Bodil and Jens Jr.

Bodil and Jens Jr.. . In 1856, nine-year-old Bodil Malene Mortensen departed from Denmark with her family's friends Jens and Elsie Nielson and their five-year-old son Niels (commonly referred to as Jens Jr). What likely began as an adventure for young Bodil and Jens Jr. became an ordeal of unimaginable suffering. , Bodil's parents, Niels and Maren Mortenson, wanted to join their fellow church members in Utah, but due to the lack of funds, the family members were not all able to emigrate at the same time. Bodil's sister Anne Margrette was the first to travel to Utah in 1855 at age 15. The following year it was Bodil's turn., Upon arriving in America, Bodil, along with the Nielsons, traveled by train to Iowa City. Although the Nielsons had enough money to purchase a well-equipped wagon outfit and travel with a wagon train the remaining 1300 miles to Utah, they donated funds to assist others, purchased a handcart for themselves, and joined the Willie Handcart Company. Bodil, who helped care for Jens Jr., turned 10 near Florence, Nebraska., When the handcart pioneers encountered severe snowstorms in Wyoming, Bodil and Jens Jr. suffered greatly with the other emigrants. The temperature dropped well-below freezing and food rations were cut drastically. Exposure and starvation started to take its toll, and many began to die. Following a grueling push to reach rescue wagons at Rock Creek, Bodil and Jens Jr. passed away and were buried in a shallow grave with 11 others., Jens and Elsie's handcart ordeal left Jens with a twisted foot that was at right angles to the other. Despite this lifelong physical challenge and the heartbreak of the death of his son and Bodil, Jens developed unwavering faith. When he met Brigham Young, Jens grasped both of President Young's arms, looked him in the eyes, and said, "No job you give me will be too hard. I will give it my all." Jen later expressed, "As extreme as this handcart ordeal was, the trek through the Hole-in-the-Rock was more severe."