My great-grandmother, Julia Anderson was born on July 10, 1876, in Denmark, one of eleven children. Early on, her parents left the Lutheran Church and joined the Baptist Church. Her father, Lars Peder Andersen, was a traveling Baptist Minister in Denmark. When Julia was 9 years old, her family immigrated to America, ending up in Racine, Wisconsin.  Lars took up a job with the American Baptist Church and continued in his “preaching”.

 Julia grew up, married and had 3 children; one was my grandfather, Louis Franklin Pierce.  When Julia’s children were ages 12, 8, and 1 year old, Julia’s husband, my great-grandfather, was killed in a tragic boiler accident.  The next years were challenging, raising three children and caring for their needs. According to census records I found on Family Search, Julia took in lodgers to supplement the family’s income during this time.

Julia’s Father Lars, and her Mother Johanna (Hannah) eventually moved nearby, and were a great help to her.  During this time Julia and her father had many gospel and Bible discussions. Together, they concluded that the Baptist Church could not be true, as they understood that the Lord’s church would have apostles.

Julia’s father, Lars, died and three years later there was a knock at the door. When Julia opened the door, she found two young men who introduced themselves as missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  Both missionaries were from Utah, one was Elder Elmer, the other was Elder Nielsen.  It was pouring rain outside and Julia felt sorry for the missionaries, so she invited them in to her home.  They sat down and started to talk to one another.  Julia loved to do needlework and she would sit in her rocking chair and work on project after project.  While Elder Nielsen was talking, Julia was sitting in her rocking chair doing needlework, not even looking up.  The elders started to teach her about Joseph Smith and the restoration of the gospel. As the Elders continued their teaching they explained about the doctrine of salvation of the dead.  Julia stopped what she was doing, as this subject had always been of great interest to her.  As Julia looked up from her needlework, and the Elders continued to bear testimony, the spirit of her deceased father, Lars Peder Andersen, appeared to her, in vision.  He smiled at her and nodded in agreement to the things that these humble Elders were teaching her. 

Julia was soon baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After receiving the gospel, the missionaries taught her three children, each of whom were baptized.  Two of her children were married at the time, and their spouses were also taught by the missionaries and accepted the gospel.  My dad was three years old when his father and mother were baptized.  

Through Julia’s efforts, her parent’s temple work was completed. She continued to complete the temple work of many other deceased family members.

Julia Andersen was the first convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on my dad’s family line.  Because of her faith and example, there are now 100’s of her descendants who enjoy the blessings of the restored Church of Jesus Christ. I will forever be grateful for the legacy of faith she left me. 

In the 2017 RootsTech conference Sister Wendy Nelson asked questions, that she urged each of us to ponder. She asked:  “… What do you need in your life right now?

• More love?
• More joy?
• More self-mastery?
• More peace?
• More of a feeling that you’re making a difference?
• Could you use more answers to your soul-searching questions?
• More ability to forgive?
• How about more ability to pray with power?

Sister Nelson then invited us to receive these blessings as we increase our time in Temple and Family History work.

I know that I have received rich blessings as I have put sister Nelson’s challenge to the test. I would invite each of you to find out about the first person in your family to accept the gospel and write their story. If you are that person, write your story and post it to the “memories” section on your family tree on Family Search. These stories can inspire others and help build their faith. –Elaine Hardman