Thilda Lovisa Lavin Lundgren

Thilda's Life History

Thilda and Anders Lavin were baptized on a cold winter night, Febr. 4, 1889.

"We walked quite a distance and were baptized among great pieces of floating ice--none that were baptized at the time took cold, and none came to disturb us.

Per ANDERSON, a Danish Elder baptized us--he had been driven out of Denmark for preaching the Gospel."

Brother Christensen and Brother Hogberg were the brethren in authority at the time.

Thilda's mother and sister and family were baptized while they were in Sweden.

Thilda was the first Relief Society President in Kristianstad, Sweden.

EMIGRATION:

The SCANDINAVIAN MISSION (Denmark, Norway and Sweden) was opened 1850.

THE SWEDISH MISSION was organized 2 July 1905. The Scandinavian Mission then consisted of Denmark and Norway. On 1 April 1920, the Norwegian and Danish Missions were organized.

Emmigration to Utah:

From "History of the Scandinavian Mission" by Andrew Jensen, Printed by the Deseret News Press, Salt Lake City, Utah 1927.

Part of chapter 73 (1888).

"The second company of Scandinavian Saints, who emigrated to Zion in 1888, sailed from Copenhagen, July 19, 1888, per steamship "Cato"in charge of Elder Christen L. Christensen, who, together with three other Elders from Zion (Anders Gustav Nygren, Andrew N. Michaelsen and Pehr Olof Pehrson), were returning home to Zion after successful missionary labors in Scandianavia.

There were 113 souls in the company from Denmark and Sweden.

The weather being good, only a very little seasickness was experienced by the emigrants. On Sunday forenoon (July 22nd) a meeting was held on deck with the captain's permission, and many of the 125 other passengers on board had the opportunity of listening to explanations of the first principles of the gospel by "Mormon" Elders for the first time in their lives.

The captain and the crew were very kind to the emigrants. The ship reached Hull, England, that day (Sunday, July 22nd). The following day, the emigrants continued the journey by rail to Liverpool.

A small company of emigrating Saints from Norway sailed from Christiania July 20, 1888, in charge of Elders Hans J. Christiansen and Chr. O. Folkmann, who were returning to their homes, after having performed faithful missions.

The company had a safe voyage across the North Sea to England, where they joined the emigrant company which left Copenhagen, Denmark, July 19th. At Liverpool, the amalgamated company boarded the steamship "Wyoming"and sailed from that port, July 28th, in charge of Elder Hans J. Christiansen. After a pleasant voyage across the Atlantic, the emigrants landed in New York August 8th 1888."

Excerpt from "Mormon Immigration Index" CD Passenger list: The Ship "Wyoming" (July 1888) LAVIN, Anders P. Male Age 32 born 1856, Origin: Denmark. Occupation: Laborer

Note: Passenger #138; "Destination: Salt Lake City"(EECI). LAVIN, Mathilda L. Female Age 26 Origin: Denmark Occupation: Wife Note: Passenger, #139; Destination: Salt Lake City LAVIN, Axel age 7 Origin: Denmark Occ. child Note: Customs Passenger, #140; Destination: Salt Lake City LAVIN, Axel male age 7 Origin: Denmark LAVIN, Anders G. male Age Infant Origin: Denmark Occ. Infant Note: Passenger, $141; Destination: Salt Lake City.

BIRTH:

From Thilda Börjesson Lavin Lundgrens biography, written by Agnes Lavin Lundgren.

I was born in Göteryd, Sweden, July 23, 1862. I was the youngest of eleven children. I feel greatly blessed to have been born to the home of goodly parents. They were truly religious, with the love of God in their hearts and a true desire to follow him.

My Father, Börje Persson, had been working as secretary for a doctor until the time of his marriage. He then went into the blacksmith and wagonmaking business. His father had worked up an influencial business in this line with skilled mechanics working for him.

Our home was a happy and a blessed home, but I was not to enjoy it long. When I was four years of age, my father died (1867).

My mother was broken hearted at the death of father, and to make matters worse, she was robbed of all she owned (see probate record). The home and my fathers business was to be sold at auction by one whome mother had great faith in as being an honest man.

A settlement was to be made in six months, but when the time for settlement came, it was learned that the auctionier had skipped with the money to America.

Education:

Mother Emma, who had always been loved and shielded from the hardships of life was left alone, almost penniless and with seven children to provide for. Peter, August, Sven and Maria, the four oldest of the children, had received a liberal education for those days and were able to care for themselves.

When Peter, August, and Sven were married, my mother was desirous that the three younger children should also have an opportunity for education, so it was planned that my brother Carl should go to the city and live with brother Sve. Axel, the one just older than I, should go to Brother Peter, and I to my brother August.

I lived with my brother August, the third of the three older brothers. He was a fireman on the train that went from Malmö to Älmhult.He later became the engineer.

I wanted to be self supporting, so I got work in a grocery store, when I was about 15 years old (1877). This was the only place I worked for others.

My sister, Maria, then living in Kristianstad, wrote to me that if I wanted to come there, I could learn the dressmaking business. I left my brothers home and took up abode with my sister.

Our instructor was a good and noble soul whom we all had great respect for and enjoyed each others company. My sister, Maria, and her husband, Jöns Persson, were very nice to me. I stayed with them until our school closed.

Then I went back to stay with my mother. Mother had remarried 1 year after my fathers death (1868) to Lars Monsson, but he had passed away during my stay in Kristianstad.

I sewed for people in the neighborhood and earned enough to keep myself. I enjoyed the summer very much. There were some relations on my father's side who had a large farm near by. There were boys and one girl my age, they took me out often and we had many good times together.

MARRIAGE:

Taken from Life History of Thilda Lovisa Börjesson, written by Agnes Lavin Lundgren

During the time I lived with my mother Christina, I met one whom my mother had picked out as a very good match for me. He was Anders Peter Lavin. He was somewhat older than me (7 years). He was a respectable looking man ant to all appearances, my mother felt this was a fine thing for me to marry this man.

He was very quiet, so there was not any great demonstration in love making. My mother had been a good friend of his family. He ran a flour and saw mill and was a cabinet maker and was considered well to do and I would have a fine home. I knew nothing of this kind of love and my mothers reasoning seemed good, so we were married.

First name also listed as Tilda Louise.

Thilda Lovisa had a cancellation of sealings with her first husband Anders Peter Lavin in SL Temple on 15 Feb 1913, and received her sealings back ans was sealed to Anders Gustaf Lundgren 19 Nov 1913 in the Manti Temple.

.....................My great grandmother, Tilda Louise Borgeson Lavin Lundgren, was born in 1867, in Malmo, Sweden. She married Anders Lavin when she was just eighteen, and at nineteen had a baby boy they named Theodore. This is part of her story:

I was raised as a devout Lutheran. When my tiny boy Theodore died at just two years old I began to question God. At this time of sorrow I found a new faith that brought hope of eternal families. On February 4, 1886, the ice was cut in the river and my husband and I were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"I knew I would be ridiculed by my family for what I had done, and I was right. All the members of my family turned against me. Only a few days after my baptism I met my mother on the street and she crossed to the other side so as not to speak to me. In time they became more friendly and eventually my mother, my sister and her family also joined the Church.

By then a new little boy, George, had filled the void in our hearts left by the loss of our baby. We decided to emigrate to Utah in America to join other Mormons who lived there. The ship was crowded, and the trip was long and difficult, with much sickness on board. I was very frightened, as I was only 22 years old.

When we arrived in Salt Lake City my husband was very ill. I became a dressmaker, and worked at a restaurant where I did cleaning. I went early in the morning and made sure I was through before anyone came, as I didn't want anyone to see me doing that kind of work, though it was honest labor.

If I had had any money I would have gone back to Sweden, where I could get better work. Those were trying days, and I almost lost my courage. Learning the language was a very hard task. The Lord helped me learn English and adjust to the customs.

In just three years we already had an adorable baby girl, Agnes, and another precious son, Joseph. When he was a year old he became very ill. It was the Lord's will that he should go, but it was terribly hard to lose him.

Not long after this great sorrow another beautiful blue-eyed baby was born to us. How proud we were of him. I loved to lie on the bed and look at him. He was such a healthy baby and when my friends came I was over-anxious to show him off!

One day while I was busy in my kitchen a never to be forgotten accident occurred.

I kept a wooden tub outside by the water pump. I left just a very small amount of water in the bottom of it to keep it from drying out and cracking. I had just checked on my baby and then went about my work. Within seconds I heard a terrible scream. My neighbor had come to get water and there she found my baby, Henry, face down in the very shallow water in the tub. He had died instantly, it seemed.

The sorrow was almost more than I could bear. Everyone did all they could for me, but I failed to be comforted. Baby Henry did not have a wet spot on him. His little life was just snuffed out so quickly. Oh, the shock was terrible. He was just a little over a year old. I felt the hope go out of me.

Our oldest son, George was then about seven years old. He came to me in my sorrow and tried to comfort me. I was so bereaved I scarcely knew what I said. I answered him, "Oh, you will probably die too, I guess." Instead of turning from me, he looked up at me and said, "No Mama, I'm not going to die. I will grow up and be a missionary, and make you proud. And you will be glad."

It seemed like there was magic when our eyes met. As he said this to me, something in my soul awakened. The faith my little son showed at this time acted as a tonic from heaven to me. My faith in God's love was mad stronger, and I was again able to walk through this Garden of Gethsemane. Little George's prophesy was fulfilled. He did grow up to make me proud, and I was glad.

My prayer from that day on was that I would prove to be worthy to meet my babies Theodore, Joseph, and Henry again. I always gave thanks to God that he allowed me to keep my children George and Agnes, who lived to raise seven children each. I had had much joy and gladness in my life."

Thilda Louise Borgesson Lavin