. Joy comes to the one who serves and to the one who receives. Through faith in Jesus Christ and repentance, the song of redeeming love fills our souls with joy. There is always joy in “mud Ville” when we repent. Like mighty Casey, we all strike out at times in life. The burden is heavy and hard to bear both for the batter and for his or her fans but oh the joy that comes from true repentance through Christ our Redeemer. It is greater than all the spoils of the world. We have been privileged to be a “fan” of this dear sister. We have become eternal friends. She had stuck out many times in her life. The Lord blessed us to share her burdens and help bring hope and confidence into her life. Being willing to bear one another’s burdens and mourn with those who have cause to mourn is part of the price we pay to have unspeakable joy with them here and in Celestial glory. Mosiah 18:8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are adesirous to come into the bfold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;
9 Yea, and are awilling to mourn with those that bmourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as cwitnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the dfirst resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—
Following being baptized for her mother and others—near the Preston Temple 10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being abaptized in the bname of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a ccovenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?
These are truly happy people. Lesley and her deceased son have been endowed, she is sealed to her mother and father, and she has done her mother’s endowment—Preston Temple Lesley had been burdened with a cigarette habit most of her life. She had never been truly active in the Church. Several failed marriages and the untimely death of her son had left her without hope for a better life. She did not believe she could ever be worthy to attend the Temple and have the blessings of an eternal family. With encouragement and love over a period of six months, she prayed, fasted, repented, gained faith that she could and would be forgiven. Ours was the “angel’s portion”, the fantastic gift from Heavenly Father to participate in this miracle. Her greatest fear was to speak to the Bishop. When all was ready and she had the recommend in hand, her countenance brightened to reflect the joy in her soul and has increased to this day. D&C 18:13 And how great is his ajoy in the bsoul that crepenteth!
14 Wherefore, you are called to acry repentance unto this people.
15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one asoul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!
16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the akingdom of my Father, how great will be your bjoy if you should bring many csouls unto me!
70th birthday celebration (surprise) for the Douglas Ward Primary President—senior missionaries causing the white handbook to go up in flames.

Senior Missionaries can do many things that the younger missionaries do not do and yet keep the Holy Spirit and magnify their calling, one of which is to sleep with their companion. We can dance, stay up late, take a nap, and watch a movie. All of these things we can do but usually do not do because most of what is good for the younger missionaries is also very good for the senior missionaries. We love being with the young Elders. They are the best—strictly obedient, happy, even joyous of continence and demeanor, truly love the people with whom they are blessed to teach and associate, and food never goes to waste when they are around. We will always cherish our friendship and service with these wonderful young servants of the Lord.


The missionaries teach with power and authority and participate in miracles that can only be understood and appreciated by the Holy Spirit. The first missionaries of this dispensation to preach in the British Isles did so on and around this obelisk in the Preston Market Square. Elders Russell, Hyde, and Kimball preached to large crowds (5000 plus) here in 1837. Years later, in 1933, Elder Gordon B. Hinckley, as a young missionary, taught and bore his testimony in this square his first evening in Preston. “I was terrified,” Elder Hinckley later admitted. “I stepped up on that little stand, looked at that crowd of people, and wondered what I was doing there”. Today missionaries meet many people on the Preston Market Square, many of whom they later teach and baptize. Their
From 1837 to 2009 missionaries have preached the Gospel here on the Preston Market Square.

Artist drawing of the Preston Market Square as it was in the mid 1800’s. approach may go something like this: “Good morning, we are sharing a message, that after centuries of being lost, all the truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ have been restored to the earth by God through His living Prophet. There is a book called the Book of Mormon which is evidence of this Restored Gospel. You can hold the book in your hand. You can read it and ponder how the message in the book can improve your life. You can pray to know that the book is true.”

The sun rises and sets continuously over the earth giving us pause to thank our Heavenly Father for each precious day, every day. We are led to sing: “O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the worlds thy hands have made....thy power throughout the universe displayed. Then sings my soul…how great thou art, how great thou art!” Hymn 86.

Each of us is a precious daughter or son of God. We love you all and have this promise and this hope that we may be connected with each other as families in the ever growing Family of God eternally.

We make no excuses for being sentimental and romantic. We send hugs and kisses across the miles because it feels so good and because you are special to us.

Looking east towards England. The sun rises over the Irish Sea. Taken from Clay Head just north of our flat on the Isle of Man.

This is where we run and walk most every day.

Thank you for your love and support.

Mom and Dad, Grandpa and Grandma, Ron and Carol, Elder and Sister Allen.

2 November 2009

Dear Family and Friends,
All experience is precious. We participate in sacred teaching moments almost every day, often with the young missionaries, but always with the Holy Spirit in some measure and often in abundance.
A few days ago we shared a gospel message and scriptures regarding the temple with a beautiful lady, widow, and mother of five grown children. Before she was baptized, she shared this spiritual experience with us:



Our little flat with new member guests and missionaries, l to r Christine, Phil, Wilma, Elders, Joan (of whom we write)The missionaries had been teaching her. They were inspired to come one evening unannounced and date her for baptism. After being seated and offering a prayer, there was a moment when no words were spoken, none were needed nor could any words convey the feelings that were felt. She looked at a picture of Michael, her husband, on the mantle and felt his presence and certain approval that she should join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Tears flowed then and tears flowed when she related the sacred experience with us. She is preparing to enter the temple as soon as allowed and do all the work necessary to be sealed to her departed husband and father of her five children all of whom live in the UK.
I share the Gospel with this lady everyday. Liverpool ferry dock. Departing for the Isle.At the time of the above mentioned recent message about the blessings of the temple, a month following her baptism, this dear sister had just started chemotherapy for breast cancer and was feeling a little burdened although her attitude and continence is always bright. At the end of the message, the young elders said they wanted to sing to her. They knelt on the floor, opened a hymn book, and in sweet harmony, sang all three verses of “Nearer My God to Thee”. The experience was very special for all of us and again tears were evident as the Spirit warmed our hearts to overflowing.
Sharing the Gospel brings the greatest joy we can experience in this life. The joy of sharing the gospel comes with more frequency perhaps to full time missionaries but is by no means the exclusive “property” of the set apart missionaries of the Church.
D&C 18:15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one asoul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!
16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the akingdom of my Father, how great will be your bjoy if you should bring many csouls unto me!





Sharing the Gospel with each other in our recent district meeting on the Isle of Man In each and every sharing-the- Gospel experience where the Holy Ghost is present, we have experienced joy, such as blessing a baby, anointing and blessing the
sick, praying for a brother or sister on both sides of the veil, teaching in the class room or in the home, providing sacred ordinances in the temple for ancestors, teaching a child by example and by word, kneeling in family prayer, reading the scriptures as a family and with your spouse, visiting a brother/sister in the hospital or in prison, declaring by word and deed the Lord’s good news at all times, in all places, and in all things.
We are sharing the Gospel with this recently married couple helping them to become more active and preparing them for the Temple. Hop Tu Naa (Halloween)How do we cry repentance unto this people? Could “this people” be my spouse, my children, my friend, my neighbor, my ancestor, my enemy, my family, my brother, my sister, my friend? And could “crying repentance” simply mean loving your neighbor as yourself by sharing of the Restored Gospel that sings in your heart like a fire is burning? Could it be that all experience is precious bringing repentance, forgiveness, and love into the lives of all with whom we are privileged to be? Could it be that God’s every word will be fulfilled “whether by mine own voice or the voice of my servants, it is the same”? Could it be?



Alex and Christina Buck with whom we share the Gospel as their Valiant leaders. Their mother is from Hungaria and these children speak more than one language. They wanted to do a silly picture with us, after we took a good photo for a Talent Night







Since 1830 the Restored Gospel has been shared by millions to millions and will continue to be shared from one end of heaven to the other until the Lord comes and the earth be filled with light and truth as the waters cover the deep.
Between 1840 and 1860 tens of thousands of Latter-day Saints embarked from these docks on ships that carried them from their homeland to gather with the Saints in America.
Among these were many of our fore bearers. The family statue could easily represent our great grandparents.
Statue of convert family leaving the Albert docks, Liverpool, England 1840 to 1860My great grandfather joined the Church at the age of 22 and emigrated from Newport, Shropshire, from these docks on the ship Jacavia in 1854. His son, Joseph married my grandmother who emigrated from Warwickshire from these docks in 1908 when she was 19. The missionaries taught her the Gospel in England. Tens of thousands of people have been blessed and will be blessed for each faithful Latter-day Saint baptized. One can multiply into many among those who are faithful to their covenants from those early converts in England as well as those baptized today.
Painting of the Albert docks, Liverpool—1800’sIn 1837 on a ship like these, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde of the Quorum of the Twelve, Joseph Fielding and Isaac Russell, Willard Richards, John Goodson, and John Snider disembarked on these docks. They knew no one, had no place to stay, no place to preach, and had little or no money. They knew they had been called of God by a Prophet. They knew the Restored Gospel was true. They had the Book of Mormon and knew it was true.
Douglas, Isle of Man. The promenade arches around the bay for 2.5 milesElder John Taylor first shared the Restored Gospel here with the people of Douglas 17 September, 1840, after first contacting his wife’s girlhood friends. Leonora Cannon Taylor grew up in Peel on the Isle of Man. As he set foot on the Isle of Man, John Taylor’s lonesomeness for Leonora came flooding back, for it was here, he knew, that she had spent her youth. He allowed himself to think also of her privations and suffering and the ordeal of separation they both endured, but he comforted himself by crying inwardly: “A few more struggles and the battle will be fought, the victory will be ours.” The “minister” from America soon organized a branch of the Church on the Isle of Man and left it in good hands when he departed in mid November. Among those baptized were Charles Cowley who had been “seeking and praying for correct information concerning the will of God”, and John Quayle who, with his family, was convinced that John Taylor was an Apostle with a message from God. We are all engaged until the conflict is over. Happy are we! Happy are we!


We love you all. Mom and Dad, Grandpa and Grandma, Elder and Sister Allen

Dear Family, Oct. 24, 09

It is so great to hear about your activities and getting ready for Halloween. Here they call it, “Hop to Nae” (which is manx Gaelic). Still the same they have costumes, go door to door for candy (sweeties) and have fun parties. They do have pumpkins, but tradition is a “sweed” (large turnip). The sweed is very hard and they use a lot of pressure to open a center cut small enough and deep enough for a candle. Then the children hold the sweed, like holding a large carrot with a candle in the top and walk around with their own ‘torch’ (we would call it a flash light or candle light). They seem to like the pumpkin carving better as the pumpkin is soft to cut into and easier to carve for the children. We are in an apartment where no one can come in unless we open the gate and door, so probably no ‘trick or treater’s for us this year.

(The above picture Dad and I with Anita a Young Adult, just taken two days ago.)

We have invited the Elders over for a birthday dinner for Elder Shull. The Elder’s can’t be on the street on Halloween and Elder Shull’s birthday is a couple days earlier and so we decided it would be a good evening to have them for dinner and we will probably play one of our missionary DVD’s for entertainment.

We send our Happy Birthday wishes to all the October birthdays. Hope that everyone has had a great birthday. Derek, your birth just past and Luke, your birthday is tomorrow. Our thoughts and wishes are with you for each birthday. We think about you as I look at the calendar pictures and we pray for you always with each prayer.
I know that Luke you will be looking forward to your baptism as will Ethan and Natalie in December, so I’m going to send you a picture of Laurance, who was baptized a year ago and chose to be baptized in the Irish Sea, which surrounds this island. Some of the beaches on the island are very rugged and rocky and much of the surface if sheer cliffs where there is no beach. However on the southern part of the island there is a lovely sandy beach and one that they could walk out far and deep enough to baptize him. They had to wait for a wave large enough to cover him, Brother Clark raised his arm and said the words… and then they had to wait for the wave. He had to have two witnesses in the water also to make sure all was covered. Quite a process and the sea is cold, so those on the sand were ready with blankets and towels to dry everyone off. I’m sure they all rushed to their cars to get out of the weather after this baptism. Laurance was beaming.

So Luke and Ethan, you can find much blessing to know that you can be baptized in the warmth of the church, in warm water, with many loved ones near to be a part of this special covenant that you will be making.


We have told you in earlier letters that a lady (Wilma in her kitchen with us for tea) from Scotland was baptized in July. Since then her niece Sain (Shawn) has been baptized here on the island and in Scotland her older son Chris and her mother who live in Falkirk, Scotland (Trevor you may know where Falkirk is. South and east of Edinburgh.) Now her younger son Luke, who is 10 years old and a very active boy is going to be baptized this Saturday (Halloween). The missionaries jump on their trampoline before they started to teach. It seems to help wear him down a little before they try to get him serious. However, Wilma told us that he is starting to give good prayers and even bless the "guys from the church" (rather than the Elders). The missionaries have been working with him and making each lesson fun and exciting.

We have district meeting every Tuesday morning with the Full time Elders. One of them is the district leader and so he plans the meeting. This last week we did a scripture chase, getting ready for zone conference. Well you can imagine how well Dad would do with that, so the challenge was on. I think Elder Shull got 20 first and Dad got 11 and Elder Miller 7 and I just sat and watched. Pres. Bullock had a list of 125 scriptures taken from Preach My Gospel. So the idea is they put out a few words and then rush to find the scripture. It was a fun meeting for the Elders and I enjoyed watching them hurry to find the reference.

Here is a picture taken that day as Elder Shull is now going home the first week of November. He is from Pennsylvania, convert of 3 years, going back to Pennsylvania and planning to attend BYU in January to major in medicine. He is a very spiritual and loving young man, feeling the anxiety of leaving the mission and going home. He has been brought up by goodly parents and we feel that when we are together. He knows what a celestial day is like.

Elder Miller is from St. Anthony, Idaho. A cowboy that rides the bull’s at the rodeo along with his father. His dad breaks horses and so does Elder Miller. He is the oldest in his family of 4 , 3 boys and 1 girl, a true Idaho boy (I would know). He love the mission and is learning to serve with all his heart, might, and soul. We enjoy these Elders and they are very good to us.

Every morning Dad will either run or walk with me. When he runs, he will go about 5 miles and then came back along the road to see if he can find me. I walk about 3 miles each morning, rain or shine. Sometimes the wind is so strong, we feel like we are about to get blown off the island. Other days it is calm and peaceful. The weather seems to change with the tide and now it is getting closer to winter, we find it a little cooler, but not uncomfortable. This island is freshly washed and cleaned almost every day. We have no pollution. Sometimes we get the fog or mist, but the wind blows the island clean, the rain washes it good.

We love you all so very much. We pray for you each and every day. We miss you especially when it is your birthday. Especially on the special events, like baptism and turning 12 year olds. (Colby’s your names will be coming). Wish we could be with you when your baptized and when you go to the temple to do baptism for the names we sent.

Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa

Dear Family and Friends, 11 Oct 2009

We are constantly in awe and wonder with thanksgiving for the miracles in our midst. A few failed appointments and occasional negative remarks and failing a driver’s test here and there are of little consequence when the song of redeeming love, newly kindled in the hearts of recently baptized and newly activated members, is shared by the teacher and the learner alike—the harmony and love is delicious.

These three sisters shared a between Conference sessions meal in our apartment. Sister Peel is recently activated. Sister Grimshaw is recently baptized. Sister Cahalan is now ready and desirous of attending the temple. She has overcome a lifetime of worldly living. We have grown to love them dearly and plan to attend the temple with them in the near future.




Sian was recently baptized. Her non-member friends attended on her right. On her left is Gee from China. She lives two floors above us in the Majestic Apartments. She has no background in religion of any kind having been raised in Communist China. She wants to learn about Christianity. We are teaching her very slowly about Jesus Christ and His Gospel. She attends Church regularly and loves what she feels and hears while among the Saints. She speaks English quite well but has no understanding of such words as restoration, baptism, repentance, Jesus Christ, Holy Ghost, revelation, and Priesthood authority. Her heart is good and she feels good in the presence of the Spirit.


Daryl was just baptized. His sister attended and came to church for his confirmation. We are good friends. She will be baptized someday. We are setting a date in November for Leslie, Joan, Sian, and Daryl to attend the Temple to do baptisms for the dead. Helping them understand the great blessing of Temple work and doing their family history is a joy.
Priesthood blessings have been a significant part of the conversion and healing of these dear people. By small and simple means are great things brought to pass—one faithful new member is magnified many times both among the living and especially among those family members in the spirit world.

Elder Allen, Daryl Cronin ready to be baptized, Elder Shull a convert of three years from Pennsylvania, and Sister Allen from Happy Valley, Oregon.
How did these people come together on the Isle of Man September the 26th, 2009, to love each other and become forever friends?
Answer the question correctly and you may have a greater understanding of Heavenly Father’s marvelous work and a wonder being magnified over the world—from one end of heaven to the other.





Elder Driscoll, Sian Malloy, Elder Shull after Sian’s baptism. Luke is the 10 year old son of Wilma Muir (born in Scotland ) who was recently baptized. He is taking the lessons to be baptized—much like roping and tying a wild calf that is lovable. We jump on the trampoline together and he steals our name tags just to get some loving attention. He has never had a real father. Since his mother was baptized, Luke will be the fifth member of his family to be baptized in the past two months—miracles all.



During a zone conference in August, we did a tour of Church History sites in England. The bus driver was friendly and when I ask him about the Church, he replied with this question: “If there is a loving God in Heaven, why all the suffering, injustice, and hurting of innocent people that is apparent all around us?” He sincerely wanted to know of a purpose in life.
We talked about agency, the Fall and God’s plan of happiness whereby not one of us has or ever will be forced to do anything or experience anything that we did not first choose to do and experience. We spoke of the pre-existence and how we made choices there that are directly related to our time, condition, and place here in mortality. We talked about the man born blind from birth as recorded in John 9:1- 3. He accepted a Book of Mormon as tangible evidence of the truthfulness of these things and promised to read it. There is a wonderful purpose in life and all experience is precious. And if these things be true then should we not proclaim it to all with whom we are privileged to be?


It was down this Chatburn-Downham Village road in the Ribble Valley in 1838, sixteen miles upriver from Preston, that Heber C. Kimball and Joseph Fielding experienced an overwhelming spiritual highlight of their first mission to the British Isles. As they began to leave the two towns, doors were crowded and villagers lined the streets, weeping as they said their farewells. Within two days Heber and Joseph had baptized and confirmed 110 persons. Of this sacred time, Heber wrote: “While contemplating this scene we were induced to take off our hats, for we felt as if the place was holy ground—the Spirit of the Lord rested down upon us and I was constrained to bless that whole region of country, we were followed by a great number, a considerable distance from the villages who could hardly separate themselves from us. My heart was like unto theirs, and I thought my head was a fountain of tears, for I wept for several miles after I bid them adieu.”
The Spirit was strong with our fathers to help bring the Restored Gospel to millions of us, the children, today. Heber said of these dear people, “They are full of Love.”

Just out of Liverpool, looking west toward the Isle of Man, the sun sets into the Irish Sea. “The earth rolls upon her wings, and the sun giveth his light by day, and the moon giveth her light by light by night, and the stars also give their light, as they roll upon their wings in their glory, in the midst of the power of God.” D&C 88:45



May our lives be filled with God’s love and peace.
We love you all and are so blessed to be family, brothers and sisters, and friends.
Mom and Dad, Grandpa and Grandma, Ron and Carol, Elder and Sister Allen

Dear Family, 28 September 2009

Many of you have sent letters and we so appreciate them. I just tried to put a few things in this letter that would answer some of your questions. We love hearing about the family and have so enjoyed your letters, and the forwarded letters from Alicia. She sounds like she is doing fine work with the spirit, which will bless her with the language. She already loves these people from her and Maddison’s experience a year or so ago.

We work with a set of Elders (Elder Driscoll from Aberdeen, Idaho, Dad, Mom, and Elder Shull from Pennsylvania. Elder Shull has only been a member 3 years.) here on the island. We are the only called missionaries working on the island. There is one ward, called Douglas Ward. The ward has a very strong missionary committee and they will teach with the Elders “as a lesson taught to investigators with a member present” . Dad and I also teach, just like the full time Elders as we are trained and called to do the same. We also work strongly with the ward less active members and have been able to visit every member of the ward since we have been here.

Many of the wards less active are part member families. Some are child of record who never went to church after they were baptized and know very little about the church. So they are much the same as a new convert.

Here is Sain (pronounced Shawn) Malloy just baptized on the 18th of September by the tall Elder Driscoll. She was golden and came unto Christ by a lot of study and the Elders gave her lessons each week. She would write down her answers and present them each time they came to teach. She is the niece of Wilma (from Scotland) who was baptized in August. Also Wilma’s mother and her older son, both in Scotland were baptized a week ago. So the field is white and the work goes on. We had 30 baptisms in our mission last month.

We have another baptism scheduled on the 26th if we can get all the paper work proper. The way the missionaries teach now using the Preach my Gospel is wonderful. I think I sent some opening approaches that we use here in the EMM mission that I think will be adopted into the training of the missionaries all over the world. They are taken from the PMG and have doubled our baptism in this mission. If you saw them and read through them, they are words that can be used when first approaching someone, while teaching, and while testifying.

The girl on the left is Jie Shan (Jie is pronounced “G”) She lives above us in the apartment and is from China. She has no knowledge of anything spiritual. All the words we use about Christianity or Religion is totally new to her. We have spent some time just helping her understand who God is and Jesus Christ. She doesn’t understand apostles and prophets. She is very intelligent and speaks English very well. She is on the island as a buyer for China. We will continue teaching her and maybe she will come unto Christ.

We are trying to keep up with the college football teams. Even though we don’t have a TV, we do go on and check the scores at the “end of the day” (an English phrase). We are watching BYU, Boise, U of W, USU and maybe a little UofU. Not to interested in Oregon. I’m sure that Dad is looking at more, but that is enough to make me happy. Kind of surprised at BYU’s last game, but we are still early in the season.

We are enjoying the mission and keep very busy. Dad is in his glory!!! He tells me that he doesn’t talk much, but I can tell you that when he is talking scriptures he never stops talking. I keep reminding him that we need to simplify, but too much information is only confusing. That is Dad’s challenge and mine is not saying enough. So I’m sure we some what balance each other.

We do have some family file names we could send if anyone is interested. They will need to have the baptisms to sealing done. I know that we have a few grandchildren turning 12 and these would be wonderful for them to take to the temple and do the baptism as a family. I will for sure send some for Emily, Pierce and Andrew.


We sure love you all. Please keep your letters coming as we love hearing all about home. We pray for you all each and every day and know the Lord hears and answers our prayers in behalf of our families at home.

Love ya, Mom and Dad

Hiya, Hiya, dear family and friends, 9 September 2009

This greeting is Manx. It is given in a high, cheerful tone.
Picture of River Ribble, site of a recent zone conference. How blessed we are, all of us, to be engaged in this great work, this marvelous work and a wonder, this building up of the Kingdom of God on the earth and the establishment of Zion, this gathering of the Lord’s elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other, this binding together families forever that when the Lord comes we may be able to stand and so standing be connected to our roots (ancestors or fathers) and to our branches (descendants or children)—Malachi 4:1, JSH 1:37

The stone was cut out without hands the 6th of April 1830 in upper state New York and first commenced to roll forth to fill the earth at this place: the River Ribble, where citizens of Preston often took Sunday strolls along the promenade leading from the city to Avenham Park. On Sunday, July 30, 1837, a crowd gathered at the river’s edge curious about the baptisms taking place there. They watched George D.Watt, who had changed his clothing a short distance away, race an older gentleman to the river, claiming the honor of being the first Latter-day Saint to be baptized in England. Because baptizing by immersion in the open air was somewhat novel, a concourse of between seven and nine thousand persons assembled on the banks of the river to witness the ceremony. A total of nine individuals were baptized that Sabbath morning, only one week after the first meeting in the Vauxhall Chapel.

From these small beginnings in the summer of 1837 when the Lord called Heber C. Kimball and six companions to take the message of the restored gospel to England, great things have come to pass. Many thousands of us are in the Church today because our English ancestors listened to these and the missionaries that followed. My grandmother heard the missionaries in Warwickshire, England, as a young girl, was healed of a fatal heart problem by their blessing when she was 14, baptized a member of the Church when she was 19 and emigrated to America. The stone continues to grow to fill the earth.

Joan Grimshaw, Phil and Christine Taylor, and Wilma Muir are recent converts. Their baptisms have filled our hearts with joy, the Douglas ward is energized with love and thanksgiving for these wonderful additions to the ward family. Wilma’s son and her mother are being baptized in Scotland this weekend.

Brother and Sister Taylor ask Edwick Zimvave, a convert of less than a year (she and her husband and 2 year old son will be sealed in the Preston Temple this November) to give the closing prayer for their baptismal service. Christine Taylor did the flower arrangements which were given to each participant in the service. These precious people are like thousands over the world who listen to the voice of the Lord, repent, make sacred covenants with the Lord, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. They experience a mighty change in their hearts, smile with warmth and radiant inner beauty, dress differently, work better, really love their families—they do everything better. They simply become more beautiful people through the sanctifying power of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Three daughters of Zion: Sister Allen, Christine Taylor, baptized the evening this picture was taken, and Sain (pronounced Shaun) Malloy whose baptism is set for the 19th of September. Sain wept for joy in our recent fast and testimony meeting when, after bearing her own sweet testimony, it was testified of her that the miracle of her personal changes for the better had strengthened the testimonies of the members and filled their hearts with love and joy for the Lord and His tender mercies.

Elder Driscroll, one of the Lord’s true messengers, Brother Taylor, a purebred Manxman, (baptized the evening this picture was taken), Daryl Cronin who is dated for baptism the 26th of September (he was in grief after his mom died just recently, was given a priesthood blessing which so comforted and touched him in his heart that he ask to have the missionary lessons and become a member of the Church. We meet with him regularly. The changes in his person are miraculous and bring great joy to us all.), and Bishop Grove from Australia who is overjoyed for these great new members coming into the Douglas ward.

All things are fulfilled by faith on the part of many. We can do nothing of ourselves. This is God’s work and His glory. No man or woman stands alone. We without them cannot be made perfect neither can they without us be made perfect.

The upper floor of this flat was occupied by Elder Hinckley and his companion in 1933. Elder Hinckley was discouraged. He wrote his father that he was coming home. His father wrote back, “Gordon, forget yourself and go to work”. And his father was not lacking in prayers for his son. Elder Hinckley chose to stay the course and millions have been and will be blessed for it. So it was for Alma the younger whose father prayed for him with much faith and diligence. The miracle of the angel coming to Alma and his companions to bring Alma to repentance and conversion was God’s alone to do by the prayer of faith of Alma’s father and others. Indeed by faith all things are fulfilled (Ether 12: 3).

Your faith and prayers on behalf of the missionaries helps bring about these miracles of conversion. Thank you so much for your faith, love and support. The Lord gifts to us each and every soul that comes into His Kingdom. The miracles that God grants for our blessing are a direct result of our collective faith, prayers, righteous example, and love. You are in our prayers for the marvelous work you are able to do in your homes, your workplaces, our Temples, and your neighborhoods as you invite all with whom your are privileged to be to come unto Christ.

We are wonderfully busy, healthy, and feel so blessed to have these great experiences together. Zion has not fled. Zion is here and there and everywhere over the earth. Love always,

Dad and Mom, Grandma and Grandpa, Elder and Sister Allen