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JULIUS BERNTSEN
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A FEW INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF JULIUS BERNTSEN (WRITTEN ON MARCH 20, 1940)
In a friendly little village about four miles south of Oslo, the capitol of Norway, stood a sturdy little cottage surrounded by fir, pine, and birch trees. Here on the eighth of January eighteen fifty-six, a baby boy was welcomed into a family of five. When a few weeks old, he was christened Julius Berntsen in the Lutheran Church, the predominant church in Norway. In his early childhood he made a close friend of nature, which friendship has remained to this day. He often visited the nearby forests enjoying the varied species of birds, animals, and forest life.
Attending the county schools he first learned his ABC’. He diligently studied the Bible for the Lutheran Minister gave the examination for graduation based upon the Bible. At school he unknowingly made the acquaintance of class’s finest reader and whom he later made his wife.
Because of the untimely death of his father when Julius was but eleven years old, his two wealthy uncles wanted to send him away for higher education upon completion of the regular school course. The popularity of the girl he had met in school caused him to stay home and work to ensure his position as her first choice. Their friendship grew and ripened into love and resulted in marriage on Oct. seventeenth eighteen eighty.
They made their home in the village where both had grown to maturity. Here, to this devoted couple was born seven children: Carie, Inga, Christopher, Anna, John, Carl, and Sigrid. To support this family he farmed and was a builder.
Soon after the second child was born; the Lutheran Church began an intensive religious revival to combat the encroaching word of Mormonism. When the missionaries first entered their home the wife said she knew it was the truth and the family accepted the new and then unpopular religion. The parents were baptized on May twenty-fifth eighteen eighty four. As soon as the children were old enough, they too were baptized. Julius had good health and this enabled him to perform church duties untiringly along with his heavy daily work. He often carried the younger missionaries on his back over the streams on their way to visit members in outlying districts because the missionaries were not dressed for this travel.
He served as Sunday School Superintendent and was a teacher in the branch there from the time of joining until the family immigrated to America. He served as Branch President for many years.
On April sixth nineteen hundred and seven the family closed the door of their happy little Norwegian home for the last time. The entire neighborhood turned out to say goodbye to their beloved neighbor and friend and his family. The neighbors said they had purchased at the auction of the family's belongings many articles they didn't need but desired to have as a remembrance of their friendship.
On the water Julius found out that it wasn't as pleasant riding the waves as it was rowing his own little boat or hunting in the forests.
On April twenty eighth, nineteen hundred and seven, the family arrived in Salt Lake City to realize their dreams, to have their home in Zion.
Within two weeks Julius found work and was employed by the largest local lumber company. He couldn't speak or understand much of the new language, but he would show the delivery ticket to policemen or street car conductors who pointed out the direction and with a silent prayer, Julius was able to deliver his load of lumber without ever going to the wrong place or taking longer time than the previous driver ,but on coming home he never had to ask his way as the horses always seemed to know their way back.
Julius’ love of nature and understanding of animals did not diminish here in Zion and to this day you can often see him doing acts of kindness to many animals.
Julius immediately became active as a block teacher, going with a Danish brother to visit Scandinavian people in the Thirty-first Ward.
The family prospered and young children grew up as the years passed. After two and a half years the son John went back to Norway on a mission.
The family moved from Thirty-first wars to Forest Dale and when the ward was divided, Julius and his family were members of the Nibley Park Ward where Julius still lives and greatly enjoys his association and continued work as a Ward teacher among the people, which he says are the finest in the best ward of the Church.
His family has all grown up and married. Now the two, who were once only school friends, are again alone and their devotion to each other has only increased through the years. If one could look in through their window at night they would see two white haired people sitting close together still reading their Bible and the Book of Mormon.
(This story was taken from https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/KWCP-5X9. The purpose was to share stories of early Norwegian members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints to give context of the early history. It was taken from FamilySearch. If you are a member of his family, please contact me with questions.)
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