Elisabeth Margrethe Pedersen Marcher

Biography

Elizabeth was born the second of six children in 1834 in Bornholm, Denmark. She joined when she was about eighteen. Her father joined the church as well, but her mother was against it and that led to her parents separating. Elizabeth married Jørgen Larsen Dam, a widower of six grown children, in Denmark and together they had six more children. Her daughter told how she was very loving and enjoyed sewing things for other people. She also had a lot of faith, but Jørgen did not like the Mormon missionaries and would not allow them in their home. However, Elisabeth would take some of her children and attend church meetings without him knowing. Just before he passed away 15 years after their marriage, he was ready to listen and Elizabeth got to teach him gospel principles.

Elizabeth’s dream was always to join the other saints in Zion, but it became difficult to save up the money. Men who opposed Mormonism tried to rob her and prevent her from leaving. In the end, she decided to send her children to America a few at a time, so they could live with her father who was already in Utah. It took two years before she was able to join her children, but once she did, she settled in Bear River City, Utah. Elizabeth then married Lars Mathias Larsen, who she met when he served as a missionary in Denmark. Despite her meager means, Elizabeth was very giving. Even when she had no money to give, she gave her gold wedding ring to provide funds for helping those in need. Her children loved her dearly and described her as a woman of great faith and integrity. Elizabeth passed in 1894 at age 60.