Dr. Jay Allen, known by many as the 2020 Republican candidate for Congressional District one (CD-1), passed at the age of 62 on November 2, 2023. Dr Allen served for decades as an army physician, often serving in war zones treating our wounded soldiers. Jay was an educated, well-spoken, and humble man of faith who believed in service, taught by example, and touched and bettered those around him. Sadly, for Dr. Allen and our country, he did not have his opportunity to serve in Congress, as he lost his election.
There was a time when our country was led by people like Jay. Intelligent, brave, Christian men and women, who loved, served, and sacrificed for their country. Later they sought political office, not for personal wealth, power, or fame, but as an extension of their service. An address Jay had written and given to his church about a year ago was read at his service. It was written by a man who knew his remaining time on earth would be difficult and short. It is a testimony to his life and faith and a lesson for all.
The following are Dr, Allen’s words:
Last year I was given the opportunity to Trust in the Lord with all my heart; and lean not unto my own understanding. In all my ways acknowledge Him and allow Him to direct my paths.
You see, a little more than one year ago, I was diagnosed with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, a fairly rare cancer of the bile ducts. This is a fairly aggressive cancer with a poor prognosis. More than half of patients will die within the first year. More than 90% of patients with my stage will die within five years.
Trials and tribulations are not only unavoidable in life, they are a necessary part of our experience here on earth. It is easy to say that we “trust in the Lord” when things are going well, however, it is not until trial and tribulations come into our lives that we truly come to know how much we really trust in the Lord. Elder Orson F. Whitney said, “No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility all that we suffer, and all that we endure, especially when we endure patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God, and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire.”
When I tell people about my diagnosis, they often offer me words of encouragement. Unfortunately, I have a voice in my head that counters those words. For example, when someone says, “You look good,” the voice inside my head adds the words, “for someone who’s dying of cancer.” When someone says, “You’ve GOT this!”, the voice inside my head says, “No, I don’t.” When someone says, “You can beat this”, the voice inside my head replies, "You haven’t seen the numbers I’ve seen.” People will often say, “You just need to have faith.” When I hear this, I doubt myself and wonder, “Is my medical training preventing me from having faith?” That leads to the question, “What is faith?”
Some think that having faith means that if I pray hard enough and if I fast often enough, the Lord will grant the desires of my heart but that’s not what faith is. It takes great faith to be healed. It takes even greater faith to submit to the will of Our Heavenly Father no matter the outcome. Elder Neal A Maxwell spent the last 8 years of his life fighting leukemia. In General Conference, about a year after his diagnosis, he said, “The issue for us is trusting God enough to trust also His timing. If we can truly believe He has our welfare at heart, may we not let His plans unfold as He thinks best?” Elder Dallin H. Oaks said, “Faith and trust in the Lord give us the strength to accept and persist, whatever happens in our lives.” Elder Oaks also said, “Indeed, we cannot have true faith in the Lord without also having complete trust in the Lord’s will and in the Lord’s timing.” People will also say, “God is a God of miracles”.
It truly would take a miracle to be healed of this disease, but healing is not the only miracle that can occur. It is just as much a miracle that I was able to work full-time for a full year, while receiving treatment, with minimal side effects from either the cancer or the treatment. It is just as much a miracle that my life has been extended long enough to be with you here tonight and to see my son get married next month. People also say, “I’m Praying for Your Healing.” While I appreciate the sentiment, I have never once prayed for my own healing. Let me explain.
I spent 23 years as a family physician in the Army, including combat tours to Afghanistan and Iraq. As soldiers prepare to go to battle, they know full well that there is a risk that they may not return—but they go anyhow. We call that “Courage”.
As I fight this battle, I know full well that this cancer will eventually win—but I fight on anyhow. When I pray, I pray for courage to face what lies ahead. I pray that I will have the strength and the faith to trust in the Lord even as I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. I pray, "Not my will but Thine be done". As Elder Maxwell fought his battle with leukemia, he had this perspective ““As we confront our own trials and tribulations, we too can plead with the Father, just as Jesus did, that we ‘might not shrink’, meaning to retreat or to recoil. Not shrinking is much more important than surviving! Moreover, partaking of a bitter cup without becoming bitter is likewise part of the emulation of Jesus”. I wish that I could live to be as old as President Nelson, who just celebrated his 98th birthday, but that is not to be. Gordon B. Hinckley, in speaking on mortality said, “None of us may rightly say that his life is his own. Our lives are gifts of God. We come into the world not of our own volition. We leave not according to our wish. Our days are numbered not by ourselves, but according to the will of God.”
As I prepare for the end of my days, I look back on the lessons that I have learned throughout my life that help bring me comfort and strength. Each of these lessons comes with a story that could be a talk of their own.
First Lesson Learned
I know that my Heavenly Father knows me personally. I know that He loves me. I know that He has prepared a plan for me that will bring me back into His presence.
Second Lesson Learned
I know that no matter how much trial and tribulation I may face; no matter how heavy laden I may be, if I come unto Christ, He will give me rest. I know that, if I take His yoke upon me, I shall find rest unto my soul for His yoke is easy and His burden is light.
Third Lesson Learned
I know that Christ has won the victory over death. I know that I have hope in Christ not only in this life but also in the life to come. I know that Christ is risen from the dead and become the first fruits of them that slept. I know that, as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
This is my testimony, in the name of Jesus Christ.
Jay Allen
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