Andrew Peterson was surely heartbroken when his sister Johanna was thrown from a buggy, her dress caught in the wheel, and dragged to death. A heckling mob had frightened the horse, persecutors of the Denmark Mormons. Instead of giving up, the spirit of truth urged Andrew on, he taught the Gospel for a number of years. Then in faith he accepted a mission call to his home country of Sweden where he met and taught widow Greta Pherson and her daughter Anna Maria. Like Andrew, Anna Maria felt the truth, embraced the covenant of baptism and joined Andrew and his family for immigration to America following his release. They travelled from Copenhagen to the major seaport Hamburg and boarded the ship Athena with the saints. Before heading to the North Sea on the river Elbe, the captain needed more room for passengers. He learned that there were six couples engaged to be married. Calling them together he told them he had the authority to marry them and if they would allow this he would have the cooks prepare wedding cakes for each couple and all they could hope for in a wedding dinner. This way he would have six extra beds. Each couple chose to marry including Andrew and Anna Maria. They travelled by sea, rail, and wagon finally settling in Lehi Utah, true to their faith and advocates for Scandinavian saints that would follow.

(Story by Kenneth Hardman, adapted from, Losee, Ferril A., The Losee Family History, Ancestors and Descendants of Lyman Peter Losee and Mary Ann Peterson, Nov. 2000. Photo provided by Elynn P Badger)

Video Song – Before the Wind
Written by: Joan (Losee) Hardman (2^nd great-grand-daughter of Andrew and Anna)
Music: based on the Wexford Carol

Lyrics:
In a home far away in Swedish land, the Book of Mormon was placed into my hand.
As the pages were read, I felt in my heart, a sweet assurance and a brand new start.

The scorn of the men was readily near. My sisters life taken, a result of their jeers.
Though painful the trials, I felt His hand, and served a mission in my native land.

So before the wind, we set sail on the sea, crossing over the ocean e’er on bended knee.
We ask of the Lord, Ne’er leave us alone, On Zion’s journey to our new mountain home.

The elder who once brought us the truth, became my sweetheart, the love of my youth.
We sold all we had, for a handful of coins, in eternal marriage some day we would join.

On a crowded ship our captain said, If I wed you this evening, there’ll be one extra bed.
So marry we did, and hand in hand, we faced together a foreign land.

So before the wind, we set sail on the sea, crossing over the ocean e’er on bended knee.
We ask of the Lord, Ne’er leave us alone, on Zion’s journey to our new mountain home.