NIELS JOHANSEN, ANE ANDERSON JOHANSEN, ANDERSINE (SENA) ANDERSON JOHANSEN ~~~ PIONEERS OF THE MONTH ~~~ MARCH 2024

Niels, Annie, and Andrew 

Andersina Andersen Johansen

 

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1851: Ane Andersdatter declares the truth: 

"I had seen an Angel....  and I would not deny it!!!"

The gospel was first preached in Denmark the summer of 1850. The organization of the first branch of the church there occurred on September 15, 1850. Niels heard the gospel message from two Mormon missionaries who came to his home. When he was nineteen, he joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, on February 9, 1853. He became an active member. He met a young lady named Ane Andersen who had accepted baptism into the church on November 6, 1851. Ane was born March 16, 1839, in Rojle Mose, Vejlby, Odense, Denmark. Her father was Anders Larsen, born April 9, 1806, at Strib, Vejlby, Odense, Denmark. He was the son of Maren Pedersen and Lars Svendsen. Ane’s mother was Ane Cathrine Hansen, born December 2, 1801, at Aulby, Vejlby, Odense, Denmark. She was the daughter of Anne Hansen and Hans Madsen. Ane was the fourth child, with two older brothers, Lars and Hans, an older sister, Maren, and a younger sister, Andersine. Many did not listen to the missionaries and would not receive their message. Oftentimes they would ridicule and persecute those who did. Ane Andersen was the first member of her family to join the church and was turned away from her home because of her affiliation. She was twelve years old. She went to live with an uncle named Peder. At school, she was looked down upon and punished by having to hold a book in the air for a certain length of time. If her hand dropped, she received a good hit with a ruler. In telling her children about this later Ane would say, “I had seen an angel and he had made known unto me that the church was true, and I would not deny it.” A year after Ane joined, her older sister, Maren, joined the church, and then her eldest brother, Lars Strib, was baptized into the church the day before Niels was baptized. (Written by Louise B. Johansen, Effonia J. Burns, Beth J. Brasher, and Gayle H. Bailey)

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ANDERSINE ANDERSEN JOHANSEN

 Andersine Andersen, or Sena as she was always called, was born August 2, 1842 in Rojle Mose, Vejlby, Odense, Denmark. Her mother was Ane Cathrine Hansen, who was born December 2, 1801 in Aulby, Vejlby, Odense, Denmark. Ane Cathrine’s parents were Hans Madsen and Anne Hansen. Sena’s father was Anders Larsen, who was born April 9, 1806 in Strib, Vejlby, Odense, Denmark. Ander’s parents were Lars Svendsen and Maren Pedersen. Sena joined the Mormon Church on October 20, 1858 and came to Utah in 1862 to join her sister Ane and be taken as the second wife to her husband, Niels Johansen. 
They were all sealed in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City on November 12, 1864. 
Sena had nine children:


 

          Nielsena (Sena) born in December 
21, 1865, 









Ester Fredricka born April 30, 1868, 

Kimball born September 24, 1870, 
Elizabeth (Eliza) born May 15, 1873,
 Moroni born June 19, 1876, Lucinda born May 4, 1879, Wilford born June 4, 1882, Marie born April 4, 1885, and        Anna Cathrine (Katie) was born June 16, 1888. 
Sena lost one child who contracted diphtheria and another child who fell down a cellar and was killed. 
Another heartbreaking experience was when Sena’s daughter, Ester Fredricka, gave birth to a baby, Fredrick Mathiasen, on January 26, 1891 and died from complications of childbirth. This was on February 5, 1891, just the day after her husband, Jacob Mathiasen, was killed in a farming accident. The baby lived just ten months and died on October 26, 1891. Sena was treasurer of the Relief Society for many years. 
In those days there was no welfare or social security. When visiting teachers went on their monthly rounds the members donated eggs, fruit, beans, or anything they had, and this in turn was distributed to the poor. As one can guess, these good ladies didn’t collect very much. Few people had anything to spare. But Sena’s grandchildren recall being at her home many times when a needy person would come for some food and they were never turned away empty-handed. Most of what they were given was from the limited food supply of their own personal stock. This, however, was not common knowledge.
 The Johansens were always charitable people, nothing could equal the goodness of their hearts. Just before Christmas the family assembled at their house and the food preparation went on for days. Beef, pork, and lambs were killed and dressed, and finker, head cheese, rolly pulse, cakes, and puddings were prepared. When it was all ready and assembled into packages, Wilford would hitch the horses to the bob sleigh and away they all went, singing and delivering goodies to the needy. 
The true spirit of Christmas was taught in the Johansen home, and the children enjoyed the spirit of sharing what they had with others. What family fun they had! 
They were temple workers for many years, working year in and year out. The “Temple Hack” as it was called, stopped on scheduled days to pick them up. 
Niels died August 16, 1921 in Mt. Pleasant, Utah. He was eighty eight years old. 
After Niels died Sena spent most of her time at either Marie’s or Eliza’s home. She became ill while at Eliza’s home and was taken to Delta, Utah. She died six days later at Marie’s home on October 11, 1921. She was seventy nine years old. Niels and his two wives are buried in the Mt. Pleasant City Cemetery. 

TRIBUTE TO ANDERSINE JOHANSEN By the Mt. Pleasant, Utah Relief Society 
We have met today my dear sisters to do honor to our beloved Sister Johansen, our retiring officer, after the terrible siege of sickness she has been of late called to pass through. The Lord has surely heard her prayers and our prayers as well as the prayers of the Priesthood in her behalf and has been pleased to restore her to health so much that she is able to meet with us again. Sister Johansen is one of the few remaining that has come here from a distant land for the Gospel. She has been tested and tried and proven herself worthy to be thus honored. Only for her failing health is she now being released of the office of treasurer of the South Ward Relief Society which has been held by her since April 16, 1904. Prior to that she was a teacher in the district and was later appointed head teacher in which position she worked zealously. She is still favored of the Lord to remain with us longer. In reading the poem it brought to my mind many scenes of early days, as we have lived neighbors for many years. Yes, since my childhood I have seen her and many of the hardships she has had to pass through. She has lived in a small home with a large family and endured all the inconveniences of pioneer life. She has struggled day by day, working at home and in the fields, and has taken care of the products raised for the benefit of her family. She has spent time weaving, cording, spinning, knitting, and other industries which were engaged in at that time. Never did we hear any complaining or trouble, everything seemed to be peaceful and quiet, with perfect harmony prevailing in her home. She has many times been called to pass through very trying scenes, burying loved ones, being nearly burned out of her home, and many other adversities. She is the mother of nine children, four of whom have gone to the Great Beyond to await her coming. The five remaining are an honor to her name. She and her husband have strived to live honorable and upright lives and have instilled in the hearts of their children the Gospel and its principles. They have set an example worthy of emulation. She has not only cared for her own but has been a mother to the motherless and has watched over and supplied the necessities of life to many of the aged in distress. She has been an ardent worker in her calling in the Relief Society and has taken on the responsibility to help others who were growing aged in the work they were unable to perform. Cheese making was one of the industries of this organization. The milk was gathered from those who could spare it and was carried to her home. She was the one who made the cheese and gave it to those in need. This was of great value to many in those days. Sena had a large family and not much room but she was patient and long-suffering with her circumstances. Many today might take a lesson from those like her who have labored and toiled under such trying circumstances and have been willing to take up the good work and faithfully perform it. While we do not want to recall the past too vividly, we must remember the many blessings of the Lord which have been bestowed upon us and be grateful to Him and try to do honor to the works of righteousness in love and charity to those less fortunate than we. We must remember we are living in a time when we little know what awaits us, and we must ever be ready to do what may be required of us by those in authority over us. 3 Sister Johansen’s life has been a strenuous one for many years. She has answered the beckoned call of children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. “Aunt Sena,” as she has been known among her friends, has given willingly heart and hand to aid and give comfort to those who are sick. She has administered that love and sympathy so much needed in times of death and sorrow. In her family, among her friends, and in public, she has ever proved true and faithful in this cause and the Sisters have much appreciated her good works. We would have liked to acknowledge our appreciation before now, would she have accepted it. We are now sorry to have to accept Sister Johansen’s resignation, but for her sake and her family’s we willingly do. We feel to thank her for her long and untiring efforts in this cause. While we regret to give you up as a worker, we rejoice to have you still with us and hope the Lord will bless you with health and sufficient strength to enable you to continue in your own family and be a strength and stay to them. We realize you need to care for your aged husband who is still with you. May you live long and enjoy the blessings you have rightfully earned, and the blessings of Heaven, which are ever in store for you because of your faithfulness. May this occasion be remembered by you as an appreciation, and may this rocking chair we present to you, for your comfort in your declining years, be accepted as a token of the love and esteem we hold for your good and faithful duties these many years. May we enjoy your presence at our meetings and your good words of counsel and advice for many years. May you be given health and strength sufficient to enjoy to live and see many of the eventful things transpiring in this wonderful age of the world, as you have witnessed much in the past.