Service, sacrifice and simplicity of life - for hundreds of years staples on the Isle of Man - characterize Bishop Alex Moffatt and his wife, Dorothy, and other Latter-day Saints living here.

Situated halfway between England and Ireland and surrounded by the frothy Irish Sea, "Ellan Vannin," as it is affectionately known by many of the island's residents, is approximately 30 miles long and 10 miles wide. Having a population of 60,000, Isle of Man has preserved the representative branch of its government, the House of Keys, for close to 1,000 years. Though administered under the British crown, the government of the island is independent of British laws unless specifically named in legislation and is not part of the United Kingdom.Located on the east side of the green, hilly island, Douglas is the capital city and home for about half the population. The remaining residents are scattered among small cities, quaint villages and farmland divided by countless stone walls and shrubbery. The coastline outlining the isle is mostly rugged and rocky, and its highest point is the mountain Snaefell, which rises 2,036 feet above sea level.

Banking is the principal industry here, according to Bishop Moffatt. A favorable tax structure is attractive to many banks and corporations. Tourism has been a staple of the economy, though it has been on the decline for the past 25 years due to the uncertain climate and increasingly easy and economical access to vacation spots in Spain, Florida and elsewhere. Summer weather can be pleasant, but is unpredictable. Winters are mild but wet and windy. Agriculture, small business and government employment also are prevalent components of the economy.

It was in the heart of Douglas where John Taylor first preached the gospel on the island in September 1840 (see related article above), and where the Douglas Ward meetinghouse, completed in 1972 and expanded in 1994, is located. The old marketplace on Wellington Street, frequented by forceful-speaking Elder Taylor 155 years ago, is still standing.

Presently there are 200 members of the Douglas Ward, which encompasses the entire island and is part of the Liverpool England Stake. The stake center is 80 miles to the east of Douglas, across the sea. Sacrament meeting attendance averages in the mid-70s.

Bishop Moffatt is a native of the island and, with his wife, a convert of 26 years. "We were tracted out by the missionaries," he recalled. "I had been active in another church for many years, but was looking for something more. Listening to the missionaries, I realized that's what I was looking for and joined the Church. We were baptized in the sea since we didn't have a chapel in those days."

Since that time they have served in a variety of capacities and callings. With a relatively small ward and constant missionary activity, opportunities for service are plentiful. Sister Moffatt is Young Women president and choir director.

The Moffatts live in Ramsey, 15 miles north of Douglas. Bishop Moffatt, an electrical engineer, works for a sign shop in Douglas and makes the half-hour drive to and from work daily on narrow winding roads that climb and wrap around wind-swept Snaefell mountain. He typically spends several evenings a week at the meetinghouse.

"He works very hard in his calling as the bishop," said Sister Moffatt. "We see each other in the mornings and that's it. He leaves for work about 6:30 in the morning and can be gone until 10:30 at night if there's work to do at the chapel. I don't mind since he is doing the Lord's work."

Sister Moffatt said her husband is "patient and understanding" as a bishop. "As some of the members have said to me, they can talk to him. They know they can go to him and talk about their problems."

Bishop and Sister Moffatt said members on the island have challenges like anyone else, but many are willing to serve and sacrifice for their testimonies. They noted the 23 from the ward who made the effort to travel to Liverpool to hear President Gordon B. Hinckley on Aug. 31 at considerable personal time and expense. (See Sept. 9 Church News.) Travel to England requires a four-hour ferry ride or a 45-minute plane trip and, because of schedules, usually an overnight stay.

Because of that, it is difficult for ward members to attend stake leadership and other meetings. Bishop Moffatt said the stake is good to videotape most of their meetings and sends a high councilor or member of the stake presidency for at least a monthly visit. "Other than that, we are pretty much on our own," he said.

That same challenge of isolation also affects youth on the island, although they also are included in stake activities as much as possible. And the stake single adults conduct an annual summer activity on Isle of Man that involves many of the local members.

There are not many young people in the ward, but those who participate "are tremendous," according to Sister Moffatt. "Some of them get a lot of opposition, but they are very good and dedicated to the Church. It's hard for all the youth not to have a larger group on the island who are members."

Bishop Moffatt noted that while being isolated in the midst of the Irish Sea has its challenges, it undoubtedly is a source of independence and has spawned a considerable pride in the Manx culture and history.

"We class ourselves as a distinct people apart from the English, Irish, Scotch and Welsh," he said. "We look at ourselves as Manx, and we're very proud of the heritage that we have. Like other cultures, the Manx have our own characteristics, one of which is that we are kind of laid back." Though "laid back," Bishop Moffatt said the Manx tend to be industrious and hard working.

Among other work pursued by members on Isle of Man is missionary work. The island is part of the England Manchester Mission and has one set of missionaries who cover it in an automobile. Church growth has been mostly steady but unspectacular during recent years, with the number baptized being nearly offset by those leaving the island for economic and other personal reasons, the bishop said.

"Two years ago we had a remarkable period of growth where we had more than 40 baptisms in one year," Bishop Moffatt recalled. "Things just mushroomed. Just recently we had two brethren baptized, with another baptism upcoming.

"On the main, people are prepared to listen to what the missionaries have to say and they are mostly well-received. But we have difficulty getting investigators to Church and into the baptismal font."

He explained that ties between the Church and other organizations on the island are strengthened by participation of the Relief Society in the Joint Women's Council, an organization that coordinates service efforts among women's groups. Most church, civic and service organizations participate. One of the women in the Douglas Ward is now president of the group, with the Relief Society president acting as secretary.

While reflecting on current and former missionary efforts on Isle of Man, Bishop Moffatt noted that today's missionary force refers to the island as "The Rock." He deemed it an apt name not only geographically, but also in terms of the faith, character and strength of its Church members past and present.