Saga of the Sanpitch Volume 13, 1981 - Sanpete County

that a young fourteen-year- old boy has had a vision. The Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ had come to him
and given him a golden book with a new religion written on it."
Peter and Dorothy became very interested and decided that Peter and Rasmus should go to the next
meeting and hear for themselves. As they went, Dorothy sought the Lord in prayer and asked that they might
know the truth.
So impressed was Dorothy, that she took her knitting and decided to wait up until Peter's return.
About twelve o'clock he came, and a new light was in his eyes.
"Oh, Dorothy, I believe we have found the truth at last."
They sat until morning marveling over the wondrous story.
Next evening Peter and Rasmus stayed at home with the children while Dorothy and Caroline went to
the meeting. When Dorothy returned, her face was radiant with new life. She had found her God. So strong
was the blood of Israel in her, that she recognized Him at the first call. So thankful were they to receive the
truth, that they went among their relatives spreading the glad news. But what was the matter? On almost
every hand ridicule and abuse met them.
Dorothy's brother and sisters sought valiantly to rescue their baby sister from what they thought was
witchcraft or a snare laid by Satan.
Soon the spirit of gathering came upon them and they planned to leave all and go to America. This
enraged her brothers so much that one night they gathered a mob and came to kill Peter so that he could not
take their sister into the great unknown America. As they came to the door demanding Peter, Dorothy met
them and held them there while Peter slipped out the back door. But where should he go? Everywhere the
mob!
Suddenly he saw the old, black wash kettle, and tipping it, he slipped under it. He was none too soon,
as the mob rushed around the house threatening to kill him, could they only find him. But the Lord blinded
their eyes and he escaped. Failing to get hold of him enraged them so, they broke all the windows in the
house. Baby Hannah, asleep in her crib, was covered with pieces of broken glass, but not one piece pierced
her little body.
From then on, it was impossible to stay in their loved home. Their relatives were enemies, their
friends, and strangers. Soon their beautiful home and farm were sold. At last the packing was done and the
time to say goodbye had come.
What heartaches for them all, when the children were forced to leave one cherished toy after another.
Just before handing the key to the new owner, Baby Hannah ran back, grabbed up her pretty purple parasol
and clung to it frantically. "Well, keep it, dear, if it will comfort you any." And so amid tears and sighs, it began
its long journey.
Soon they were upon the rolling waters. All the new scenes and friends made the children forget their
homesickness. Not so with the gentle Dorothy. The worry and care of the children, the poor food and the
constant motion of the ship began to tell on her delicate constitution, and as they journeyed on, she became
too weak to leave her bed. With sinking heart, Peter watched her decline.
All journeys end, no matter how long, and this was no exception. As they reached St. Louis after sailing
up the Mississippi, word was passed that the Government Inspector was coming. This ordeal was the fear of
all. It meant that the well were forced to go on, and the sick were taken to some quarantine hospital to die
alone among strangers, or recover as best they could. The horror of this seized Dorothy, and begging Peter to
assist her to put on her clothes, she grabbed her sun bonnet and drew it well down over her face. Mary
brought her mother a bowl of broth and bread. When the Inspector came, he passed by with, "Well enough to
eat. You can pass."
Poor Peter could see that our Heavenly Father would soon give her a pass into His Celestial Kingdom.
Gently carrying her to her bed and calling the children, he held her in his loving arms until her spirit took its
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