My name is Asher Bell. I would like to share a pioneer story from my family history. The story I want to share is about my four times great grandpa. His name was Peter Janse.

On December 23, 1911, two Mormon missionaries came to the home of Peter and Gertie Janse in Middleburg, Holland. After sincere and prayerful investigation, Gertie was baptized and became the first member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Middleburg. Peter wasn’t very happy that his wife had joined the church because their neighbors and friends soon had nothing to do with his family. After much contention in their home, he was so distraught that he decided to end his life by drowning himself in the big canal that ran through the town. He left his youngest child asleep in the crib at home and walked to the canal.

As he was about to step into the water, he could hear his son back at the house crying. He thought this was very strange as he was too far from his house to really be able to hear him. He walked back home only to find his son sound asleep in his crib. Peter then slowly walked back to the canal determined to end his life. Again, as he was about to step into the water he heard his youngest son, Joseph, crying. Again, he went back home and again he found the boy sound asleep.

For the third time he walked to the canal and for the third time he heard his boy crying and for the third time walked home finding his son fast asleep. Peter decided he was being told not to drown himself, but he still did not want anything to do with the church. He became very mean to his family. After several weeks he started listening to the missionaries as they taught his wife and children but did not want to give up his coffee and tobacco pipe. 

On the day he finally decided to be baptized, he gave up both the coffee and his pipe and never once regretted his decision to join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was baptized on September 9th, 1912, and Gertie’s and his home became the gathering place and center of the church in Middleburg. In July of 1916, Peter left his wife and children and came to Huntsville, Utah where he worked and sent money home so that his family could join him. In January 1917, his family left Holland and arrived in Ogden Utah in February 1917 having been delayed by a severe snowstorm in Wyoming.

This spring, my family and I went to Huntsville for a few days, and we spent several hours in the Huntsville Cemetery. We found Peter’s and Gertie’s gravesites as well as many other family members.

I am glad for my ancestors’ sacrifices that made it so that I could grow up with the gospel and live in the amazing place that I do now.

Asher Bell, Sandy Crescent Stake