John Wycliffe

c. 1330-1384

John Wycliffe was an English theologian, philosopher and reformer who challenged the authority of the Catholic Church. He was educated at Oxford University and is best known for overseeing the translation of the Bible into common English, which he believed should be accessible to all people, not just the clergy. He was also a prominent academic and prolific writer, producing works on theology, philosophy, and politics. He is often referred to as the “Morning Star of the Reformation” because his teachings were taught over two hundred years later by Martin Luther as part of the Protestant Reformation.

Further Reading 

Full Britannica Biography
World History Encyclopaedia
Preparations for the Second Coming, Conference talk by Elder Rober D Hales (2005)

Hugh Latimer

c. 1487-1555

Hugh Latimer was an English bishop and preacher who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation in England. He was a close associate of Thomas Cranmer, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and was known for his passionate and engaging preaching style. By 1531, Latimer was known as one of the most outspoken and articulate preachers in the Reformed party. He was eventually arrested, tried for heresy, and burned at the stake. Latimer’s death, along with the execution of his fellow reformer Nicholas Ridley, is commemorated annually by the Church of England at the Feast of Saints Ridley, Latimer, and Cranmer.

Further Reading

Hugh Latimer Wikipedia 
On Persecution, article celebrating Feast of Saints Ridley, Latimer and Cranmer
Discerning History Article

John Lathrop

c. 1584-1653

Rev. John Lothropp (Lathrop or Lothrop) was born in Yorkshire, England and educated at Cambridge. He became an Anglican deacon who was later imprisoned for renouncing his orders and joining the First Independent Church, also known as the Congregational Church. He was released from prison after agreeing to immigrate to New England. Lathrop was a strong proponent of the idea of the separation of church and state, also known as the ‘Freedom of Religion’. This idea was considered heretical in England during his time but eventually became the mainstream view of people in the United States of America. His descendants include six American presidents.

Further Reading

John Lothropp Wikipedia
Lathrop Family History
Sturgis Library information
New England Ancestors

George Q Cannon

1827-1901

George Q Cannon emigrated from Liverpool to America with his family at age 16. He became a renowned publisher, politician, and religious leader who played a significant role in the development of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Cannon was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and a counsellor to four church presidents and was known for his efforts to promote economic self-sufficiency among the members of the church. He was also a prominent political figure in Utah Territory, serving as a delegate to the U.S. Congress and as the territorial delegate to the World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893.

Further Reading

Life Story on FamilySearch.org
Journals of George Q Cannon
Journal of his father George Cannon whilst sailing Liverpool to New Orleans

Alexander Baird

1832-1914

Alexander Baird was born in Paisley, Scotland. Just before his grandfather died, he said that his children’s children would see the true gospel of Jesus Christ established as it had been in the time of Jesus. As a young man Alexander was a weaver and sailor, he joined the Church in 1848 with his parents at the age of sixteen. A few months later he immigrated to St Louis, America. While there, he married Grace Barr and enlisted in the US Navy. Years later, he returned to his native Scotland where he was instrumental in helping family members who had fallen away to return to the gospel fold. Many of them then also immigrated to America, crossing the plains in 1863.

Further Reading

Life Biography of Alexander Baird 
On crossing the plains
His sailing over to America for emigration to Utah (he is not listed as he was a sailor but family members are listed) 
Site for further links to Baird and his family  
Account from Alexander Baird’s Journal

Heber Chase Kimball

1801-1868

Heber C. Kimball was one of the original apostles of the Church from 1835 to 1847. Son of blacksmith Solomon Kimball, he also trained as a blacksmith and potter. He was called by Joseph Smith to serve the first mission to England and “to open the door of salvation to that nation” in 1837. He arrived in Liverpool in mid-July with fellow Apostle Orson Hyde and five other missionaries. On his second mission to England in 1840 and 1841, Kimball preached initially around the Preston area and later worked as a missionary in London. His descendants include Spencer W Kimball who was President of the church from 1973 to 1985 and Quentin L. Cook who has been an apostle since 2007.

Further Reading

Lesson 15: The First Mission to Great Britain
Heber C. Kimball – Wikipedia
Brigham Young University
The first missionaries in England arrived on this day in 1837 – Church News

Margaret and Twizzleton Turley

Composite characters – meaning their names are fictitious but many of their lines and experiences are taken from various different diaries and experiences of real Latter-day Saints from the time period.

John Benbow

1800-1874

John Benbow was born in Grendon Warren, Herefordshire, England and married Jane Holmes in 1826. Wilford Woodruff baptised him in 1840 and he and his brother, William, helped Wilford Woodruff to find over 2,000 converts in less than eight months. His home and farm were used as a gathering place for those who wanted to learn about the Church and over 600 people were baptised in the Benbow Farm’s Pond. John helped to pay for the first European edition of the Book of Mormon and a hymnal. He emigrated from Liverpool to Nauvoo, Illinois in 1840 and helped to pay the passage for 40 other Church members

Further Reading

Harvest in Herefordshire – Ensign Article
This Must be a Famous Mormon – The John Benbow Story
A history written by a great-grandson (entire book)
Ensign peak – John Benbow Farm

Constable

March 1840

A police constable was sent by the local Anglican rector to Benbow’s Farm in Herefordshire, England to arrest Wilford Woodruff as he preached his last sermon of the day at the Benbow’s home. When the constable presented his warrant at the beginning of the meeting, Elder Woodruff explained that he had a licence to preach, just like the rector, but would be willing to speak to the constable after the meeting. Elder Woodruff recalled, “The power of God rested upon me, the spirit filled the house, and the people were convinced.” At the end of the meeting, seven people presented themselves for baptism, including the constable who had planned to arrest Elder Woodruff.

Further Reading

Wilford Woodruff’s Mission to the Three Counties
St Michaels and All Angels Church, Frome

Brigham Young

1801-1877

Brigham Young was the second president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death. He was a significant figure in the early history of the Church and played a crucial role in leading the church migration to the Salt Lake Valley in Utah. He supervised the trek of approximately 70,000 pioneers and founded 400 settlements. Born in Vermont, Young joined the Church in 1832 and quickly rose to prominence within the Church’s leadership. After the assassination of Joseph Smith in 1844, Young emerged as the leader of the church and led the saints during a period of intense persecution and turmoil.

Further Reading

More about Brigham Young’s life
Testimony of Brigham Young
Britannica – Brigham Young

George Cannon

1794-1844

George Cannon was born on December 3, 1794, on the Isle of Man, England. He married Ann Quayle and they had six children. John Taylor, George’s brother in law, served a mission in the British Isles and came to visit the family in 1840. He didn’t mention religion on his first visit but told them about the gospel when he returned; George and Ann were baptised into the Church exactly a month after John Taylor first visited. In 1842 they emigrated from Liverpool to America. Sadly, Ann Quayle Cannon died at sea, but the rest of the family arrived safely in Nauvoo where George married Mary Edwards in 1844.

Further Reading

George Cannon’s letters to Leonora Taylor
George’s journal from their sailing 
Link from BYU migration site to his sailing over to America
Overview of George Cannon embracing the gospel and leaving UK
Ann and George Cannon’s story

Angus Cannon

1834-1915

Born in Liverpool, England to Ann and George Cannon, Angus was 8 years old when his family set sail on the ship Sidney. His mother passed away six weeks into the journey and his father died the year after they arrived in Nauvoo, leaving Angus (now 10 years old) and his siblings orphans. That same summer of 1844, he requested baptism, having been too young to be baptised when his family first learned of the restored gospel. Angus travelled to the Salt Lake Valley at age 15 and continued to be a faithful member of the Church throughout his life. The faith that he developed in his youth was foundational to this continued discipleship.

Further Reading

Angus M. Cannon Story by Donald Q. Cannon
Boyhood (Family Search)
Link from BYU migration site to sailing over to America:

Ellen Maybin

c.1817-1885

Ellen Maybin was born in Antrim, Ireland. In 1884, she was an elderly woman and Elder Robert Marshall, one of the missionaries serving in Belfast at the time writes, “…Mrs. Ellen Maybin, the sick lady who had been nearly at the point of death a few days ago had walked the entire distance to White Well – nearly twenty miles, and landed there at 10 o’clock on Saturday night without a soul with her.” Ellen insisted she be baptised that same evening, in the dark, during the snowstorm. “Surely, the spirit of God was in the heart of this noble, ‘Mormon Lady.’” Ellen’s story has been included in the British Pageant even though it happened some years after most of the other stories.

Further Reading

History of the Saints in Ireland since 1840 (page 80)

Dan Jones

1810-1862

Dan Jones was born in Halkyn, North Wales and was an influential figure in the early history of the Church. He married Jane Melling in 1837, they immigrated to America and by 1841 were living in Missouri. He was baptised in 1843 and became an ardent supporter of Joseph Smith. The day before his death, while in Carthage Jail, Joseph Smith promised Dan that he would go to Wales again. He played a significant role in the migration of members to Utah and was also one of the most successful missionaries to serve in the British Isles. By the end of his first mission in 1849 there were nearly 4,000 members in Wales.

Further Reading

Ensign article on Dan Jones
Important information about Dan Jones on the Welsh Saints Project website
Thesis on the contributions of Dan Jones
Joseph Smith’s Promise to Dan Jones in Carthage Jail (Saints: Volume 1)  

George Wishart

c. 1513-1546

George Wishart was a Scottish Protestant reformer and preacher during the Scottish Reformation. He studied at the University of Cambridge where he became acquainted with Hugh Latimer who was influenced by the teachings of Martin Luther. Wishart travelled throughout Scotland, fearlessly preaching against the corruption and abuses of the current established church. His sermons attracted large crowds and he gained a reputation for his eloquence and commitment to reform. Wishart was eventually arrested, accused of heresy, and executed by burning at the stake. His martyrdom inspired many others to continue the cause of Protestant reform in Scotland.

Further Reading

Britannica for George Wishart
Wikipedia for George Wishart