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 (2nd 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.
Hannah Elizabeth Josephson, came into the world (St. John, Idaho, to be exact) on November 27, 1877, 2 days before Thanksgiving. She was the 3rd of 12 children born to Lars and Anna Josephson, immigrants from Sweden. There was great love and respect in this large but united family. They were known as “one of the best behaved in the valley.” Hannah was a “pretty brunette,” industrious, and “of a cheerful and religious disposition.” “I used to pray every day and trusted in the Lord,” she said. “I had my prayers answered many times.” The children were taught reading, writing, arithmetic, and geography by their mother, so Hannah was well prepared to enter school at age 6, and continued through the 8th grade. In 1887, nearly all family members including her father had a brush with Typhoid Fever. Three months of dedicated nursing and service by the church and community pulled them through. There were no deaths in the family, but her brother Levi stuttered badly the rest of his life. Hannah was baptized in 1891. She was inspired by her parent’s faith and devotion. “Many times I saw [my father] ride on horseback a distance of 15 miles to attend priesthood meeting. My whole family was religious at heart.” Hannah served as 2nd Counselor in the Young Ladies Mutual Improvement Association at age 18, admired church leaders, and remained active all her days. She too, had many admirers. While courting the man of her choice, “Hannah gave [him] to understand that her husband had to be worthy to take her to the temple.”
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