A 2nd account of the experiences of Elder Alma Sonne and Fred Dahle related to the "Titanic"

Contributed By

The Fred Dahle referred to is the son of John Hansen Dahle and Janetta

Bertina Ingmann Dahle

You may have heard of Elder Alma Sonne, a former Assistant to the Twelve Apostles, but you may not be familiar with his life. He was a magnificent General Authority for many years and was a great preacher of righteousness. Back in the early 1900’s he went on a mission to the British Isles. He left behind a dear friend named Fred Dahle, whom Elder Sonne was later able to persuade to serve a mission. Fred then had the opportunity to serve in the British Isles at the same time Elder Sonne served.

Elder Sonne, as a young missionary, kept writing his friend, Fred Dahle, and pleading with him to come on a mission, but Brother Dahle expressed little interest. Eventually, however, he gave in to Elder Sonne’s pleading and, as was mentioned, he was called to serve in the British Isles. He later wrote to Elder Sonne, “Thank God, you were on the map when I was supposed to be a missionary.” Think of that. Elder Dahle’s gratitude knew no bounds because Elder Sonne helped him to be on a mission when the Lord wanted him to be there.

One of Elder Sonne’s principal responsibilities on this mission was to plan travel arrangements for new converts traveling to America and the missionaries as they arrived and left the mission field. At the conclusion of his mission Elder Sonne was able to secure passage for himself, Elder Dahle, and other missionaries on a brand new ocean liner that was scheduled to make its maiden voyage from England to New York City. The year was 1912. The new ocean liner was the Titanic. Arrangements were made for a train to pick them up in New York, and they would travel across the United States on their way back to Cache Valley, Utah.

A few days before the great trip across the ocean and then across the United States, Elder Dahle sent a wire indicating that he could not make the schedule departure and suggesting that the Elders go on without him. However, for some inexplicable reason that would be known only later, Elder Sonne cancelled their bookings on the Titanic and rebooked them all on another ship, the Maurentania, leaving a day later. The others in the group manifested resentment because they were not sailing on the Titanic.

While they were enroute the purser of the Maurentania told Alma in confidence that the Titanic had struck an iceberg and sunk on the 15th of April, with the loss of 1,517 passengers and crew and only 705 survivors. The elders were stunned by the news. As Elder Sonne and Elder Dahle walked on the deck, gazing into the dark waters of the Atlantic, Alma remembers Fred’s letter and said, “Thank God, Fred, you were on the map when I was supposed to be on the Titanic.

One thanked God that the other was alive when he was supposed to be on a mission, and the other thanked God that the other was alive when he was supposed to be on the Titanic. What would have happened had Fred Dahle not wired Alma Sonne. What if Elder Sonne had not followed the promptings of the Spirit? We don’t know. But this we do know. Alma Sonne lived and became a General Authority of the Church and a great preacher of righteousness. It’s easy to understand when teaching the Book of Mormon what Elder Sonne meant when he said, “Thank God Fred Dahle was on the map when I was supposed to be on the Titanic. And I say, “Thanks God the Book of Mormon is one the earth when I have a chance to live when I’m supposed to be a son of righteousness. And you’re supposed to be a faithful son or daughter of God and to be strong and of good courage. Can we thank Heavenly Father every day of our lives that the Book of Mormon is on the earth when you and I are privileged to be here, and need to know how to navigate our course across some very stormy water?

Taken from “Life Lessons from the Book of Mormon”, by Jack R. Christianson and K. Douglas Basssett, pp. 238-230, Cedar Fort, Inc., Springville, Utah.