Allen Family History

Patriarchal Blessing given to Amy Louise Leonard Allen

(volume 452, page 189) Farmington, Oct 2, 1887.

A Patriarchal Blessing given by John H. Tippets upon the head of Amy Louise Leonard, daughter of Truman and Mary Ann Leonard. Born March 17, 1865 in Farmington, Davis Co. Utah.

Amy Louise in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I place my hands upon your head to seal upon you a patriarchal blessing, according to your desires, which you have long sought for, and the blessings of the Holy Priesthood. You are entitled to by your faith and diligence, and endeavors, to become useful in the church and kingdom of God in the last dispensation which has been brought forth by the revelations of his will for the purpose of gathering in the House of Israel who are airs to the Holy Priesthood, and you have been brought forth in this dispensation, under the laws ordinances and covenants of that priesthood, and a legal heir from your birth and you are truly one of the daughters of Israel and of the seed of Abraham and have taken your lineage from the seed and blood of Ephraim and your name will be remembered in the house of Israel from generation to generation, for your motives are honest in the works that you are required to do, and your have kept yourself undefiled and your name will go down from generation to generation. Your posterity will be numerous, you will take pride in raising them to become ornaments in the kingdom of God, and they will grow up and honor your name, because of your diligence, and you will be preserved, an protected from the evils that are abroad in the earth, and protected from the powers of the destroyer, by the power of the Holy Spirit and to go forth upon earth in doing much good, and you will have an inheritance upon the earth, and children for a possession. You will be brought forth in the morning of the first Resurrection, and you works will continue and your name, together with the names of your parentage will be remembered throughout all coming time, and you will have a place, that is to be built up, in the Holy City and to enjoy the society of the daughters of Israel, which will be gathered in from every nation, kindred, tongue and people. All these blessings I pronounce and seal upon your head to enjoy in connection with a companion that you will delight to honor. Even so Amen.

C. A. Howard ~~~~~~~~~~

(volume 470, page 134) Sept 28, 1903

A blessing given under the hand of Patriarch Henry L Hinman upon the head of Amy Louise Leonard Allen daughter of Truman and Mary Ann Meadows Leonard. Born at Farmington, Davis Co. Utah March 17, 1865.

Sister Amy I place my hand upon the crown of your head and in the authority of the Holy Priesthood that I bear seal upon thee a Patriarchal Blessing. I bless you with the blessing of Sarah of Old that you may have strength and faith that will enable you to abide the same in faith and in power to call down the blessings of God upon you that you may truly be the mother of the faithful that you may be a stay and comfort unto your husband through all the labors of life which awaits him here in this life that you may hold up his hands and have words of comfort and strength under all the circumstances that he may be placed in that the spirit of love and unity may exist between you that would bring that confidence that will turn away all strife or heart burnings that often comes through a lack of perfect confidence. Then shall be blessed in thy lineage for thy children shall grow up noble and pure around thee and listen to thy councils and be strong and comfort to thee in this life and form the jewels that shall adorn thy crown in the world to come.

I bless thee with the gift of wisdom that thou mayst be a wise councilor in thy family and in the midst of thy assocites both here and hereafter I bless thee with the gift of faith revelation and the spirit of discernment that thou mayest be able to disern the spirits of men and women and render a righteous judgment among all people that thou dos’t come in contact with that thou mayest be able to escape the wicked and the evil and have joy in associating with the pure and the good. Listen to the prompting's of the Holy spirit and it will become a source of revelation unto thee for the mind and will of the Lord will be revealed unto thee according to thy needs. Be prayerful and humble and the Angles of the Lord will watch over thee and protect thee from dangers both seen and unseen I bless thee that thy bodily health and strength may be renewed unto thee from year to year for the accomplishment of the labors and duties required at thy hands of wifehood and Motherhood and of usefulness in the midst of thy fellows and that thy last days shall be thy best days for thy labors of a well spent life will crown thee with a joyous countenance a heart of peace with God and with all men for thou didst keep thy first estate and was beloved of the Lord and was chosen while yet in the spirit world to tabernacle in the flesh through the new and everlasting covenant and have the privilege of continuing thy labors that would exalt thee a Queen to rule and reign with thy husband in the celestial kingdom of our God forever for thou art of the blood of Ephraim and through thy faithfulness in times to come thou will attain to thy second estate and thy joy will be full. God will strengthen thee upon the right hand and upon the left and he will give unto thee power to be numbered with the wise virgins who shall go out to meet the bridegroom at his coming and enter in with him and sit down in his presence and enjoy a well earned rest in the Kingdom of our God thou shall be blessed with the good things of this world according to thy need and thy usefulness and thy days shall be lengthened out until thou has fully accomplished the mission that the Lord has called thee here to fill.

I bless thee with every gift and blessing that thy heart can desire in righteousness and seal thee up to come forth in the morning of the first resurrection and be crowned and numbered in thy fathers household. Be faithful in keeping all of the commandments of God and these blessings shall be thine. I seal them up on thee in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

Cardston Alta N. W. T. Canada ~~~~~~

(volume 902, page 179) Cardston, Alta., Can. Sept. 29, 1903

A Patriarchal Blessing given under the hand of Charles Ora Card upon the head of Amy Louise Leonard Allen, daughter of Truman and Mary Ann Meadows Leonard, born at Farmington, Davis Co., Utah, U.S.A. March, 17th, 1865.

Sister Amy Allen I place my hand upon the crown of your head, and Having the authority of the Holy Priesthood, confer upon you a blessing, that you may be known long in the land and enjoy the blessings of life, health, and strength, and even longevity. The hand of the Lord has been over you from the earliest period of your existence unto the present time, and his angels have had charge of your, and guided your footsteps, and preserved you over dangerous places. If thou art faithful He will continue to do so and if your listen to the prompting's of his still small voice, He will always do so. If you are impressed to turn to the right hand or to the left hand, do so, and you will be preserved. He will preserve you in all your administrations and bless you and increase your gifts, for your gifts are many. Thou are blessed of the Lord and being of the Lineage of Ephraim many and choice are thy gifts. Thou shalt have favor in the privilege in performing many acts in the Kingdom of God not only in this land but in other lands, for Father hast ordained it. Great and marvelous are his blessings which have been conferred upon you through the faithfulness of your mother who was one of the stalwarts of her day and generation for she two was greatly blessed of the Lord through her Faith and thou are an heir to Great Faith for the Lord always listens to thy voice and he will in all things which are reasonable and are sought for in Wisdom and understanding. Thou art an heir to all the blessings that are pronounced upon thy lineage through Thy Fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob according to thy sex and the same shall be handed down to thy children and thy children’s children even unto the last generation. Hence be faithful and true to all of thy callings and acknowledge the hand of the Lord in all the trials that visit your path and you shall be able to overcome them and if thou desireth even the very elements shall be subservient to thee. Thy sons shall be heirs to the same and thy daughters also shall be filled with faith even to the confounding of their enemies. Thou and thy companions shall be greatly blest and preserved of the Lord, blest with all the comforts and blessings that is necessary for them in this life. Apparent trials shall beset your path but you shall overcome them and see the hand of the Lord in the same, which will redown to thy names honor and glory, and you will be able to share it with your husband. You shall take great joy and satisfaction in you labors in the Stake of Zion to where thou are assigned for God shall multiply and bless you with a greater ratio than he has hitherto done. Always seek to allay prejudice and every thing that is derogatory to the upbuilding of Father’s Kingdom here on earth and in this you shall gain strength and wisdom for the angels of the Lord shall always precede you in your labors. You shall yet have children multiplied upon you and life to a good old age if thou desirest.

I seal all these blessings upon you, as a Patriarch, with power to come forth in the morning of the First Resurrection, with joy and happiness, noting the great number who shall follow, led forth by your instrumentality, an they shall join you, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ Amen.

Life sketch of Amy Louise Leonard

Amy Louise Leonard was born March 17, 1865 in Farmington, Utah to Truman Leonard and his third wife, Mary Ann Meadows. When she was two years old, Amy got a new little brother, George Marvin. He had lots of dark hair and the first time Mary Ann saw him she said he looked like a papoose (an Indian baby). Perhaps she disliked having an Indian brother or felt replaced as the baby of the family, but Mary Ann did not like having this new baby brother. Soon after he was born, she went across the yard to the home of Aunt Margaret, Truman's second wife, and said, I've come to stay. Margaret was childless, and Amy adopted her as her new mother. She never slept under the same roof with Mary Ann again.

Amy finished school when she was twelve and then she and Margaret moved closer to Farmington's town center and opened up a millinery (hat making) shop. They were both very talented and the business prospered. Amy made many friends and had plenty of beau's. She loved music and was overjoyed to receive a beautiful organ from her father. She played and sang with many of the young people of the town. Her mother, Mary Ann, also came into town occasionally and she and her children would all sing together as a family.

When the polygamy raids began in the 1880s, Truman decided to move up to Canada to avoid serving jail time or paying fines. He settled in Cardston in 1887. Margaret and Amy joined him several months later. This move to Canada would profoundly affect Amy's life.

One day late in November Amy was outside hanging newly washed clothes on the line. Truman came out to help and glanced up the road. Look Amy, he cried, more immigrants! Amy looked up and caught a glimpse of a good-looking stranger driving the first team. She wanted him to notice her, so she quickly grabbed Truman's hat off his head, untied her bonnet strings, and waved both high in the air and shouted. The first driver did notice her and waved back. The next day, he came over to meet her. Amy learned his name was Heber Allen and that he grew up in Hyrum, Utah. He came over quite frequently after that and the two went to a Christmas-time dance together. By January the two were officially courting. Amy's father wrote the following in his journal:

Last Tuesday [January 8] my daughter Amy told me she had given up Will Cottrell who had been courting her about two years. I told her I thanked God as I had said I would rather bury [sic] her than have her marry him. She is now courted by Heber Allen; who I believe to be a good Latter day saint and enterprising young man . . . Heber asked Truman and Margaret for Amy's hand in marriage on January 25.

The two were married April 2, 1889. A dinner was held at 7:00 p.m. at Truman Leonard's home and 47 persons attended. Amy and Heber were married by Bishop John A. Woolf. Amy wore a blue dress trimmed with lace.

That July Heber and Amy made a trip to Logan, Utah to be sealed for eternity. On the trip Amy was able to meet the rest of Heber's family and she also got to see her mother, brothers and sisters, and friends in Farmington. They stayed in Utah until about the end of August and then headed back up to Canada.

They lived with Heber's parents for the next few months until Heber built them their own log home. Heber and Truman spent several days in the mountains gathering logs and then built a fine house with real wood floors (no dirt floor). It was one of the finest in town. Amy began working as a clerk in the local store and quite enjoyed it. Amy brought the organ up to Cardston with her and was made the choir organist. Every Thursday night the choir met to sing in her home.

In May, Heber and Amy had their first baby, a girl with dark hair named Maralda May. By this time, Amy was serving the ward as Primary president. She had a gift for telling stories and the children loved her. She continued service as the ward choir pianist. Heber took over Amy's post as clerk at the store and Amy began starring in local plays. They added two rooms to their house and began renting them out to travelers for 25 cents a bed and 25 cents a meal. After renting out these rooms for some time, Heber and Amy converted them into a store. Amy was then expecting their third child and Heber had been called to go on a six month mission to attend a leadership training course in Provo, Utah, so they hired a clerk to help run the store. It turned into a successful and profitable business.

Amy continued serving as her ward Primary president and was later called as stake president of the Primary. The stake boundaries were very large and traveling to visit all of the children for whom she had responsibility took quite a bit of time but she visited often. In September of 1899, Heber and Amy planned to go down to Utah to attend General Conference and visit their families. It had been a long time since they had seen them and they were all excited for the reunion. However, when October came it snowed hard and froze a river. The ice swelled in the river and took out the only bridge. It was impossible for them to cross and the trip had to be cancelled. Amy sadly wrote her mother to inform her that they wouldn't be able to come down until April. She never did see her mother again, because Mary Ann died the 21st of October.

Amy laid awake for many nights trying to figure out why she hadn't been permitted to see her mother once again. While laying awake one night, she had a vision which has been recorded as follows: One evening late, as she lay awake thus, she thought she heard the gate click. As the window was near her bed, she leaned over to see who might be visiting them at such an hour. It was a bright moonlight night and she saw the face of the visitor distinctly as he stepped upon the threshold. He did not knock but turned the knob and entered. As he stepped into the bedroom where Amy was listening he spoke to her in quiet tones.

You are grieving because you have not seen your mother for a long time, and now you think you will never see her, but I have come to take you to her if you desire it. There is nothing I wish for more, answered Amy, and she immediately slipped into her clothes while her strange visitor waited for her outside. They began walking over the prairie in silence. After they had gone some distance, Amy turned to take a look at her home where lay her sleeping children and husband, but somehow she felt all would be well. As she turned to follow her guide again, she noticed that they were in a place that was new to her. They passed a village and she remarked to her companion that she had never seen such lovely homes before and such beautiful flowers. They passed that village and on to another, but Amy was not weary and asked pleasantly of her guide how much farther it was to her mother.

Not far, now, he replied, and I'm glad to tell you that she lives among the best.

Suddenly they came upon a large body of water, but a bridge spanned it to the other side. They crossed over upon it, and when they reached the other side the homes were beyond words for Amy to describe them. They stopped beside one, and here her companion said he would leave her for a few hours. Then he was gone. Amy noticed other people around but she did not know them, so she knocked upon the door near her. To her great surprise it was opened by her sister Clara who had died when she was still in her twenties and had never married. The latter embraced her happily, and spoke:

We have been expecting you, she said, come in the other room where Father and Mother are waiting.

The joy of that meeting almost overwhelmed Amy. They asked about all the family and what each was doing. Truman Leonard especially wanted to know about the grandchildren, and about the lands, and if they were out of debt. Mary Anne wanted to know if they were faithful in their church duties. After all these many questions were answered, Clara suggested that they all sing some songs as in the good old days back in Farmington. They gathered around the organ while Clara played and led them in the familiar tunes. Afterwards they took Amy out into the yard and showed her the beauties there. There were trees and flowers and shrubs of a more beautiful variety than she had ever seen before. There were birds, too, of every color, and even colored fish in the many pools of water.

Now, spoke her mother quietly, you must come in the house for a little rest, and I have another surprise for you.

Amy did as she was told, and as she sat in this restful room, her mother came towards her carrying a small child. She laid the child in Amy's lap and, as he held his little hand up and touched her face, she recognized the baby she had lost just a few months before. When her guide came for her a short time later, she was loathe to leave them all, especially the baby who seemed to know her. But she was grateful for this short visit, and gave the child up to the Grandmother. As she turned to go, Truman spoke:

I'm building a larger home, Amy, to be ready for Margaret when she comes. It will be ready in June. Margaret died that June.

In 1903, Heber was called as the Stake President of the new Taylor Stake (he had been serving as Stake President of Cardston, which included the area of the Taylor Stake, for several years). Heber built a two-story brick home for the family and they all moved to Raymond. The house was beautiful, there was a large front porch on the entire east side of the house. The front door opened into a long hall with a walnut staircase. One of the doors in the hall opened into a living room decorated with green and white wallpaper, a fireplace inlaid with green tile, and a hanging chandelier made of six green glass globes fringed with tiny gold beads. Next to the living room was a dining room with a chandelier over the table that was dark red and trimmed in gold. There was also a library, a large kitchen, a pantry, and a wash room. There were six bedrooms upstairs. The house included a full cement basement with a furnace and fruit room.

Heber soon set up a store in Raymond and Amy was called as stake Primary president in the new Taylor Stake. Her trips to visit wards in the stake were easier now because a rail line had been completed in the area.

Heber and Amy continued to serve in Raymond until their deaths in 1936 and 1944, respectively. They left behind many friends and hearts who were touched by their cheerful examples of gospel obedience and hard work.

Church service and spiritual experiences of Amy Louise Leonard

Amy Louise Leonard served as Stake primary president in Cardston, Canada.

Amy Louise Leonard had a vision of the Spirit World where she saw her parents, Truman and Mary Ann Leonard, and other family members.

In her private life, Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself was her guide. Never a child went empty handed from her door. Never a neighbor in need ever went without. Never a soul in trouble or sorrow ever went without comfort if Aunt Amy knew of their distress. To know her was to love her, and every stranger was her friend .