Oline's Vision and Deliverance Through the Gospel

“I was born in Jydland, Denmark, and was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the year 1886. My parents were very much opposed to the gospel, and my sister, with whom I lived, was even more bitter than they. She would often say to me, 'Oline, you must give up this "Mormon" religion, or you cannot stay with me.' I would answer, 'I cannot give it up, for I know it is true.' She would then tell me that I was foolish and deluded. I had a suitor, Carl Brun, who was not a member of the Church, and my sister and he were constantly trying to persuade me to leave the Church and marry him. They would tell me that if I would only give up my religion, I could have a happy home and be respected by all my friends. I felt a constant inward warning and remorse while separated from my religious community. I was eventually enticed away and later coerced to leave the Church by my suitor's threats of suicide, yet I repeatedly returned to the brethren and the Church for strength. And while I sat there smiling among the rest of them, my heart rebelled, and I could have screamed: 'Let me go back where I belong, back to my friends that I love!' And my eyes would run wildly around the room until they rested on him for whom I make this sacrifice, and he would whisper loving words in my ear till, for the time being, my heart listened and found rest. But now that I am alone, something whispers, 'Flee, flee from all this!' But I cannot. I felt that I was in a snare from which I could not escape. I prayed to the Lord to open a way for my deliverance. One day, I went to see Brother O., and he told me that if I would only be faithful, the Lord would deliver me. I also spoke with Brother L. and Sister A., who encouraged me to trust in God. Finally, I felt that I could no longer remain in that environment. I made up my mind to leave everything and go to the Saints. I fled from my home and went to the brethren, who helped me to get away. I have since been able to live my religion in peace, and I thank the Lord for my deliverance.”

— Oline, as recorded in The Young Woman's Journal