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Rare 1992 Men With A Mission 1837-1841 Quorum of Twelve in British Isles [Paperback] Allen, Esplin, Whittaker
This rare and vintage book is a perfect addition to any bibliophile's collection
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First published January 18, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 26, 2010
I have had the book on my bookshelf for years and always felt that it was something I should read. I have such a love for Britain and have deep feelings about missionary work in that land. I tried starting it a couple of times and couldn't get too far. This time I was determined to persist through the first few chapters and I'm glad I did. I really wish I could give this 3 1/2 stars - I toyed with giving it 4, but finally settled on 3 because I really did enjoy reading it, but because the beginning put me off a couple of times.
The book chronicles the mission of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in Britain between 1837 and 1841 (as the title indicates). As I mentioned the beginning was hard for me to get through because for some reason it came off as a bit textbook-y for me. But as I persisted, I was rewarded with a better understanding of the importance of this mission and the development of the early Apostles and how it prepared them for leading the Church (of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). Which quickly became critical since Joseph Smith was martyred only 3 years following their return from Britain.
This is definitely a historical exploration of these events and is not intended to be a novel, nor does it read as a novel. It gives the reader an appreciation for the events that transpired. The authors were careful not to draw upon folklore or unconfirmed tales from the time period. I'm glad to have read this book and to have learned so much of this critical and important part of LDS Church history.
The book chronicles the mission of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in Britain between 1837 and 1841 (as the title indicates). As I mentioned the beginning was hard for me to get through because for some reason it came off as a bit textbook-y for me. But as I persisted, I was rewarded with a better understanding of the importance of this mission and the development of the early Apostles and how it prepared them for leading the Church (of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). Which quickly became critical since Joseph Smith was martyred only 3 years following their return from Britain.
This is definitely a historical exploration of these events and is not intended to be a novel, nor does it read as a novel. It gives the reader an appreciation for the events that transpired. The authors were careful not to draw upon folklore or unconfirmed tales from the time period. I'm glad to have read this book and to have learned so much of this critical and important part of LDS Church history.
December 24, 2019
Despite only giving this book three stars, I actually am glad that I read it. I chose to read it after participating in the Nauvoo pageant this past summer and learning about the missionary work in England during the early days of the church.
A few things I learned were that there were as many as nine of the 12 apostles serving at one time there, missionary work was most successful from "member referrals", wide spread poverty in Britain at the time led to a humility that brought many into the church, speaking in and the interpretation of tongues was a somewhat common practice, and many other items.
I was inspired by the unity the apostles had amongst themselves while they were abroad, which stood in stark contrast to many of the other leaders who played some role in the story of the restoration. Those who served went on to be pillars of faith which had a tremendous influence in the growth of the church after Joseph Smith's death.
Why only three stars then? After a while, even the amazing stories of conversion and sacrifice began to feel the same. Would also liked to have read more about the particulars of what the apostles taught while they were there which resounded so much with the English saints.
A few things I learned were that there were as many as nine of the 12 apostles serving at one time there, missionary work was most successful from "member referrals", wide spread poverty in Britain at the time led to a humility that brought many into the church, speaking in and the interpretation of tongues was a somewhat common practice, and many other items.
I was inspired by the unity the apostles had amongst themselves while they were abroad, which stood in stark contrast to many of the other leaders who played some role in the story of the restoration. Those who served went on to be pillars of faith which had a tremendous influence in the growth of the church after Joseph Smith's death.
Why only three stars then? After a while, even the amazing stories of conversion and sacrifice began to feel the same. Would also liked to have read more about the particulars of what the apostles taught while they were there which resounded so much with the English saints.
September 19, 2021
Solid history written for an LDS audience. Published by Deseret Books, it has a faithful, church style and message. Still, it is solid sources and footnotes. It documents well the missions up the Ribble Valley, the Potteries, the United Brethren conversions in Hereford/Gloucester/Worcestershire, London, Liverpool, Manchester and on to Wales and Scotland. I will refer to this often with my ongoing research.
October 10, 2025
BOOK REVIEW - Men with a Mission, 1837-1841, The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the British Isles, by James B. Allen, Ronald K. Esplin, and David J. Whittaker (1998)
This book is a narrative of one of the most ambitious and consequential missionary endeavors in early Latter-day Saint history: the dispatch of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to the British Isles during 1837–1841. Although adversity dogged their path, their efforts proved transformative, not merely for British converts but for the Church itself. Men with a Mission spares no detail about the sacrifices and obstacles. The mission was launched at a time of intense external persecution, internal tension, and financial fragility for the Church. The authors paint a vivid picture of missionary life: journeys on often primitive roads; the strain of illness, homesickness, and poverty; confronting hostile mobs, legal obstacles, and spiritual discouragement; and enduring long absences from home and family.
These men, whose average age was only about thirty-one, had to preach, publish tracts, and administer a burgeoning body of converts while sustaining themselves in unfamiliar cultural and economic settings. They walked long distances, slept in humble quarters, subsisted on meager resources, and often found themselves vulnerable to the shifting tides of public opinion and local suspicion. In addition, the book explores the emotional and domestic strains placed on Apostles’ wives, the loneliness, and the nagging worry of what awaited them back home. Those personal costs were seldom recounted in purely institutional histories, but they emerge here in haunting clarity.
The Apostles produced pamphlets, tracts, and newspapers to propagate doctrine and respond to criticism, but these required capital, printing infrastructure, and local networks — all of which had to be established almost from scratch. In many areas, they were outsiders contending with established religious traditions, language differences, and skepticism about “American prophets.” The authors show that the Apostles were, in many respects, cultural entrepreneurs as much as spiritual emissaries.
Despite the enormity of their burdens, the mission to Britain was nothing short of spectacular in its achievements. The authors detail how within a few short years, the Apostles and their associates had planted the seeds of a vigorous and self-sustaining British Church. Congregations sprang up, local membership flourished, and missionary momentum fed itself.
One of the boldest decisions, with lasting consequence, was the systematic effort to gather British converts to America. Beginning in 1840, the mission began organizing groups of converts to emigrate, which greatly strengthened the transatlantic unity of the Church and enhanced the demographic, spiritual, and intellectual resources of the movement. As Britain became one of the major “nurseries” of Mormonism, its contributions in manpower, leadership, and finances shaped the Church’s growth for decades.
The ripple effects of this mission extended far beyond the British Isles. Men with a Mission convincingly argues that the success in Britain reshaped the identity, strategy, and self-confidence of the Church. The influx of British converts bolstered the Church’s demographic base in the United States, especially in Nauvoo and later Utah. Many British Saints would become leaders, missionaries, and cultural bridges between Europe and the American Church. The British mission was a turning point: it helped transition Mormonism from a fragile American frontier movement to a genuinely international, transatlantic church.
The book is more than history, it is a gripping narrative of faith under fire, visionary leadership, and missionary triumph. The authors’ use of primary documents, letters, diaries, and missionary tracts gives the reader a sense of walking alongside the Apostles. The book illuminates how, under extreme hardship, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles turned a daring revelation into a foundational missionary triumph — a triumph whose echo continues to shape the Church to this day.
Quote:
“Their adventures in the British Isles are a truly epic story in Latter-day Saint missionary work — poignant, powerful, and inspiring.”
“This is the story of how those courageous young leaders (their average age was thirty-one) preached, published, confronted devils and persecutors, battled poverty, walked great distances, suffered homesickness, and won the hearts and loyalty of those who became the British Saints.”
This book is a narrative of one of the most ambitious and consequential missionary endeavors in early Latter-day Saint history: the dispatch of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to the British Isles during 1837–1841. Although adversity dogged their path, their efforts proved transformative, not merely for British converts but for the Church itself. Men with a Mission spares no detail about the sacrifices and obstacles. The mission was launched at a time of intense external persecution, internal tension, and financial fragility for the Church. The authors paint a vivid picture of missionary life: journeys on often primitive roads; the strain of illness, homesickness, and poverty; confronting hostile mobs, legal obstacles, and spiritual discouragement; and enduring long absences from home and family.
These men, whose average age was only about thirty-one, had to preach, publish tracts, and administer a burgeoning body of converts while sustaining themselves in unfamiliar cultural and economic settings. They walked long distances, slept in humble quarters, subsisted on meager resources, and often found themselves vulnerable to the shifting tides of public opinion and local suspicion. In addition, the book explores the emotional and domestic strains placed on Apostles’ wives, the loneliness, and the nagging worry of what awaited them back home. Those personal costs were seldom recounted in purely institutional histories, but they emerge here in haunting clarity.
The Apostles produced pamphlets, tracts, and newspapers to propagate doctrine and respond to criticism, but these required capital, printing infrastructure, and local networks — all of which had to be established almost from scratch. In many areas, they were outsiders contending with established religious traditions, language differences, and skepticism about “American prophets.” The authors show that the Apostles were, in many respects, cultural entrepreneurs as much as spiritual emissaries.
Despite the enormity of their burdens, the mission to Britain was nothing short of spectacular in its achievements. The authors detail how within a few short years, the Apostles and their associates had planted the seeds of a vigorous and self-sustaining British Church. Congregations sprang up, local membership flourished, and missionary momentum fed itself.
One of the boldest decisions, with lasting consequence, was the systematic effort to gather British converts to America. Beginning in 1840, the mission began organizing groups of converts to emigrate, which greatly strengthened the transatlantic unity of the Church and enhanced the demographic, spiritual, and intellectual resources of the movement. As Britain became one of the major “nurseries” of Mormonism, its contributions in manpower, leadership, and finances shaped the Church’s growth for decades.
The ripple effects of this mission extended far beyond the British Isles. Men with a Mission convincingly argues that the success in Britain reshaped the identity, strategy, and self-confidence of the Church. The influx of British converts bolstered the Church’s demographic base in the United States, especially in Nauvoo and later Utah. Many British Saints would become leaders, missionaries, and cultural bridges between Europe and the American Church. The British mission was a turning point: it helped transition Mormonism from a fragile American frontier movement to a genuinely international, transatlantic church.
The book is more than history, it is a gripping narrative of faith under fire, visionary leadership, and missionary triumph. The authors’ use of primary documents, letters, diaries, and missionary tracts gives the reader a sense of walking alongside the Apostles. The book illuminates how, under extreme hardship, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles turned a daring revelation into a foundational missionary triumph — a triumph whose echo continues to shape the Church to this day.
Quote:
“Their adventures in the British Isles are a truly epic story in Latter-day Saint missionary work — poignant, powerful, and inspiring.”
“This is the story of how those courageous young leaders (their average age was thirty-one) preached, published, confronted devils and persecutors, battled poverty, walked great distances, suffered homesickness, and won the hearts and loyalty of those who became the British Saints.”
April 30, 2012
Published by Deseret Book in 1992 A very detailed account of the above mentioned years as at least 9 Apostles resided in the British Isles and brought into the church some very receptive people. The book describes the sacrifices they made as well as their families back in Nauvoo. Most of the book is derived from letters and journal entries from those in England and those back in America. This mission became a foundation for the growth of the Church in years to come. The leadership the Apostles learned during their years in the British Isles helped carry the church forward until the death of Wilford Woodruff in 1898, last of the Apostles to die.
A very detailed, yet engaging account of the successes and failures and growth of the Church and growth of the Apostles during the "Great Britain Years."
A very detailed, yet engaging account of the successes and failures and growth of the Church and growth of the Apostles during the "Great Britain Years."
November 12, 2010
Men with a Mission is a fascinating historical book about the rise of the LDS church in England. Although it is a history, Allen writes it in story form, allowing the reader to become engaged in the book much more easily. It contains humor, spiritual stories, history, and allows greater insight into the men who established the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in England. It also is well-referenced and even the footnotes are interesting enough that I wanted to (and did) read them all. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes LDS Church history!
July 8, 2010
I learned to appreciate the huge sacrifice of the early Mormon Apostles and their wives as they went to England to preach the Gospel. It is a great story that affected my life as my ancestors were among those that listened and believed. It is a bit heavy in detail, as it was first written as a textbook, but it is very good and inspiring. It was out of print for a while, but is now available again.
June 17, 2010
I enjoyed reading this well written book about the mission of the Twelve Apostles to England in the 1840s. I particularly enjoyed reading some of the letters and reading about the things that their wives experienced as well, and it was so uplifting and inspiring to me the sacrifices that all of them were willing to make and the ways in which they were blessed.
March 8, 2021
A beautiful history of the first Latter-day Saint missionaries to England. Having served my mission there, it was especially relevant and nostalgic. It's a good read for every scholar of church history, but not essential.
September 16, 2007
Great story of faith.
February 25, 2008
A moving history of the early apostles' mission to GB. Totally inspiring, true acounts packaged into very readable prose.
March 3, 2010
I really liked this book and found the mission of the early LDS apostles to England to be fascinating. One of the better LDS historical books that I've read.
March 21, 2011
I am glad I read this book. I learned a lot about the early days of the LDS Church in Great Britain and about the men who served as missionaries.
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June 27, 2023Built on the work of James Allen and Malcolm Thorp. Terrific history.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews