Smith Family Lighthouse

Anders & Kristine Ipson Conversion and Persecution

Compiled By Wendy Kay Smith

Anders Ipson was born June 8, 1823 in , Askerely, Bornholm, Denmark to Mads Jensen and Bodel Kristine Jeppesen.

Andrew Ipson and Kristine Marie Larsen were married May 5, 1843 in Bornholm Denmark. Bornholm is an island in the Baltic Sea.

Anders & Kristine and their little family consisting of Marinda, Julia, Ane, Nina lived in Åkirkeby, Bornholm, Denmark. Anders was a tailor by trade.

In the summer of 1851, the missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints came to the Danish island of Bornholm and began to hold meetings teaching the people the Gospel. One of those meeting was held at the home of Jeppe Folkman a cousin of Anders. Anders and his wife (Kristine Marie) attended and become interested in the church. It was at another meeting on Nov 7, 1851 where “H.P. Jensen spoke with great power and made a strong impression upon the people. After this meeting Jeppe, his wife, cousin Anders Ibson and his wife and Trine Johnson requested baptism. These five went down to the shore and were baptized by Elder H.P. Jensen in the presence of many of who had attended the meeting. Seeing the rite of baptism performed in this original manner, they were permeated by the wonderful feeling and great joy filled their souls.” (1)

It wasn’t long after their baptisms that the persecution began. The new converts were told they couldn’t get a job or sell anything to anyone unless they denounced Mormonism. When they would hold meetings mobs would gather and try to disrupt the meetings. (2) The missionaries that had been sent there to teach the Gospel were driven out of Bornholm but that didn’t deter the new converts from teaching the Gospel to their relatives and neighbors. Andres served as a missionary from December 3, 1851 to November 1852 and on July 11, 1852 he was ordained an Elder and set apart as the Branch President by Elder Forsgren. (3)

On Jan 18, 1852 “Peter & Jeppe Folkman and Andres Ibsen held a meeting at Christopher Munk’s place in Valengaardhus but a mob gathered and made them leave the house beating them with clubs they drove them away about a mile like cattle.” (4) Peter, Jeppe and Andres were badly beaten but managed to escape. This didn’t deter Anders from doing the Lord’s work and fulfilling his calling as Branch President. He continued as Branch President until November 6, 1852 when he was released so he could emigrate to the United States. (5)

Sources: