The Scandinavian Mission

THE SCANDINAVIAN MISSION. BY ANDREW JENSON, PRESIDENT OF THE MISSION, AND ASSISTANT CHURCH HISTORIAN.

I.

It is well understood by all Latter-day Saints that the gospel of Jesus Christ, as restored to the earth in the forepart of the 19th century by the Prophet Joseph Smith, is to be preached to every nation, kindred, tongue and people; or, as the Savior says, "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations: and then shall the end come" (Matt. 24: 14) . Ever since the Church of Jesus Christ was organized in 1830, its elders have been diligently engaged in carrying out this divine command; and ever since Oliver Cowdery preached his first public discourse as an elder of the Church on Sunday, April 11, 1830, the world has not seen a single Sabbath day on which mes- sengers of the restored gospel have not lifted up their voice to testify of what the Lord has done in our day. For upwards of seven years the preaching of the elders was confined to the United States and Canada, but in 1837 the first missionaries were sent across the Atlantic Ocean to Great Britain, which country has ever since been a fruitful field for these advocates of the truth. In 1844 a Latter-day Saints mission was opened up on the Society Islands among the Polynesians who thus were the first race out- side of English-speaking people to hear the sound of the restored gospel, unless we class the Welsh as a non-English speaking peo- ple,which would hardly be proper. The Prophet Joseph Smith, a short time prior to his death, had contemplated sending mission, aries to Germany, Russia and other countries, but with the excep- tion of Elder Orson Hyde's mission to Jerusalem in 1840-1841 (on

which he also visited Holland, Germany, Austria and Egypt), no mission was planted by Latter-day Saints on continental Europe until after the exodus of the Saints from Illinois and their location in the Rocky Mountains. In the fall of 1849 the first missionaries were called to France, Italy, Denmark and Sweden, and the follow- ing year (1850) missions were fairly established in these lands, [n 1851 the elders laboring in France extended their operations into Germany, and those sent to Italy commenced to preach in Switzerland; but of all missions so far established by the Latter- day Saints among people who do not speak the English language, the Scandinavian mission (which until 1905 embraced Denmark, Sweden and Norway) has been the most fruitful. Elder Erastus Snow was the man chosen at a general confer- ence of the Church held in Great Salt Lake City, in October, 1849, to open the gospel door in Denmark, having been ordained an apostle eight months prior to this date. Peter 0. Hansen, a native of Denmark, who had embraced the gospel in America, was called to accompany Elder Snow to Denmark, and Elder John E. Fors- green, a Swede by birth, who had likewise been baptized in Amer. ica, was called to Sweden; he had formerly served as a soldier in the famous "Mormon" Battalion. After the arrival of these mission- aries in England in the early part of 1850, Elder Snow concluded to call to his further assistance Elder George P. Dykes, who then labored as a missionary in England, but who in his younger days had introduced the gospel among the Norwegians in La Salle County, 111. He, like Elder Forsgreen, had served in the "Mormon'' Battalion. From England Elder Peter 0. Hansen preceded his brethren to Denmark, but did not accomplish anything until -after the arrival of Elders Snow, Forsgreen and Dykes in Copenhagen, June 14, 1850. After securing lodgings the elders commenced missionary labors at once amongst the Baptists, of whom fifteen were baptized by Elder Snow, August 12, 1850. These were the first converts to "Mormonism" in Denmark, but prior to this date, about three weeks, Elder Forsgreen (who after being blessed and set apart by his brethren in Copenhagen to open the gospel door in Sweden) had baptized three converts in Gefle,Swc den. Conse- quently, these three were the very first converts to true Christian- ity in Scandinavia and the first ones ever baptized by divine

THE SCANDINAVIAN MISSION. 811

authority in the lands of the north. After baptizing a number of emigrants who were embarking for America, Elder Forsgreen was banished from Sweden; but, escaping from the ship on which he was to have been deported to America, he landed at Elsinore, Den- mark, and soon joined his brethren in Copenhagen where the elders were meeting with great success. Following in the wake of the first fifteen, other Baptists soon joined the Church, together with some Lutherans, and on September 15, 1850, the first branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized in Copenhagen with 50 members. This branch which has had a con- tinuous existence ever since has always been the largest branch of the Church in Denmark. At the present time it has a membership of about 400. Soon after the organization of the Church in Copenhagen, Elder George P. Dykes was sent to Aalborg, a city in the province of Jutland, where he commenced to baptize, October 27, 1850, and organized the second branch of the Church in Denmark, November 25, 1850, with 23 members. Also this branch has had a continu- ous existence ever since it was first organized and is still one of the largest branches in Scandinavia. Like the branch in Copen- hagen it has now a commodious hall or chapel (owned by the Church) in which the members meet regularly for worship. At the close of 1850 the Church had 135 members in Denmark and three in Sweden. In 1851 a number of the newly baptized brethren were or- dained to the priesthood in Denmark and appointed to labor as

local missionaries in different parts of the country. The results of their labors, together with those of the elders from Zion, were most gratifying; the many baptisms and the organization of several branches cheered the missionaries. The first general conference of the Scandinavian mission was held in Copenhagen, in August, 1851. On that occasion a few converts who had been baptized on the island of Bornholm were organized as a branch of the Church. The Saints in Jutland (Aalborg and vicinity) were organized into three branches and those in Copenhagen into two branches, one being in Christianshavn. At the next general conference, held in Copenhagen, November 16 and 17, 1851, the mission in Den-

mark was divided into three conferences,. namely Copenhagen con-

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THE SCANDINAVIAN MISSION. 813

ference to embrace the islands of Sjaelland, Bornholm and Lolland- Falster, Fredericia conference to embrace the southern part of Jutland (where several branches had been raised up), and the Aal- borg conference to embrace the northern part of Jutland. In 1851, also, the Book of Mormon was published in the Danish lan- guage, together with a number of pamphlets explanatory of the first principles of the gospel, and a missionary periodical entitled Skandinaviens Stjerne (which is now in its fifty-eighth volume) was commenced. During its first year it was published as a monthly and since that as a semi-monthly periodical. In Sep- tember, 1851, the first Latter-day Saint missionary visited Nor- way and commenced to preach and baptize at Oesterrisoer before the close of the year. In Denmark the elders were subject to re- ligious persecutions, though religious liberty had been granted the in nabitants in 1849. The year 1852 witnessed great progress in missionary work in Denmark and Norway; many were baptized and new branches raised up. After laying a permanent foundation for missionary work in Scandinavia, Elder Erastus Snow left Copenhagen on his

return to America in February, 1852, taking with him 28 of the new converts, these being the first Latter-day Saints to emigrate to Zion from Denmark. On his departure, Elder Snow left John E. Forsgreen in charge of the mission. At the fourth general con- ference of the Scandinavian mission, held in Copenhagen, August 12, 1852, the Saints in Norway were organized into a conference, called Brevik. This conference which subsequently changed name to Christiania conference is still in existence, and is at present the largest conference in Scandinavia. At that August conference the Saints in Vendsyssel were organized into a separate conference, being detached from Aalborg, those on the island of Lolland- Falster and Moen were also organized as a conference; and like- wise were those on the island of Bornholm. A number of elders who were sent from Denmark to Norway as missionaries were ar- rested and imprisoned at Frederikstad for having preached the gospel and administered its ordinances; they were not liberated tillthe following year, when it was decided by the civil and eccle- siastical authorities of Norway that the Latter-day Saints were not Christian dissenters and consequently had no right to preach,

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baptize or administer the sacrament . This decision led to the many subsequent imprisonments of the elders, on bread and water, be- cause they persisted in continuing their work of proselyting In

December, 1S52, a large company of Saints (293 souls) left the shores of Scandinavia for Utah in charge of Elder John E. Fors- green, who was succeeded in the presidency of the mission by Elder Willard Snow, a brother of Erastus Snow. In the spring of 1853 missionary labors were renewed in Swe- den, this time in the province of Skone, whence the missionaries went from Denmark; and as it was contrary to the laws of Sweden for the elders to baptize, a number of the converts crossed over the sound to Copenhagen to be initiated into the Church by divine authority. The first branch of the Church in Sweden was organ- ized April 24, 1853, and soon afterwards a flourishing branch was raised up in the city of Malmo. This branch has had a con- tinuous existence ever since and is at the present time the head- quarters of the Skone conference which was first organized in June, 1853. Prom the province of Skone the gospel soon spread to the more northern provinces of Sweden. In August, 1853, President Willard Snow took sick and left Copenhagen for Eng- land, but before he reached his destination he died on ship board, August 21, 1853, and was buried in the North Sea. Elder John Van Cott was then called from England to take charge of the Scandinavian mission. In the latter part of the year two large companies of emigrating Saints left Denmark for Utah. Similar companies left Scandinavia annually after that, all crossing the Atlantic in sailing vessels, until 1868, since which year the transit has been made in steamers In 1854 the Scandinavian mission flourished in the midst of persecution, mobbings and imprisonments; a branch of the Church was organized in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, which branch is still in a thrifty condition; other small branches being organized in the middle provinces of Sweden, the Stockholm conference was organized which is still the principal conference of the Swedish mission. A small branch of the Church was organized in Chris- tiania, Norway, December 8, 1854, by Elder C. C. A. Christensen; that branch soon became very prosperous and is at present the largest branch in the Scandinavian mission. Four elders from Zion

THE SCANDINAVIAN MISSION. 815

arrived in 1854, and at the close of the year there were 2,447 Saints in Scandinavia. About 4,300 had been baptized since the mission was first opened, and of that number fully one thousand had already emigrated to Zion; a number had been excommunicated and others had died in the faith. In 1855 several of the local missionaries in Norway were im- prisoned on bread and water for administering the ordinances of the gospel; in several parts of Sweden the elders were subject to severe persecutions. One elder arrived in Scandinavia from Utah in 1855, and 897 were added to the Church by baptism. The Saints on the island of Fyen, Denmark, (where several small branches of the Church had been raised up) were organized into a conference. Early in 1856 Elder Hector C. Haight succeeded Elder John Van Cott as president of the mission. The work of proselyting was continued with great vigor and 1,859 were baptized. This year also witnessed the departure from Scandinavia of a number of emigrating Saints who crossed the plains with hand-carts. Apostle Ezra T. Benson and John M. Kay visited the mission. In 1857 a new conference was organized in Sweden, namely Gothenborg, which conference is still in existence. Two new con- ferences were also organized in Jutland, Denmark, namely Aar- hus, which is still in existence, and Skive, which continued about seven years. During this year three new elders arrived from Zion and 1,621 were baptized. In February, 1858, Elder Carl Widerborg, a local elder, suc- ceeded Elder Haight in the presidency of the mission. During the year 1,038 souls were added to the Church by baptism; a new con- ference (Norrkoeping) was organized in Sweden, and new fields of labor were opened in different parts of Norway, Sweden and Den. mark. The mission at this time consisted of 142 branches, grouped into thirteen conferences, of which nine were in Denmark, three in Sweden and one in Norway. In 1859, 929 new converts were added to the Church in the mission, and a new conference (Sundsvall) was organized in Swe- den. In October of that year the mission office at Copenhagen, Denmark, after changing locations several times, was permanently located in Lorentzensgade (afterwards St. Paulsgade) No. 14, where it remained till the new mission house was erected by the

8L6 IMPROVEMENT ERA.

Church in 1902. Late in 1859 John Van Cott arrived in Denmark on his second mission to Scandinavia, being accompanied by Elder Ola N. Liljenquist who was the first man of those who had em- braced the gospel in Scandinavia and emigrated to Zion, that re- turned to his native land as a missionary. With the commencement of 1860 John Van Cott again took charge of the mission, succeeding Elder Carl Widerborg who had labored faithfully as a local missionary about seven years. During this year Apostles Amasa M Lyman and Charles C. Rich visited .

CITY OF AALBORG, DENMARK. Limfjorden in the distance.

Scandinavia. Ten new missionaries arrived from Utah and 1,107 souls were added to the Church by baptism. In 1861 Apostles Amasa M. Lyman and Charles C. Rich who presided over the British mission visited Scandinavia the second time. A branch of the Church was organized on the islands of Gotland, Sweden. During the year three elders arrived from Zion and 954 were baptized. The year 1862 witnessed the largest emigration of Saints from Scandinavia that has ever taken place in the history of the

,

THE SCANDINAVIAN MISSION. 817

mission, 1,556 being the number that left for Zion, sailing from Hamburg in four large vessels. During the year Apostle Geo. Q. Cannon and other prominent elders from England visited Scandi- navia; five new elders arrived from Zion and 1,977 souls were bap- tized, this being the largest number added to the Church during

any one year since the mission was first established. In 1863 four new elders from Zion arrived in Scandinavia and 1,587 new converts were received into the Church. In 1864, owing to the large emigration of the two previous years the membership was reduced so much that some of the branches and conferences were dissolved. Thus the Skive confer- ence (Denmark) was discontinued and divided between the Aalborg and Aarhus conferences; the Lolland-Falster and the Fyen confer- ences were amalgamated into one called the Oernes conference and the Bornholm conference was dissolved and added to the Copenhagen conference. During the year three new elders arrived from Zion and 1,213 were baptized. President Jesse N. Smith re- turned home and was succeeded temporarily by Elder Samuel L. Sprague. Later in the year Elder Carl Widerborg, one of the elders arriving from Zion, took charge of the mission. In 1865 the elders in Norway petitioned the Storthing for the same privileges as other Christian dissenters, but plead in vain; yet the civil officers in Norway seldom enforced the law against the elders for administering the ordinances of the gospel. During the year 1,010 were baptized and twenty new elders from Zion ar- rived. The Sundsvall conference was dissolved and its membership added to the Stockholm conference. The year 1866 marked another big emigration year for the Scandinavian mission; three vessels carrying 1,213 emigrating Saints bound for Utah sailed from Hamburg. Elders from Zion were placed in charge of the respective conferences (eleven in

number). Hitherto local elders had presided over the conferences. During the year only one elder from Zion arrived; 1,269 were bap- tized .

In 1867 Apostle Franklin D. Richards visited Scandinavia and preached in many parts of Denmark and Sweden; eleven elders ar- rived and 881 were added to the Church by baptism. Of the 820 souls who emigrated to Utah in 1868, quite a