Headshot photo, located in the center of the cover page. (Peter Christiansen) 

By David R. Barkdull 

1989 

Introduction 

Peter Christiansen’s life was one of courage, integrity, hard work, and love for his family and the gospel of Jesus Christ. His life was, and is an example which his descendants can be proud of and draw strength from. There have been many grief histories and notes which those who knew Peter have written. I have attempted to take this information and compile it into a more detailed history that would better illustrate the kind of people Peter and his family were. 

I have traveled to see many of the places where Peter lived during his life. From Faeback, Denmark where he was born, to Hyrum, Utah where he is buried. I’ve been to the small village of Gerlev, in Denmark, where he grew up and married. I’ve been to places in Utah and Idaho. Where he raised his family, worked and died. The opportunity to visit these places has given me a unique perspective and better understanding which I have used while writing this history. 

I have divided this history into three sections; the first pertaining to his life in Denmark; the second, his journey to Utah; and third, his life in Utah. 

The information used to write this short history of Peter is based on some statistical information and a few one or two page histories which were written by some of his descendants. Most of this source material only touched on a few periods of his life and contained very little detail. Because of this lack of information there are many periods of his life which were not covered. I believe there is still other material available that would fill in some of these gaps. It is my intention to continue to search for this material so that I can eventually produce a more complete history of his life. 

David R. Barkdull 

Part 1 

Denmark 

Peter Christiansen was born 30 January 1835 in Faebaek, Fyns Amt (County), Denmark (See Appendix Map #1). His mother, Christiane Pederson, was born 27 April, 1809 in Jyderup, Vestsjællands Amt (county), Denmark (see Appendix Map #2). His father, Christian Johansen Christoffersen, was born 22 December, 1811 in Fuglsbolle, Fyns Amt, Denmark (See Appendix map #1). 

When Peter was born, his parents were living in Faebaek, on the Island of Langelands. Peter’s parents had seven children, Peter being the oldest. Their first home had only two living rooms for the entire family to live in. Like most farm houses in those days, the farm animals were stabled in the house but in another section. In addition, two other families lived in the house. 

Peter’s father was a hard working man. He farmed eight acres of land. The farm on which they lived was part of the estate of a rich landlord. They lived in Faebaek for a few years after Peter was born. By 1838, christian had moved the family to Harrested on the island of Zaelland. (See Appendix map #2). 

While living in Harrested, three more children were born to Christian and Christiance. Two boys and a girl. Niels, born 13 June 1838, Lars Hans, born 6 March 1844 and Hanna Marie, born 8 May 1844(?). 

One of Peter’s first memories was of an accident he had when he was four years old. He and an older friend were out playing by the wood pile. They found the ax that Peter’s father used to cut the wood. Peter’s friend told him to put his hand on the chopping block and then picked up the ax and chopped off three of Peter’s fingers just below the first joint. When Peter saw what had happened he began to scream and yell. 

Upon hearing his cries, Peter’s grandmother rushed outside to see what was wrong. After seeing what had happened she said a short prayer, picked up the fingers and with a needle and thread, sewed and bound the fingers back together. 

Because of his grandmother’s quick thinking and faith, Peter’s fingers grew back together perfectly. When he relayed this story to his daughter Irma, he showed her the white scar marks where the fingers had been cut off. 

About 1842, when Peter was seven years old, he began attending school. In those days, reading and writing were learned from the Bible. It was usually the only textbook they had to learn from. Throughout his childhood, Peter was known as a well mannered boy. He always tried to obey his parents, do what was right and set a good example for his younger brothers and sisters. 

Because he was the oldest, much of the care and responsibility for watching the younger children fell to him. While very young, his mother taught him to knit stockings, mittens, caps and other articles of clothing. During the winter, while sometimes knitting stockings he would rock his younger brother with his foot. 

During the summer, one of the jobs Peter had to do was herd the family flock of geese away from the garden and crops. While watching the geese, he would also knit stockings for himself and the younger children. As he grew older he began to help his father more and more with the responsibilities of running the farm. 

In 1944, when Peter was nine years old, his father again moved the family. This time, it was not as long a move as the one from Faebaek had been, because they were moving to the small village of Slots Bjergby about one and a half miles away. Peter was able to continue to attend school after their move. 

In Slots Bjergby, Peter’s father Christian, had twice as much land to work as he had had in Harrested. Even though this meant more work for Christian, the family was better off because of the added income he was able to earn. 

Christian was a very religious and God fearing man. He was a diligent student of the Bible and would gather his family together for regular scripture reading and prayer. 

Young Peter was greatly influenced by this religious upbringing and like his father, soon became an ardent student of the Bible. He could answer almost any Biblical question asked of him. The village minister was so impressed by Peter’s knowledge and spirituality that he would often encourage him to consider becoming a Priest. 

While living in Slots Bjergby, Christian and Christiane had three more children. Jens, born 19 May 1846, Hans, born 20 January 1849 and Marie Dorothea, born 8 May 1852. 

Even though Christian was working more land, things were still difficult for his family. By the time Peter turned eleven (1844), he was large enough in size and strength that his father hired him out to a nearby farmer to help earn money for the family. 

In 1847, Peter was twelve years old, and went to work for another farmer, Niels Jacobsen. The Jacobsen family was very kind to him and took him in as one of their own. Even though he could no longer attend school, Peter continued to read and study on his own using the Bible. He worked for Niels for about three years until 1849. 

When Peter turned fourteen he was confirmed in the Lutheran church by Pastor Finder. Pastor Finder again asked him if he would consider becoming a Priest and as further incentive, offered him one year’s training at the seminary. Peter loved the scriptures and knew this would be a great opportunity. Christian was proud of his son and the offer Pastor Finder had made. However, the family could not afford losing the extra income which Peter brought in, let alone help pay his way through seminary. There were still six young children at home. Disappointed, Peter had to again turn down the offer. 

When Peter was in his fifteenth year (1850), he went to work for Ole Jacobsen. He worked on the Jacobsens farm for about one year. By this time, Peter had decided that if he was not going to be able to study at the seminary to become a minister, he needed to determine what he was going to do about his future. 

Following his sixteenth birthday, he went to work for Jacob Hansen who was a Blacksmith. Peter began to learn the blacksmith trade which would be a great blessing to himself and others later in his life. While learning the blacksmith trade, he lived with the Hansen’s in the village of Gerlev. Gerlev was only a couple of miles away from the village of Slots Bjergby where his family lived, so he visited his family as often as he could. 

For the first three years while he was an apprentice, he received no pay. He did, however, receive free room and board. Following this initial three year apprenticeship, he had become proficient enough to begin earning some wages. 

While working for Jacob Hansen in Gerlev, Peter would often meet other blacksmiths from nearby villages. One blacksmith, who had the same name as Peter, worked in the nearby village of Fardrup. Through this acquaintance, he met his daughter, Anne Petrine. Shortly thereafter they began courting. Peter was twenty-two years old at this time. 

Anne was born 7 April 1827 in the village of Gimlinge, two or three miles from Gerlev. When Peter began courting Anne, she was thirty years old. At that time she was keeping house for an elderly bachelor who owned a fine twenty-five acre farm in Gerlev. 

Peter and Anne continued to court until 8 November 1856 when they were married. After they were married, Peter quit his blacksmith job to go and work the farm that belonged to the old gentleman Anne had been taking care of before her marriage. Peter and Anne had an agreement with the old bachelor about the farm; he would turn the farm over to them on the condition that they take care of him until he died or pay him a certain sum every year. They agreed to these conditions with Anne continuing to take care of the old man while Peter ran the farm. 

Peter and Anne lived in Gerlev for another six years, until 1863. During this time their four children were born. Their first child was Lisbeth Petrea. She was born 21 January 1857 in Faardrup, the same village Anne’s parents lived. Their second child Lars Peter, was born 25 December 1857 in Gerlev. Their third child was Hanne Christiane. She was born 16 June 1859 in Gerlev. And finally their last child Hans Peter, was born 29 April 1861, also in Gerlev. 

In 1862, Mormon Elders, missionaries, were preaching their new gospel to the people in the area. Most people didn’t accept or even want to hear what the Mormon Elders had to say. Many stories were going around about these strange ministers. Many said they had come from America to try and lure them to their secret places in the mountains. However, Peter’s parents became interested in what these men of God were preaching and invited them to their home. 

Peter related the following incident to his daughter, Mary Ida, about his conversion: “It was the taunting words of the village gossip that caused me to stop my plowing and hasten to my father’s home in nearby Slots Bjergby. ‘Hey, Peter Christiansen’ she called, when I came near to the village street while plowing. ‘You wouldn’t be holding your head so high or think yourself so great if you knew what I know about your parents.’ Plainly I heard her, waved a greeting and went on, hurrying to get away from her voice. Along the fence she followed chuckling and soon called again. ‘Oh, you may make it appear that you don’t hear me or care, but other people know that your father and mother are very friendly with Mormons!’ Determinedly I went on up the field from her amused laughter and loud taunting voice. I was not going to let her know that her words had disturbed me or that I paid any attention to her foolish gossip. But as soon as she was out of sight I went to the house calling to my wife to hurry and dress as we were going to visit my father and mother. Plainly she showed her surprise that I would quit plowing in the early afternoon and go visiting. My best team of horses was rapidly hooked to our carriage and as we drove along the pleasant road, I told my wife what I had heard. 

Arriving at my parent’s home, we were greeted pleasantly. In a little while my mother had taken my wife to the kitchen to prepare a nice meal for we must have the best when we came to visit. Silence reigned in my father’s sickroom. Now that I was here, how was I to ask the hated question? Father turned and with a quizzical look asked, ‘What is it my son? What has brought you here this busy day?’. ‘Is it true that you and mother have become Mormons?’ I asked. ‘Yes’, he replied. ‘Why oh why have you taken such a foolish step?’ My father, who was very ill, turned and pointed to a book that lay on the table and said, ‘I am too tired to answer your question son, but stay with me tonight and read that book and I believe the answers will be given to you.’ We stayed and when all was quiet and my father was asleep, I picked up the book and read the title, ‘The Book of Mormon’ and began reading. When the early morning light began to fill the room, I turned to my father and saw that he was awake and watching me. ‘Well, how did you like the reading?’ I laid the book down trying to appear uninterested and in answer to his query I replied, ‘Oh it is good as a history of many battles.’ 

Later, the Mormon Elders visited Peter and his family who had become very interested in this new religion, the “restored gospel” of Jesus Christ. The elders left tracts with the Christiansen family which they read and studied and prayed about. Peter’s brother Hans, had also been deeply impressed by what the Mormon Elders had been teaching. So on 29 December, 1862, Peter, Anne and Hans were all baptized into the Mormon Church. 

One of Peter’s younger brothers, Lars, had been the first in the family to join the Mormon church. He was baptized on 19 November, 1861. His father had been baptized on 3 June 1862 and his mother a few months later on 8 August. His youngest sister, Marie Dorothea, also joined the Mormon church prior to Peter’s conversion. She was baptized 24 July 1862. 

That following Spring, on 26 March 1863, Peter was ordained an Elder by Elder Brent Jensen. After his ordination, he and Anne talked about the counsel of the Prophet Brigham Young, who told the saints they should emigrate to the new Zion in America. They decided this was what they should do and immediately began preparations. 

Peter sold his farm to a neighbor on the same conditions for which he and Anne had become the owners of it. He gave the house and lot his father had given him when he was married to his brother and sister, Niels and Hanna, who had not joined the church but stayed in Denmark. In addition, he gave Anne’s parents $400.00 to help them. He also was able to pay the passage for twelve other new converts who were unable to pay themselves. One of these converts was Maren Olsen, their housemaid. She had also joined the Mormon church with Peter and his family. Her family had disowned her after she became a Mormon. 

On 23 April, 1863, Peter, Anne, their four children, Maren and Peter’s youngest brother Hans, departed for America. They were leaving behind their family and friends whom they loved dearly and putting their trust and faith in their God. It was difficult for them to leave because they knew they would probably never see any of their friends or family again. However, they didn’t look back but set their sights on their objective to gather with the rest of the saints in Utah. 

Part II 

Journey to Utah 

After arriving in Kopenhavn, Peter, his family and those traveling with them began the second leg of their journey and boarded a small coastal ship which would take them to Kiel, Germany. It was a one and a half day sail to Kiel which lies along the southern Baltic Sea on what is today, West Germany’s north east coast. From Keil they took a train across northern Germany to the port city of Hamburg. From there, they boarded another small coastal vessel and sailed across the North Sea to Grimsby, England. After arriving in Grimsby, they took a train to Liverpool, a gathering point for thousands of immigrants sailing to America. 

In Liverpool, they waited for three days for the arrival of the other saints who would accompany them to Utah. This three day wait provided a much welcomed rest which they would need for the long and difficult voyage across the Atlantic. 

On 30 April 1863, Peter and his family began the third leg of their journey and sailed out of Liverpool on board the ship “John J. Boyd” for New York. Traveling with the Christiansen family were between 760 and 800 other Mormon converts. All were under the leadership and direction of William W. Cluff. 

At that time, a voyage across the Atlantic on a sail ship was a dangerous one. It was not uncommon for a captain and his crew to treat the immigrant passengers on board no better than the cargo they carried at other times. Rarely did a ship reach America without suffering some loss of life due to the numerous hardships experienced. 

During their long voyage on the John J. Boyd, the Saints were very fortunate and blessed. They received good food, were treated kindly and their ship was a clean and sanitary one. Only four or five individuals died and they were reported to have not been in very good condition when the ship had left Liverpool. 

The journey across the Atlantic took about thirty days. The Saints arrived in New York harbor on 1 June 1863. As the immigrant ship sailed into the harbor, many of those on board stood excitedly along the ship’s rails for their first glimpse of the country that would become their new home. The John J. Boyd docked at Ellis Island where they were processed and became naturalized American citizens. 

After arriving in New York, the Christiansen’s stayed in Hansburg for two days and then took a train by way of Albany and Niagara Falls to Chicago. After reaching Chicago they stayed there for just one day and continued on by train crossing the Mississippi river at Quincy, Illinois and then on the St. Joseph Missouri. In St. Joseph, they rested for another day, then took a steam boat up the river to Omaha, Nebraska. They landed at Florence, Nebraska on about 12 June 1863. In Florence they made camp for three weeks. While in Florence Peter and Anne made preparations for their journey across the Great Plains. 

The journey by wagon train would be a long and difficult one which would take several months. All along the way they would encounter unknown dangers, unfriendly settlers heading west and unfriendly Indians. To be prepared for their new life in Utah, Peter purchased all the provisions they would need including two covered wagons, five yoke of oxen and five milk cows.  

Since Peter planned to be a farmer once settled in Utah, he purchased provisions with this in mind. However, some of the church leaders who were in Florence to assist and help organize the saints for their journey to Utah, learned of Peter’s skills as a blacksmith. They went to him and explained to him about the shortage of blacksmiths in Utah and asked him to please reconsider his plans to be a farmer. They told him he would be a great blessing to the people in Utah and the Lord would greatly bless him. It did not take Peter long to reconsider his decision and so he said he would. 

Peter’s decision to be a blacksmith necessitated his return to Omaha to purchase the tools and supplies he would need. So he took one of his wagons and team and returned to Omaha to buy the things he would need. 

On 4 July, he returned from Omaha to where the rest of the company was ready and waiting. A few days later, they began the last portion of their long journey west. 

Throughout their journey while traveling with the saints, Peter had become greatly respected and admired as a leader. Because of this, he was selected to be one of the leaders of the wagon train company. The wagon train consisted of about fifty wagons, a large herd of cattle that would have to be driven along, and numerous other farm animals which the people would need to survive in their new homes. 

The first day’s journey did not progress very well. This was due primarily to the fact that no one in the wagon train company had ever traveled long distances with as large a group as this one. There was a lot of confusion. People got lost or wagons fell behind because they couldn’t keep up. It was becoming very apparent what easy prey they would be if Indians decided to attack them. In addition, they would never make it to Utah before winter set in if they only advanced a few miles a day. 

The leaders of the wagon train knew they were in great danger as long as they continued to travel as spread out and disorganized as they were. That evening, they gathered together and decided to reorganize the way in which they would travel so as to afford themselves better protection from the Indians and to lengthen the number of miles they would travel in a day. 

Crossing the Great Plains during this time of year was very hot and dangerous. As they traveled, The pioneers had to keep a constant vigil for prairie fires. The route they took was along the Mormon Trail. This route began in Omaha and paralleled the Platte and North platte Rivers for much of the journey west. 

Because there were still many people who disliked or hated the Mormons, the wagon train traveled on the opposite side of the Platte River in order to avoid unfriendly settlers also going west. Traveling along the opposite bank of the river however, provided an added benefit. Since it was not the trail normally used for going west, the grass along it was more plentiful which made grazing for the animals much easier. 

After leaving Florence, there were no settlements of any size until they reached Fort Kearney in central Nebraska. After Fort Kearney, Fort Larmi just across the Wyoming border, was the next major stop. 

Life in a wagon train was difficult at best. Days usually began around 4 a.m. The animals needed to be fed and prepared for the long day’s journey. The cattle had to be rounded up so they could be driven on. The oxen which pulled the wagons needed to be fed, watered and checked over to make sure they were alright for that day’s work. The wagons also had to be checked to make sure they were ready for the day’s travel. These jobs were usually taken care of by the older boys and men. 

While these tasks were being attended to, the women prepared the morning meals and got the children and wagons ready. The wagon trains would usually pull out around 6 or 7 in the morning. Those traveling in the line of wagons had to breathe the hot dry dust constantly being kicked up by the wagons in front of it. The farther back in line you were the worse it became. On good days, the wagon train would travel fifteen to twenty miles. Some days though, they would only go a couple of miles. 

When evening came, the wagons would be pulled in together for better protection. Then the evening chores would begin. Taking care of the animals and making any necessary repairs to maintain the wagons was the first priority. These jobs would be done by the men. The women would get the evening meals going and make any other necessary preparations for that evening. 

Later in the evening, after the meals had been eaten, the young people would usually get together to have some fun. They would often play games, sing and dance. A good time was had by all. 

As bedtime drew near, the saints would gather together and kneel in prayer and ask for continued guidance and safety from the Lord. Following prayer everyone would turn in for a much needed rest. 

On Saturdays, they would usually only travel for part of the day. The remainder of the day would be spent doing the wash and many of the other things which needed to be taken care of but couldn’t be done while traveling during the week. 

Sundays were always a day of rest and no traveling was done on this day. The people would get cleaned up, put on their best clothes and gather together for Sunday services out on the plains.  

One night, just a few days before the wagon train had reached Fort Larmie, something spooked the cattle while they were grazing. They became so frightened that they stampeded and scattered in all directions across the hills. The next morning, it was decided that because it was late in the summer and winter would soon be setting in, it would be wise to continue on and not delay their journey by looking for the animals. It was not unheard of for snow to fall in the mountains at that time of the year. The loss of so many of the cattle would be very difficult. However, by helping each other out and sharing, the saints minimized their losses and were able to continue on. 

Because of their concern for someone getting hurt or killed should the cattle get spooked and stampede again, it was also decided that the woman and children who were walking, should walk behind the wagons instead of beside them. It was hoped that by doing this they would not be trampled. Some of the people did not listen or were not careful in doing what they had been told. Later, the cattle stampede again and one woman was killed and several women and children were badly injured. 

One of the women hurt was Maren Olsen, the Christiansen’s house maid who had come with them from Denmark. Maren recovered from her injuries, but the injuries she suffered would cause her to become partially deaf later in her life. Because the rest of the Peter’s family had been obedient and listened to their leaders, none of them were hurt. 

After Fort Larmie, Casper Wyoming along the North Platte river, was the next settlement of any size where the saints could get any additional provisions or assistance they might need. Following Casper, the wagon train left the North Platte and taking amore westerly direction began heading up into the Great Rocky Mountains. 

As the Saints continued on from Casper, they traveled along the Sweetwater river, through the “South Pass” and across the Great Continental Divide. The Pioneers had to always be attentive to the few cattle they had left so as to not let any harm come to them. Because the rivers and prairies of tall grass they traveled along, they were able to keep their animals watered and well fed. 

After arriving at Sweetwater, an epidemic struck causing many of the cattle to become very sick. In all, twenty-five of them died. The loss of these cattle plus those that had stampede caused great worry and concern. 

Despite the additional loss of their herd, the saints continued on. Their journey carried them southward along the Big Sandy river and into the Great Rocky Mountains. Eventually they left the Sandy river and traveled along the Green river where they then turned westward towards their last stop before reaching the Salt Lake Valley, Fort Bridger. 

After Fort Bridger they continued on until they reached Emigration Canyon, where they began their final descent into the Great Salt Lake Valley. On about 12 September 1863, after traveling over 1,000 miles from Omaha Nebraska, they finally reached their destination. 

As the saints reached the Salt Lake Valley, Brigham Young received word that another wagon train company was arriving. As was the custom, he and some of the leading church authorities rode out to the mouth of Emigration Canyon and greeted the weary pioneers as they entered the valley. 

On this happy occasion, President Brigham Young picked up Peter’s six year old son, Lars Peter. As he held him in his strong arms he patted him on the head and told him, “You are a fine young man…and these are the kind of people we want to come to Zion. I promise you my boy that you will grow up to be a strong man and that you will fill many positions in the church and accomplish much good.” 

Lars Peter remembered these prophetic words of the Prophet and he did fulfill them later in his life. As he grew older he served in a Bishopric, later became a Bishop, a High Counselor and was made the President of the Scandinavian Society. 

Part III 

Life in Utah 

After reaching Salt Lake, the company Peter and his family had traveled with was disbanded and many were sent to help settle different parts of the Mormon Colony. Shortly after their arrival in Salt Lake, Peter and many of the other Scandinavian members were set apart by Brigham Young to serve missions with their families to help settle and build Hyrum, in Cache Valley Utah. 

Peter and the other members who were going to settle in Hyrum only stayed in Salt Lake for a short time before they set out for their final destination. While en route, they were caught in an early fall snow storm. This unexpected snowfall made traveling very difficult especially for the oxen who had to struggle through the deep snow to pull the wagons up through the mountains. Consequently, they were only able to travel about ten miles a day. Finally on 19 September, they arrived in Hyrum. 

After arriving, Peter was disappointed to learn that all the available land immediately around Hyrum had been purchased. The previous bishop in Hyrum, Bishop Calvin Bingham, had just been transferred to Bear Lake, so Peter purchased his log cabin in the old fort and then bought ten acres of land to farm on. Together, the cabin and the land cost Peter $4,000. Later he purchased additional land to farm in the north field and on the bench. Peter worked very hard as a blacksmith and farmer to provide for his family and because of his efforts he prospered and was blessed in his labors. 

That first year in Hyrum, Peter bought and sent for a new threshing machine to use in harvesting the crops. This machine plus the freight expense, cost him a total of $700.00. This was probably one of the first threshing machines in Utah. 

When the thresher arrived in Salt Lake, Brigham Young asked if they might keep it there because it was badly needed. Peter agreed to this and ordered another one two years later. 

Soon after the Christiansen’s arrival in Hyrum, Peter began work on a home and a blacksmith shop. His skills were sorely needed since there was no blacksmith in Hyrum or the surrounding area. For several years following, he was the only blacksmith in Hyrum. 

Because of his reputation as an excellent blacksmith, people would come from towns all over southern Cache Valley to have him do work for them. Once he purchased old iron rims from discarded wagon wheels that had been used during the great California Gold Rush of 1849. By heating and reshaping these old iron rims, he was able to fashion them into metal tips for plow shares. These metal plowshares were greatly sought after by other farmers because their plows were difficult to use and were weak and often broke. 

Later, Peter developed a new type of plow called a “slip-scraper”. This slip-scraper made cultivation of the land much easier. However, this plow switch he had invented, was later patented by a businessman as his own idea. 

Because Peter was obedient, he was a great blessing to the people just as he had been promised back in Nebraska. One of his good friends, O. N. Wilson, remarked, “I’ve always helped your father as the benefactor in town, because he mastered his trade in the old country.” 

Peter’s blacksmith and other trade skills enabled him to contribute in many other ways. When the Brigham City Tabernacle was being constructed, he was called on to make all the nails for it. Later, his brother-in-law, Soren Hansen hired him to build him a beautiful new home. It is still one of the finest in Hyrum. Soren was able to build his home from the fortune he made from his businesses. 

When Peter’s son Lars was old enough, he worked with his father in the blacksmith shop. Just as Peter had apprenticed when he was a young boy, so too was Lars. One of the first jobs Lars performed was to pump the large bellows that fanned the hot coals. As he did this, Peter would hammer and shape the metal he was working with. As Lars’ skills progressed, Peter taught him more and in this way, he passed on his knowledge of the blacksmith trade. 

The following summer of 1864, Peter, his wife Anne and Maren Olsen, who had been living with them, traveled to Salt Lake City. In the Endowment House, on 2 July 1864, Peter was sealed to Anne and to Maren, who had become his second wife. Peter was twenty-nine years old at this time. 

After Peter married his second wife Maren, she continued to live with Anne and Peter in the same house. These two women truly loved one another and Maren’s first three children were born in Anne’s home. 

Later, Peter gave Anne and Maren each ten acres of land. The produce from it was theirs to do with as they pleased. He also gave them equal monies from his work at the blacksmith shop. A few years later, he built Maren a house near Anne’s. 

The Pioneers had to keep a close eye on their animals and crops from Indians who were always trying to steal them. During the day the settlers usually let their animals graze on the meadows just north of the fort in Hyrum. It was the job of the young boys to herd them and then bring them into their corrals at night. 

In June of 1864, as the young boys were bringing the horses in, twelve were unaccounted for. The “minute men”, men who would drop what they were doing at the sound of an alarm, of the town were called on and they went out to search for the missing horses. However, darkness fell on them before they were able to pick up the trail and forced them to return to the fort to await daylight. 

The next morning as soon as it was light, Peter Christiansen, George Nielsen, James McBride, Jens Monson, Niels Nielsen, Andrew Nielsen, John Monson, S. F. Allen, and Enoch Nielsen set out to track down the missing horses. Four miles north of the fort the men picked up the trail in the soft dirt. The trampled earth indicated that the horses were being pushed hard to gain distance. 

The second night as they continued their search, they caught the scent of burning sage brush while they walked their horses. Following the smell upwind, it grew stronger and stronger until they crossed a ridge and saw a little valley with dark foliage that marked the bed of a creek. Here the men stopped and decided that one of them should go down and spy out the camp. Hans Nielsen was selected to go. 

Leaving the other men behind, Hans creeped quietly down and crossed over the dry stream bed. There were many clumps of low brush which provided excellent cover for him to hide behind as he approached the camp. A little ways beyond the stream, he crawled up behind a thicket of old trees and saw a small fire vaguely smoking. Around the fire he counted nine Indians wrapped in large buffalo robes, all apparently asleep. Apparently the Indians were confident they had lost any pursuers because they had not bothered to have someone on guard. As Hans looked past the fire he could make out a herd of grazing horses. 

After pausing for a moment to decide what to do next, Hans carefully withdrew from the trees and circled around to where the horses were. As he approached them he quietly untied their ropes, mounted one and gradually urged them away from the camp and up the hillside. As he rode he laid flat on the horse’s back so if the Indians should awake, he would not be seen.  

After the horses had made it over the hill he urged them into a trot and then into a run. As he approached Peter and the other anxiously awaiting men, he shouted to them that he had the horses and for them to follow. 

Just after this though, Hans’ horse stepped into a badger hole and threw him. When he hit the ground he snapped his leg bone, just below the knee. When the other men caught up to Hans they found him lying on the ground in pain. They became alarmed once they realized what had happened because now they would have to travel much slower and if the Indians had woken and were pursuing them they would be in great danger. 

Quickly deciding what to do, they got Hans back up onto his horse and split into two groups. Half the men rode at a quicker pace to drive the horses back and arrived in Hyrum by 10 o’clock the next morning. The other half rode with Hans to protect him and at a slower pace. They did not reach the fort until after dark the next day. 

Later during the summer of 1864, grasshoppers swarmed in from the north and blanketed the farm fields for as far as you could see. As they moved from one field to the next, they would devour and destroy the crops of the Mormon saints. For the first three years of the plague, a growing humming sound would always announce and forewarn the settlers of the impending arrival of the dreaded insects. When the grasshoppers began to devour a field, they ate everything in their path. For six years the crickets continued to return and each time they almost entirely wiped out many of the pioneers badly needed crops. There seemed to be nothing the saints could do to prevent this terrible catastrophe. 

In Hyrum, special fast and prayer meetings were held to ask the Lord for help. Sometimes fasting and prayer would help. One time as the crickets approached Hyrum the insects turned their course and spared the town. Other times however the saints weren’t so fortunate. Following one special fast and prayer meeting, as the members began to leave they were greeted by what appeared to be the entire street moving southward but what was in reality an advancing army of crickets. 

During the fall, the crickets would come down from the north in huge dark clouds that would sometimes darken the sun. They would land in the recently plowed farm fields and lay their eggs. The next summer when the farmers plow their fields, the exposed eggs would hatch in the warm spring sunshine. 

To try and eradicate this terrible menace, many farmers would flood their fields hoping the water would prevent the crickets from eating the crops and drown them. This would fail because the crickets could swim and they would simply dive down to the grain. Most of the people, Peter included, lost their crops to the grasshoppers. 

The first winter following the destruction of crops by the crickets, was a particularly hard one because most people weren’t prepared for the shortage of food. However, they made do with what they had and were able to make it through the cold winter. 

The Indians on the other hand didn’t fare as well. They knew the Mormons still had food. Winter was coming and they had very little. So at night, they would try and steal whatever food or cattle they could. During the day they would come into the settlements and beg for food. 

Day by day the Indians became more and more demanding and desperate. They became bolder and more aggressive in their attempts to steal whatever they could get. At night the men had to stand guard over their fields and the food they had stored. Finally, Chief Pocatello demanded that the Mormons give them beef so they could survive. The saints knew that unless they agreed to his demands there would be trouble.  

Bishop Lilenquist of the Hyrum Ward called all the men together for a meeting to decide what to do about the Indians and their demands. Most people wanted to help them. They knew the Indians were starving and they needed food. Many suggestions were put forth but finally they decided the best thing to do was to give all their cattle to the Indians and thus avoid any bloodshed. This was a very difficult decision to make because the settlers knew they needed the cattle for food also. 

When Peter told Anne what had been decided she was very upset. She knew how desperately they needed the cattle to get through the winter. She shed bitter tears as she watched her cattle being driven away. She knew the coming winter would be a long and hungry one. 

Things did not remain peaceful for very long. The following year in 1865, trouble erupted with the Black Hawk Indians and an ensuing war broke out that lasted until 1868. Peter fought in this war and received a medal for his efforts. 

Peter was very civic minded and always involved in the community. He participated in community activities and often ran for various offices. He was a Trustee for the Hyrum public school system. As a trustee he was able to get a system of progressive grade levels started. This was the first such system in Hyrum and in all of Cache county. He was also repeatedly elected to the city council and served on it for many years. 

Peter was elected and re-elected several times as president of the irrigation company. He worked hard to get an efficient system working that would benefit the farmers. 

Peter loved to attend the dances and social gatherings. Usually these activities were held in the northeast corner of the public square in Hyrum. For many years he was in charge of all the dance parties. Peter enjoyed these socials a lot because of the opportunity to visit with his friends and neighbors. 

In 1864, the saints living in Hyrum were called to institute and begin living under a new economic law called the “United Order.” Four types of “United Order” were being practiced by the saints during this time. The type of order the saints in Hyrum were asked to live did not involve the consecration of all their property or labor. Instead it involved increasing the community ownership and operation of cooperative enterprises. This was known as the “Brigham City plan” or a Co-op Institution. 

Because a cooperative style of economics was already in place, this new plan was simply used to reinforce and extend the already existing cooperative enterprises. The Hyrum Co-op was based upon an exploitation of the grazing and timber resources in Blacksmith Fork Canyon. 

In Hyrum, the earnings from the general store were plowed back into the other cooperative institutions. These consisted of a steam-sawmill, planing mill, water sawmill, steam shingle mill, lath mill and a dairy to make cheese. Ole H. Rose was made superintendent of the dairy. He managed it very well and built it into a very successful business. Peter was the superintendent of all the mills. Bishop Lilenquist was the President over this new United Order. James Unsworth was the secretary. 

To establish this “New Order” in Hyrum, Peter and two other men were called by the church leaders to purchase two and a half sections of land in section four and lay them out into city lots. All the work was done in Peter’s name. After buying the land, he hired James Marinlou, from Logan, to do the surveying and make a map showing the city lots. Each block was made up of eight lots of one and one half acres each. The streets were five rods wide. A drawing was held and heads of families drew for a lot to build on. In this same manner, 20 acre parcels of land were distributed for farming. Everyone paid $1.00 per lot which was used to cover the cost of the surveying. 

With his new land, Peter began building a fine new home. When it was completed it was the first shingled roof home in Hyrum. It cost Peter $1,500.00 to build. He used 10,000 bricks at $30.00 per thousand. He bought lumber at $50.00 per thousand, shingles at $10.00 per thousand, and nails at 50 cents a pound. 

Headshot photo of a woman (Ane Marie?). Picture is on the top left hand side of the paper). 

In 1867, Peter was married to his third wife, Ane Marie Hansen. Of his marriage to Ane Marie, Peter wrote, “Obedient to the revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith, I married and was sealed to my third wife, Ane Marie Hansen on 25 May 1867. She was the daughter of Karen and Soren Hansen.” 

In order to marry Ane Marie, he first had to get a legal divorce from his first wife Anne. Peter went to her and asked her if she would do this. They still loved each other very much, but Peter could not marry Ane Marie unless he was divorced from Anne Petrine. So she agreed to Peter’s request. This was a great sacrifice for her. Even though they were divorced civilly, they did not have their Celestial marriage sealing annulled. This way, in the eyes of the church and the Lord, they were still married. 

When Ane Marie was eleven years old she was baptized into the Mormon church. A few weeks later her parents were also baptized. The Hansen’s were from Nodager, Denmark (see Appendix map #3) and had immigrated to Utah in April 1862, one year before Peter. 

Peter and Ane Marie had ten children. Three years after their marriage their first child Martha Marie, was born. She came into their home on 7 December 1870. Helen Christena was born 4 March 1872. Next their first son, Hans Soren Christiansen, was born 20 january 1874. He lived only a few short months before he died. After Hans, Caroline Matilda was born 14 October 1875. The next baby born was another daughter, Marie, on 24 May 1878. Two years later, on 10 August 1880, Ane Christiana was born. Mary Ida was born 29 March 1882. After Mary came Esther Luella. She was born 29 October 1884. The next baby was Peter Victor. He was born 13 December 1886. The last child to be born to Peter and Ane Marie was Irma Vivian on 9 August 1894. All of these children were born in Hyrum, Utah. 

Peter loved his three wives very much. At times it was difficult. He tried to be impartial with them and treat each of them equally. After he married Maren, his second wife and Ane Marie, his third wife, he built each one a home next to Ane’s. He gave each their own land and gave them their own money from his work at the blacksmith shop. Each morning Peter would get up and first visit Anne, then he would visit Maren, and finally Ane Marie. At his third wife’s house he would have his breakfast. Peter bought one of the first sewing machines in Hyrum for his three wives. He paid for it with four acres of land. To make it fair, each wife could use the machine for one week.  

On December 20, 1870, Peter met with the church Patriarch, John Smith, in Hyrum and received his first Patriarchal blessing. He was promised and told many wonderful things in his blessing. He was told that he would be “allowed to travel and labor in the Ministry” and bring “many souls to  the knowledge of the truth.” He was told that “his days and years” would be “prolonged”. Further, he was told that his name would be “held in honorable remembrance from generation to generation.” (See appendix for complete Blessing) 

In 1870, when Peter’s son Lars (Anne Petrine’s son) was nine years old, he went with his father, mother and his two sisters to work up in Blacksmith Canyon at the saw mills. Just as Peter’s father needed Peter to work to help take care of the family, so too did Peter need his children to help when they were old enough. Anne and her two girls would cook the meals for the men working at the camp. Young Lars carried water and wood but was quite anxious to do some other more meaningful task. 

About July 1870, Andrew Larsen, a young man working in the shingle mill, was edging shingles one day when he accidentally cut off two of his fingers. Since they were up in the mountains and short of help, Peter’s young son Lars begged his father to let him take over Andrew Larsen’s job. Since Peter was the superintendent of the mills he told Lars he couldn’t because he was too young. However, he changed his mind and decided he would let him try. Lars did the job so well that Peter let him continue working until he was fifteen years old. 

By the early 1870’s most of the timber that was near Hyrum had been chopped down and used. To get more timber, it was decided to build a road east of Hyrum, up into the left fork of Blacksmith Canyon. Peter, his son-in-law and Oliver McBride were in charge of the construction of this road. In addition to taking charge of the road construction, Peter also helped out by making, repairing and sharpening the tools. 

While Peter helped to supervise the construction of the road, his wives helped to prepare three hot meals for the workers each day. They also did a lot of the cleaning and washing. It was hard work for the women. Instead of having to do their cooking over a campfire, Peter set up a stove in one of the tents they lived in. 

During the construction the families lived in tents up in the canyon. The older children helped out with the work while the younger ones mostly played nearby. Usually one of the older children would tend the younger ones. As the work progressed, the camp would be moved farther eastward. This constant moving necessitated breaking down the camp, moving everything, and setting it all up again. This entailed a lot of work, most of which fell to the women to do. 

Peter brought a couple of milk cows up to the canyon to provide fresh milk for the children while they built the road. However they did not bring any chickens but left them at home in Hyrum. When Peter or some of the men went down into Hyrum for supplies, they would always bring back the eggs as well as vegetables from the garden. 

Many exciting and interesting incidents occurred while working up in the canyons. It was common to see wild animals, especially deer. Ole McBride, who was known in Hyrum as the “great hunter”, often brought in deer or other fresh meat. 

Lena, one of the older daughters, usually watched after the children and in addition, took care of a small flock of sheep. One day she thought she heard a baby crying. So she left the sheep in the care of her sisters and went to find the baby. When she came to the spot where she had heard the crying, she didn’t find a baby but a dangerous wild mountain cat called a lynx. When she came upon the lynx, it was crying and lashing at its tail. Lena was so close to the wild cat that she thought it would kill her for sure. But with a prayer in her heart she cautiously backed away and then turned and ran as fast as she could back to where her sisters were watching the smaller children. 

Lena told the other girls to quickly gather up the children and run for the camp before the lynx could harm them. Lena was so conscientious that she also gathered the sheep in front of her and ran them back to the camp. When they got back and had explained what had happened, everyone was grateful that all were safe. 

The construction of the new road up into Blacksmith Canyon created many new jobs and provided an economic boom for the people of Hyrum. Good wages were paid to those who were willing to do the hard work of digging a road out of the side of the canyon. 

By 1873 the 18 mile long road was finally completed. Following its completion, Brigham Young and a group of other prominent church leaders met with the people of Hyrum to join in their celebration. On this occasion Peter received a special blessing from the Prophet. 

The road up into Blacksmith Canyon was a toll road. The monies collected were used to keep the road in good repair. Elice Ray was appointed to be the first toll collector.  

For several years Peter presided over the Scandinavian Society in Hyrum. At church or other such gatherings he often led the music. He also taught the ward theology class. Because of his love for the scriptures he greatly enjoyed this calling. 

In 1890 Peter received his second Patriarchal Blessing. He received the blessing from Patriarch O. M. Lifenquist on March 11, in Hyrum. The blessing gave promises of power and wisdom and words of encouragement to Peter. He was also told that, “you will never fall away from the path marked out for thee by the finger of the Lord.” (See appendix for entire blessing) 

After their arrival in Hyrum, Peter was sustained as a teacher in Hyrum Ward. He labored in that capacity until he was called to become the President of the Quorum. Peter remained the Teachers Quorum president until 1876 when the ward in Hyrum was divided. 

At the time of the division, Ole N. Lifenquist, ordained Peter a High Priest and set him apart as a counselor in the High Priest Quorum. Later, when the President of the Quorum died, he was called to take his place. A friend of Peter’s, O. N. Wilson said of him, “He was always at the High Priest meetings and rattled off the scriptures which he had learned in the Lutheran church, which he always defended.” Peter remained President of the High Priest Quorum until he was forced into hiding due to the intense persecution against those who practiced polygamy. Persecution against polygamists became increasingly intense during the latter 1870’s and 1880’s. Numerous good men were forced to either go into hiding or leave their families and flee on the underground. Many however, were caught and sent to prison. Federal agents and bounty hunters were always hunting and trying to capture polygamists. Peter and his families had to continuously be cautious and keep a vigilant eye out for these men. 

One day, while Peter’s son Lars was chopping wood, Peter came running towards him shouting, “Hide me…hide me.” Lars, thinking quickly, pointed to a hole in a haystack and Peter dove in pulling the hay in around him. 

As the two men were searching for Peter approached, they asked Lars where his father was. Lars replied that he hadn’t seen him. The two men continued to question Lars to try and get him to reveal the whereabouts of his father. They failed however and eventually gave up and continued on their way. 

After this frightening incident, Peter decided it would be best if he “went on the underground’. He decided to go to Wyoming because the Federal Marshals assigned to Utah did not have jurisdiction in that state and so it would be safer there. He took his third wife, Ane Marie, with him leaving Anne and Maren in Hyrum. This separation was very difficult for Anne, Maren and the children. 

Sometime after 1900, the people of Hyrum began construction of a new church house. By 1904, this chapel was completed. It was located only a few blocks to the southeast from where Peter’s homes were. To build this new church, much help and assistance was needed from the members to contribute to its building. Peter donated some of his own personal things for use in the new meeting house. As Peter grew older, he made other contributions that would benefit others. After he became too old to work all the land he owned for farming he donated it to help establish the Brigham Young College. 

On 27 May 1907, Peter’s first wife Anne Petrine passed away. A few months later on 13 December, his second wife Maren also died. This was a tragic and sorrowful time in his life. Then ten years later, on 11 December 1916, Peter’s last wife, Ane Marie passed away, she was sixty-six years old. 

After the death of his three wives. Peter grew very lonely. He was seventy-seven and many of his friends had also passed on. By this time he had long since closed and torn down his blacksmith shop. All of his children were married and many of them had moved from Hyrum. Because of this, Hyrum held no real ties for him. And so, in his loneliness he sought the company of his family. 

Most of his final years were spent in Thorton, Idaho where he lived with his two daughters, Martha Marler and Mary Smith, and their families. While living there, he was never idle. It was very important to him to continue to be useful. He was always making something or repairing things which needed mending. He always had a project going. One such project was helping his son-in-law, Eugene Smith, build a garage. 

Once while visiting his daughter Mary Smith, his granddaughter Glenice, who was five years old, had a high chair that was too high for her to get up into. Peter took a saw and cut the legs off half way down. Glenice was so thrilled. Instead of having a high chair that was difficult to get into, she had a “low chair” she could easily get into. 

One night at Mary’s home, everyone was seated around the table for dinner. There was a lit coal oil lamp in the middle of the table for light. Dinner that night consisted of warm milk and bread. Before they ate, Peter asked his grandson Leon to offer the blessing on the food. Leon said the prayer but because he said it with such a low, quiet voice, no one heard him. After he had finished, Peter looked up at Leon and said, “Leon, that blessing didn’t even get to the ceiling.” Everyone had a good laugh over this. 

Early in Peter’s life he had promised the Lord he would give up coffee. One day his daughter Mary offered to make him a cup of hot postum. He refused and said to Mary. “Daughter, would you have me break my promise to the Lord?” Peter felt that postum was the same type of drink as coffee. 

Peter loved his grandchildren. He loved to be hugged and kissed by them. Often he would buy peppermint candy and ask them if they would like a piece. In those days candy was a rare treat, so without exception the children would all exclaim, “yes!” Peter would say, “All right come here and give me a kiss and I’ll give you some.” The children didn’t like to kiss Peter because he had big bushy whiskers. However, they couldn’t resist the enticing sweets. 

Peter was a thrifty man. An example of this was when Glenice, his granddaughter, picked up a pin that she found on the floor and was going to throw into the stove. While rocking in his rocking chair by the stove, Peter said to her, “granddaughter, never throw anything away that can be reused.” 

Peter loved reading church literature and newspapers. During the last few years of his life, his eyesight began to fail. This worried him greatly. He did not want to be unable to read or be productive. His sight never totally left him and so he was able to do the things he loved. 

On 27 September 1920, Peter was staying with his daughter Mary. At about 2:30 in the afternoon, Peter sensed that his time had come and he would soon pass away. During his last few moments alive he asked Mary to call her husband Eugene. When he arrived, Peter asked him, “Brother Smith, (he called all his son-in-laws by ‘Brother’) will you sing “Oh My Father’ to me?” As Eugene sang to him, he peacefully passed away. He was eighty-five years old. 

Remarks 

Peter had outlived all his wives. When he died, he had four children from  his first marriage to Anne Petrine, eight children from his second marriage to Maren and ten children from his third marriage to Ane Marie (two other children died that I am not sure which wife gave birth to). He had scores of grandchildren and today, has numerous great, great, great, great, grandchildren.  

On 16 October 1920, the Salt Lake newspaper, “Deseret News” published this about Peter: 

“PIONEER BLACKSMITH AND BUSINESS MAN IS LAID TO FINAL REST” 

“Hyrum, Oct. 11–Funeral services were held Friday, October 1, in the Second ward chapel for Peter Christiansen, who died at home of his daughter, Mrs. Eugene Smith, Thornton, Idaho, Sept. 27, (1920). 

Mr. Christiansen was born in Febeck, Denmark, Jan. 30, 1835. He embraced the gospel in his native land and with his wife and four children emigrated to Hyrum, Utah, in 1863. 

Besides being the pioneer blacksmith here and making the first plows from old wagon tires, he owned and operated the first shingle mill, and the first potato starch mill. He with others imported and operated the first threshing machine, built the road through Blacksmith Fork canyon, built the first saw mills and cut the first lumber. While acting as trustee the rock school house was built and the first graded schools in the county started. 

He was just as energetic in ecclesiastical duties, having served for many as president of the Scandinavian Society, president of the teachers quorum and president of the high priests quorum. 

Nine children and three wives preceded him to the grave. He is survived by eight sons, Lars P., of Hyrum, Utah; Hans P., Christian J., Niels, Hiram, Lehi, William of Moreland, Ida., and Peter V. of Hollywood, Cal., and seven daughters, Mrs. Annie Larsen and Irma Christiansen of Hyrum; Mrs. Martha Marler, Thornton, Ida; Mrs. Helen Jensen, Shelly, Ida; Mrs. Marie Murray, Ogden; Mrs. Annie Naper, Boise, Ida; Mrs. Mary C. Smith, Thornton, Ida; 76 grandchildren, 73 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild. 

Friends from near and far, and all of his children but three were in attendance at the funeral. 

As I have compiled and written this account of Peter Christiansen, it has brought me closer to him. His examples in the way he lived his life, his beliefs and the sacrifices which he made for the gospel have affected me personally. This has been a strength which I have been able to draw upon in my own daily living. His life is one worthy of emulation by all and in particular by his descendants. After reading his Patriarchal blessing of 1870, it struck me that the writing of this history was one of the ways a promise made to him over 120 years ago was being fulfilled: 

“Thy name shall be held in honorable remembrance from generation to generation.” 

Appendix 

(First Blessing) 

Hyrun, Cache Co. 

December 20, 1870 

A blessing given by John Smith Patriarch, upon the head of Peter Christiansen son of Christian Johansen and Christiana Christophersen, born in Bostrup, Denmark, Jan. 30 1835. 

“Brother Peter in the name of Jesus Christ I place my hands upon thy head and promise and seal the Blessings of Abrahm, Isaac, and Jacob upon thee and say unto thee be of good faith and hold sacred by covenants seek his arm and be prepared for further usefulness. Thou shalt again be allowed to travel and labor in the ministry. Put thy trust in the Lord and his Spirit shall attend thy labor and thou shalt have much joy and shall bring many souls to the knowledge of the truth and shall receive the reward among the father in Israel and have an inheritance among the Saints. Thy days and years shall be prolonged according to thy faith and the desires of thy heart. Thy guardian Angel shall watch over thee and give thee counsel in time of need and word of the shafts of the adversary which may be hurled at thee. Thou shalt be Blest in the labor of thy hands and gather around the carpets of life. Thy name shall be held in honorable remembrance from generation to generation. Thou art of Ephraim and shall be a savior in thy lineage and if you will listen to the prompting of thy Master within thee, thou shalt have the gift of discernment and shall choose between good and evil and thy pathway shall be made smooth and thou shall fulfill a good work upon the earth and thy last days shall be thy best days. This blessing I seal upon thy head and I seal thee up into eternal life to come forth in the morning of the first resurrection even so, Amen.” 

(Second Blessing) 

Hyrum, Cache county, Utah 

11 March 1890 

A blessing given by Patriarch O. M. Liljenquist, on the head of Peter Christiansen, son of Christian J Christophersen and Christina Peterson. Born 30 January 1835 at Febeck, Bostrup, Langeland, Swenborg (Svenborg), Denmark 

“Brother Peter, in the name of Jesus Christ and by the virtue of the Holy Patriarchal office, I place my hands upon your head and seal upon you a fathers’ and a Patriarchal Blessing, with the blessings of Abraham, Isaac and jacob and the blessings of the new and everlasting Covenant, with every Blessing that your heart could desire in righteousness and say be of good cheer for the Lord loves thee, his all seeing eye has watched over thee even since you came into the world. He called thee by the power of his holy spirits unto his gospel and thou knew the voice of the good shepherd, for you were chosen before you were born to receive the same with the fullness of the holy work in the ministry. You shall be full of faith and the testimony of Jesus. Your tongue shall be loosened and you shall prophesy before many congregations of the saints and enjoy the revelation of the holy spirit to understand the signs of the times and be prepared for every event of God’s providence. You shall enjoy great wisdom and become a mighty leader among your brethren and be a wise counselor and prudent leader. You shall grow from grace to grace, from knowledge to knowledge and from fate to fate, until you have communion with mortal beings and see as you are seen and know as you are known. Yea, until the perfect day of the Lord you shall have power to heal the sick, cast out evil spirits, rebuke pestilences, sickness and death and the destroyer shall flee from before thee. Your children shall listen to your counsels. You shall have power to lead your family into the presence of the Father. You shall enjoy every key anointing and blessing necessary to enter into his presence and reign with your redeemer on the earth as a king and a priest. Thou art of the blood of Ephriam and heir to the fullness of all the blessings. Through birthright and through election you will never fall away from the path marked out for thee by the finger of the Lord. You shall stand as a Savior on Mt. Zion. Your homes and habitation shall be blest of the Lord. Your fields and your orchards, your flocks and herds, and all your industrial pursuits and you shall not alone enjoy the riches of eternity, but also of the earth. These blessings are yours by the gift of God, by the testimony of his holy spirits. I seal them upon you in his Holy name by virtue of my office through your faithfulness and weal you up unto Eternal Life. In the name of Jesus, Amen.” 

Sources 

1. “A Pioneer From Denmark” (a story of Hans Peter Christiansen, son of Peter Christiansen), Pearl Christiansen Hatch, No date. 

2. “Life History of Ane Petrine Petersen Christiansen”, Mildred Christiansen Coles, Taken from “Memoirs of My Ancestors”, by his grandson Lars Christiansen, No date. 

3. “Peter Christiansen”, as Dictated by him to his daughter, Mary Smith, Before 1920. 

4. “The Good Woman”, Irma Nichols Harris, 21 Feb. 1974. 

5. Various Genealogical Group Sheets of the Christiansen family. 

6. Memories of his granddaughter, Mary Marler Jensen. 

7. Memories of his granddaughter Glenice Smith Anderson. 

8. “Great Kingdom Basin”, Leonard J. Arrington, 1958. 

9. “Mormon Polygamous Families Life in the Principle”, Jessie L. Embry, 1987. 

10. Notes by Irma Christiansen, youngest daughter of Peter Christiansen.