The following biographical sketch is adapted from
the "News of the Church: Elder Kenneth Johnson of the Seventy" published
in the Ensign for May 1990 on the occasion of Elder Johnson's call
to the Second Quorum of the Seventy.
Two of England’s best-known exports are soccer teams
and musical entertainers strumming guitars. And both soccer and music have
played their parts in the life of Elder Kenneth Johnson of Norwich, England,
newly sustained member of the Seventy. Born on 5 July 1940 in Norwich,
to Bertie and Ada Johnson, Kenneth has played soccer for city-league and
ward teams and has played guitar in singing groups.
But these interests pale when he talks of his wife,
Pamela (Wilson), whom he met at a dance in April 1959. “Pam told me she
would never be seriously interested in me because I was not a member of
the Church,” he recalls. “But I was impressed enough with Pam that whatever
being a Mormon meant had to be good.” With sincere humor, he adds, “And
though I was not interested in religion at the time, she gradually drew
me toward the Church—services, activities, then discussions. Did I say
‘gradually’? I was baptized August 16—within four months of first hearing
about the Church. Pam was quite the district missionary!”
Elder Johnson attributes his spiritual development
in the gospel to some fine people. “I am indebted to dear parents, who
reared me in such a way that when the truth came, I would recognize it,”
he says. “My father was a very humble yet brilliant man. He sang in the
Methodist choir, but his religion was not in churches. He was away at war
in Italy, but I remember the day everyone said, ‘Dad’s coming home!’ I
didn’t quite know what that meant. But I began to shout it, too, and we
grew very close.”
“A second great spiritual influence on me has come
from my wife and her wonderful parents,” continues Elder Johnson. “Pam
has radiated gospel goodness from the first time we met. She is the very
embodiment of compassion. Caring for others comes naturally to her—sharing
meals, a listening ear, or one of her wonderfully creative lessons.”
He maintains, too, that sports and music got in the
way of his being much of a student until Pamela and the gospel appeared.
He then gained a vigorous desire to rise to his potential, graduating from
Norwich City College and the London Institute of Printing. Then, twenty-six
years ago, he left the printing trade and began an insurance brokerage
with a partner.
In talking of his wife, Elder Johnson reveals his
own humorous nature as well as their rich relationship of equally yoked
service. “It’s a good thing we have visitors,” he quips with a smile. “Having
visitors means I can always count on getting a bite to eat, since so much
of what Pam cooks goes out the door to other people.” The truth is that
Elder Johnson is quite capable around the house, and he and Pamela work
side-by-side both at the office and at home.
According to Elder Johnson, a third great spiritual
influence in his life was a building-missionary supervisor who served in
their district just after they were married. “Walt Stewart had such faith
that he truly believed in the limitlessness of man’s
potential for good. I’ve adopted that view and thank Walt for it.”
Elder Kenneth Johnson has served in branch and district
presidencies, then for ten years as stake president—first in Ipswich, then
Norwich—until he was called to be a regional representative.
Four years after the Johnsons’ marriage in 1962,
their son Kevin was born. The baby had serious complications and required
constant care for the first three years of his life. Today, after priesthood
blessings and surgery, Kevin is healthy, has filled a mission, and is a
counselor in the stake mission presidency.
Elder Johnson “promised the Lord that if His dews
of heaven would distill upon my son and preserve him, I would give my life
to fulfill His work of love. I gratefully keep that promise.”
Elder Johnson filled but three years of his five year
call to the Second Quorum of the Seventy before being sustained to the
First Quorum of the Seventy on April 3, 1993. He continued to serve in
the First Quorum until October 2, 2010. On that date he was released from the
First Quorum of the Seventy with a vote of appreciation from a grateful
Church and named an emeritus General Authority.