Ole Anderson and the "Loaf of Bread"

Among the signs of the true church and evidence of God’s work in the world, are the manifestations of His power. Usually we are helpless to explain or even fully understand His powers. In the scriptures these divine acts and special blessings are referred to as “miracles”, “signs”, “wonders,” or “marvels”.  I believe the desire for a God and His angels to intervene in our personal lives is human nature.  There are just some things we can not do alone! I came across another “miracle” in our family history. I’ve heard this story numerous times throughout my life from different family members. The following is the best documented version I’m aware of. Aunt Mary copied the story on 19 November 1996 from Raymond and Verletta Anderson’s genealogy. The miracle occurred in the life of Ole Anderson while he was on his first mission to Denmark in 1895. Ole Anderson was the father of AR Anderson. The story is being told by Owen Anderson (AR Anderson’s brother). Father, Ole Anderson, was very desirous of going back to Denmark after he came to Utah. He had a strong desire to bring the gospel to his and mother’s families that were left there, as well as others of his friends. In those days missionaries traveled without “purse or script” which meant that they took very little money with them and depended on the people of the world for heir full support. This incident was told to me by my sister Annie Van Cott, and which was also published in the Danish paper in Salt Lake called the “Biekuben” after father’s return from his mission. “Late one dark and stormy night father and his companion were walking along a country road in

Denmark. They did not have much success that day and had not been given a meal since the day before, and they were hungry and wet. As they walked along they met a man coming toward them with a small bundle under his arm. When he approached them he gave the bundle and said: ‘This is for you.’ They took the bundle and before they knew it he had disappeared in the dark. The bundle was a loaf of warm bread wrapped in an embroidered dish towel. The two missionaries thankfully ate the bread and father folded the dish towel and put it in with his belongings in his steamer trunk when they returned to their place of living. He thought no more about the dish towel.  When father came home from his mission and mother unpacked his steamer trunk she came across the embroidered dish towel. She asked father where he got it and he told her the story of the man and the loaf of bread. She was very much surprised and told him: ‘Father, I remember baking some bread one day and I wrapped a loaf of bread in this dish towel and placed it on the window sill of the open window to cool for our supper. When I went to get the loaf of bread, it was gone. I thought the Indians had taken it off the window sill, dish towel and all, and thought to myself; Let them have it. They are more hungry than we are. That was almost a year ago.’ Father told mother that when the man gave them the bread it was still warm.” Moroni wrote to the people of our dispensation, “Behold, I will show unto you a God of miracles, … and it is that same God who created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are” (Morm. 9:11). Moroni proclaimed that Jesus Christ did many mighty miracles, that many mighty miracles were wrought by the hands of the Apostles, and that a God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever must be a God of miracles today! (see Morm.9:18; Morm. 9:9) With Moroni of old, I believe in a God of miracles. Just as important as the “mighty miracles” performed by Christ are the smaller “private miracles” like Minnie and Ole’s “warm loaf of bread”- each teaches us to have faith in a power greater than ourselves.

Birth of AR Anderson Jan 5, 1894

Arthur Raymond Anderson Jan 5, 1894

Arthur was number 9 of 15 children. His mother was -Rasmine Nielsen and his father was Ole Anderson both from Denmark. The children included: 1) Annie Marie Anderson Jul 1881-Jul 1881; 2) Annie Marie Anderson Nov 1882-Nov 1970; 3) Gustave Adolph Anderson Dec 1883-Mar 1969; 4) Hyrum Anderson Aug-1885-Nov 1885; 5) Rebecca Anderson Dec 1886-Jan 1903; 6) Olaf Andrew Anderson Aug 1888-Mar 1890; 7) Joseph Wilford Anderson  Feb 1890-Nov 1957; 8) Charles Ole Anderson Aug 1891-Nov 1893; 9) Arthur Raymond Anderson Jan 1894- Jan 1982; 10) Emily Elizabeth Anderson May 1895-Oct 1972; 11) Owen Benjamin Anderson May 1898-Jun 1993; 12) Florence Manerva Anderson May 1899- Dec 1959; 13) Myrtle Adena Anderson Sep 1900-Aug 1946; 14) Duwayne Leroy Anderson Jan 1902-Apr 1967; and 15) David John Anderson Jan 1904-Apr 1904. Six of his siblings died by the age of five!

Arthur wrote in his life history: "I was born January 5, 1894, in a little adobe house on the east bench of Pleasant Grove, Utah. My mother and father built this little two-room house themselves. They even mixed the clay and made the adobes. It is still standing today." 

Here is the story taken from Ole Anderson history book about Rasmine and Ole building this house where Grandpa was born.

A revival of hope and courage now possessed father and mother. This was their own land. "We'll build two rooms here, said father (Ole) and later we can add on to them."  Nearby a small clearing was made where the two children sat and played during the day, while the parents made bricks. An old blanket was stretched across the tops of the brush to keep the burning rays of the sun from them. It was exceedingly hot that September, and the rattlesnakes were plentiful. Whenever mother saw them gliding toward the children, she shuddered but carefully and gently guided them away with a long willow that she kept near. She never killed a creature of God's. None of the children were bitten by the, although they had many close escapes. By November they began to lay up the roof. First the rafters were placed, then the boards and shingles. "One day as I was nailing on shingles," Father (Ole) said later, "I ran out of nails and asked mother to go to town some two miles away and get some. I would look after the children while she was gone. The two toddlers were playing inside the walls of the house. After awhile I did not hear them, and as I looked down between the boards, I saw Gustave asleep in one corner but could not see Annie anywhere. I called but no answer. Then I got down and went around the house but could not find her. I rand down into the hollow, but she was not there. Then I thought of the ditch which was over two feet deep with water. I became frightened and started running along the bank. A few rods to the north, I saw her walking slowly along the narrow trail by the edge of the creek, almost asleep. I was afraid of call for fear she might turn suddenly and fall. I ran quietly up to her and took her up in my arms. Annie Where are you going? I asked. To mamma! she said, opening her eyes in astonishment. When mother returned with the nails I told her, The lord sure took good care of our little girl today!"  (Taken from Ole Anderson and Rasmine Nielsen Family History Book pg 137)

Arthur continued in his history saying, "I can recall seeing the soldiers on parade as they came home from the Spanish American War in 1889 (The numbers were transposed- should read 1898)." Below is a picture of the Spanish American War parade in Salt Lake.

The Spanish-American War was a short conflict of  six month duration in 1898, between the United States and Spain.  The Spanish-American War represented a significant turning point in America's position in the world. Besides acquiring Puerto Rico in the Caribbean and the Philippine Islands in the Pacific, territorial possessions that created new defensive responsibilities, the United States demonstrated that it had built up its naval capacity sufficiently to defeat an established European power.  Spanish-American War

It is important for we descendants of Grandpa and Grandma Anderson to learn more about them and how they lived. Robert D. Hales said:

While our individual salvation is based on our individual obedience, it is equally important that we understand that we are each an important and integral part of a family and the highest blessings can be received only within an eternal family. When families are functioning as designed by God, the relationships found therein are the most valued of mortality. The plan of the Father is that family love and companionship will continue into the eternities. Being one in a family carries a great responsibility of caring, loving, lifting, and strengthening each member of the family so that all can righteously endure to the end in mortality and dwell together throughout eternity. It is not enough just to save ourselves. It is equally important that parents, brothers, and sisters are saved in our families. If we return home alone to our Heavenly Father, we will be asked, “Where is the rest of the family?” This is why we teach that families are forever. The eternal nature of an individual becomes the eternal nature of the family. (The Eternal Family, October 1996)

What else happened in 1984-besides Grandpa being born: 

• Feb 3 – Norman Rockwell, American artist and illustrator was born. 
• Mar 12 – For the first time, Coca-Cola is sold in bottles. 
• Apr 14 - 1st public showing of Thomas Edison's kinetoscope (moving pictures) 
• May 21 - 22-year-old French Anarchist Émile Henry is executed by guillotine. 
• Jun 24 - Decision to hold modern Olympics every 4 years 
• Jul 4 - Elwood Haynes successfully tests one of 1st US autos at 6 MPH 
• Aug 14 - Sir Oliver Joseph Lodge demonstrates wireless telegraphy (radio) using Morse code at a meeting of the British Association 
• Oct 30 - Daniel Cooper patents time clock