James H. Wallis

James H. Wallis was an editor, poet, and hymn writer. He served a two-year mission to Britain as a traveling patriarch beginning in 1931. This was his fifth mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The call to James to become a Patriarch had come at the close of the Annual General Conference. On the afternoon of 6th April 1931, President Heber J Grant had requested James to visit the First Presidency office, where he was called to serve a mission in the British Isles with his wife and be ordained a Patriarch to bless the Saints there. During their time in England, Elizabeth was to serve on the Relief Society Board of the European Mission, along with Leah Widstoe and others.[1]

During their time in Britain, he gave approximately 1,300 patriarchal blessings. After their return, he continued giving patriarchal blessings in Salt Lake City until his death on August 22, 1940.

Wallis was born in London, England, on April 13, 1861. He joined the Church in 1877 and immigrated to Utah Territory in 1881.

Wallis learned the trade of printing while working in the British Mission Headquarters in Liverpool. He served as the publicity director in the European Mission and as associate editor of the Millennial Star.

He became the editor of the Vernal Express in Vernal, Utah, in 1917 and later bought the newspaper. The paper stayed in the family’s ownership until 2007. Wallis was the editor or publisher of twenty-two different papers in Utah and Idaho.

He wrote several poems. His hymn “Come, Ye Children of the Lord” was included in the 1985 Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Wallis and his wife, Elizabeth, were married in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City. They were the parents of nine daughters and six sons.