Jens and Maren Sorenson Frost Petersen

(Jens Frost's Sister)

Jens Petersen was born in a little beautiful town, Hvornum in Randers Denmark, 3
January 1818, to Peter Christensen and Malene, or Magdalena Christensen.  We know
nothing of his child hood, but he married at age twenty-six, 9 October 1844, to
Mette Sorensen.  She was a daughter of Soren and Anne Christensen and was born 16
June 1820 in Vester Forsleve, Randers.  Their four children, Soren, Anna Kierstine,
Christen and Magdalena were all born in Vestre Torslev.  Baby Magdalena died the day
she was born and the mother two days later.  Jens' family grew smaller three years
later when Soren almost seven died.

10 February 1854, Jens married Maren Sorensen Frost, daughter of Anders Sorensen and
Else Marie Sorensen Frost.  Maren was born 3 February 1833, in Hov Mariager, also in
Randers. She and Jens had four children while they were still in Denmark:  Mette
Marie, Ane Marie, Jens Anton and Christian.

About 1853, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints sent missionaries into
the Scandinavian countries and five years later some of the Elders were teaching
Jens and Maren the gospel.  They were soon converted and were baptized by J.
Andersen, 3 February 1859, and confirmed the same day as members of Christ's Church.
 Maren's parents and her sister Anna Marie and brother Jens Christian were baptized
the November before.  There was a great deal of opposition to the Church in Denmark
but these people were thankful for the testimonies of the truth they had embraced.
Members were urged to gather with the Saints in America and about three years after
baptism, the Petersens were preparing to leave their homeland and establish
themselves in the Rocky Mountains.  With their four children (Jens' and Mette's two
other children had died in the meantime) Jens and Maren left on the sailing vessel
"Benjamin Franklin."  Maren's parents and her brother Jens Christian came in the
same group.  Her sister Anna Marie had gone to Utah shortly after she joined the
Church and had married Jens Larsen Lund who had been a missionary there.

Jens Christian also had a special friend.  He had been serving as a missionary and
had met Johanna Marie Andersen who had joined the church.  The couple was engaged
and after a week's voyage, the captain of the ship married them.  The story of the
life of Jens Christian says they set sail 2 April 1862.

There were 413 Scandinavian Saints on board the ship, which was under the direct of
Christen Madsen.  In mid-ocean the wind stopped and for days the ship stood almost
still. Their food was now scarce and the water stagnant and beyond use.  Parents had
no answer of relief for their children.  Measles broke out among them.  There were
several deaths, and Jens Anton less than three years-old was among them.  The
experience of seeing his body lowered into the water to be eaten by sharks only
added to their grief.

After nine weeks, they arrived in New York, 19 May 1862.  More than eighteen weeks
later, 5 October 1862, they arrived in the Salt Lake Valley.  Their travel across
the continent was also filled with hardships.  Their child Mette Marie, age six,
died and was buried at Florence, Nebraska.  While in that part of Nebraska, they
visited with Maren's sister, Anna Lund and family.  Jens Lund had loaned passage
money to several individuals so they could migrate to America and later these people
did not acknowledge their debt to him. The Lunds had become discontent in Utah and
gone to Nebraska to live.  The Petersens heard their story but didn't hesitate in
their decision about staying with the Lunds, but said "We will go to the Valley and
join our brothers and sisters in the Gospel of Christ." Some years later, the Lunds
returned to Utah and settled in Ephraim.

After two days in Salt Lake, Jens and Maren went to Lehi, a smaller town about
thirty miles south and made their home and spent the rest of their lives there.
Maren's parents and brother settled in Ephraim where many Scandinavian Saints lived
and they spent their remaining years there.

Jens recorded in his little notebook "We were rebaptized 9 November 1862 and
received our endowments 10 February 1865.  And on the 12th November, I was called by
the bishop and his counselor to meet in the meeting house next Sunday and felt happy
to serve the Lord in unison with my family."

Things weren't easy for this pioneer family.  They had little means.  We know little
of their earlier days in Lehi, but after the children were older, they helped others
with their homes and farms, and later getting other employment to help meet their
needs.

The couple had six more children all born in Lehi.  Marie Magdalena died when about
ten years-old and Nikoline lived only a little over a year.  The others matured and
had families.

Ane Marie, or Mary Ann as she was known in America, was the first to marry.  One
day, John Bushman, a man in good standing in the community who was already married
and had several children, was passing the Petersen home.  Jens made the comment that
he was the man Mary Ann would marry.  When she was about twenty, she did marry John
as a plural wife and went with him to Arizona on a colonizing mission on the Little
Colorado River.  She had four children, but lived only twenty-eight years.

Christian, the oldest living son was a great help to his father and worked also for
other men.  He married Mary Petersen from Salt Lake.  They made their home in Lehi
and had eight children.

Josephine worked for others in Lehi and then was employed in Salt Lake some.  After
her sister Mary Ann died, Josephine went to Arizona to care for Mary's babies.  She
met there a John Henry Evers whom she married after a few months.   They lived in
Los Angeles, Lehi, and Salt Lake and had a son and five daughters.

Marie Elizabeth married James Petersen and was his farmer-wife in Cedar Fort.
Lizzie was blessed with five children.

Jens Jr., or James, married Ellen Charlotte Larsen.  They had six children and made
Lehi their home.

Elsie Ida married John Franklin Cook.  After a few years of living in Lehi and Cedar
Fort, the adventure of going to Canada lured them.  Here there were several Mormon
towns being established.  They and most of their twelve children have made Canada
their home.

In the funeral services of their son Christian, A. B. Andersen spoke of the
Petersens thus:  "The early home of this brother was in a little log house.  I have
a distinct picture of two rooms, adobe building, facing the front.  Across the road
was a tannery. Many times accompanying my father and mother I visited that home and
Jens Petersen.  The relationship of my parents may have extended into the old
country."

And from Andrew Fjeld:   "Their home was not far from ours.  I was a frequent
visitor...I remember when we used to go to Mountainville (later Alpine).  He had an
ox team and it took nearly all day...they themselves were independent; they were not
subjects of charity. I have heard him bear his testimony many times.  He was a fine
devoted Latter Day Saint. They had had a fine family who all grew up to be fine men
and women.  Sister Petersen and mother were old cronies...what did they come here
for?  I think their reason for coming was because of the Mormons and their faith in
that cause.  They came over during a pioneer period when it was hard to make a
living, but they did it bravely because they had faith in Jesus Christ."

Jens was ordained a high priest in January 1872 in Lehi.  He died 19 February 1884
in his home.  Mary and Christian were both married, the others still home.
Christian wrote the news to Mary who was still living in Arizona.  Jens died much
loved for his sincerity. Another quote from his notebook shows this and his
humility:  "My wish is to serve God my Father in Heaven in as far as he will give me
power thereto and as he wishes me to.  I will bow under his will and work with a
humble heart and always seek to keep his commandments and covenants and live
according to his holy (unchangeable) everlasting ordinances."

Maren continued to live in Lehi.  She and the girls spent the evenings spinning and
cording wool.  She was a good cook and homemaker and taught her girls the art of
homemaking.  She visited in May and June 1900 with her relatives in Ephraim, and
they all did ordinance work in the Manti Temple for many of their loved ones.  She
died 30 January 1905 and is also buried in Lehi.

Sources:

1.    Jens Petersen's notebook in possession of Sarah P. Collinwood
2.    John Bushman diaries and journal
3.    Family group sheet of Jens and Maren by Sarah P. Collinwood
4.    JB Roundup of May 1954
5.    Life sketch of Christian Petersen and funeral services
6.    LDS Scandinavian Mission records
7.    Life story of Jens Larsen Lund
8.    Life story of Jens Christian Sorensen Frost
9.    Petersen record of temple work