--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Jenson, Andrew collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 12 number: 11 published: 1909-09 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Andrew Jenson, "The Scandinavian Mission," *Improvement Era* 12, no. 11 (September 1909): 876–884.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera12011unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera12011unse start_page: 876 end_page: 884 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1909-09) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera12011unse publication_year: 1909 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1909, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # The Scandinavian Mission THE SCANDINAVIAN MISSION. BY ANDREW JENSON, PRESIDENT OF THE MISSION, AND ASSISTANT CHURCH HISTORIAN. II. The Fredericia conference, which had existed since 1851, was dissolved and added to the Aarhus conference. The Vend- syssel conference was amalgamated with the Aalborg conference. Jesse N. Smith succeeded Carl Widerborg as president of the mis- sion. With the year 1869, new and improved methods of emigra- tion to Zion were inaugurated, the Saints crossing the Atlantic by steamships, and the American continent by rail all the way to Ogden, Utah. During the year, 872 souls were added to the Church by baptism, and nine new elders arrived from Zion. In 1870, the Islands (Oernes) conference was dissolved and the Holland-Falster part of it annexed to Copenhagen conference, and the Island of Fyen to Aarhus. The Norrkoping and Gothen- borg conferences were amalgamated and called Jonkoping, but the name was changed to Gothenborg. The first Sunday school in the mission was organized in Copenhagen, Denmark; during the year 853 were baptized and 10 new elders arrived from Utah. William W. ClufF succeeded Jesse N. Smith as president of the mission. During the year 1871, 9 new elders arrived from Utah and 1,021 souls were added to the Church by baptism. Elder Knud Peterson relieved William Cluff as president of the mission. In 1872, seven new missionaries arrived from Zion, and 929 new members were added to the Church by baptism; strenuous efforts were put forth to revive missionary work in Denmark, where the people seemingly had lost interest in "Mormonism." In the spring of 1873 Apostle Erastus Snow, the founder of THE SCAND1NA VIAN MISSION. 877 the mission, visited Scandinavia and attended meetings in Den- mark, Sweden and Norway. During the year, 980 were baptized and 17 new elders arrived from Zion. Elder Chr. G. Larsen suc- ceeded Knud Peterson as president of the mission, and missionary work was recommenced in Iceland. In 1874, Apostle Joseph F. Smith, who presided over the European mission, visited Scandinavia; together with George Q. Cannon and other prominent elders, he had visited the mission onc^ before (in 1862.) During the year 1874, 7 elders arrived from Zion, and 935 persons were added to the Church by baptism. In 1875, Elder Nils C Flygare succeeded Elder Chr. G. Lar- sen as president of the mission; 18 elders arrived from Utah and 1,815 were baptized. The local Saints in Aarhus (Denmark) built a three-story building for mission and meeting purposes, in 1876. Though the property later passed out of their hands, it was subsequently bought, together with the adjoining property, by the Church, and is now used by the Saints as a conference house. The mission- aries in Sweden extended their operations into Finland; 16 elders ar- rived from Zion, and 1.832 souls were baptized. Elder Ola N. Lil- jenquist succetded Nils C. Flygare as president of the mis- sion. In 1877, the publication of Nordstjernan was commenced as the organ of the Swedish Saints. Hitherto Skandinaviens Stjerne^ in the Danish-Norwegian language, had circulated in Sweden as well as in Denmark and Norway. The first 18 numbers of the new periodical were published in Gothenborg, Sweden; after that it was printed in Copenhagen, Denmark, until the mission was divided in 1905 During the year, (1877) 1,096 persons were baptized in the mission and 18 elders arrived from Utah. The Book of Mormon, which had been translated into the Swedi-m language by Elder August W. Carlson, was published in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1878. Elder Carlson succeeded to the presidency of the mission, pro. tem., after Elder Liljenquist, but later in the year Elder Nils C. Flygare arrived from Utah to pre- side. During tne year 22 elders from Zion arrived and 1,255 were baptized In 1879, a number of new missionary fields were opened in 878 IMPROVEMENT ERA Jutland, Denmark; 29 elders arrived from Utah and 886 souls were added to the Church by baptism. Elder Niels Wilhelmsen succeeded Elder Nils C. Flygare as president of the mission. The first Relief Society and the first Y. M. M. I. A. in Scandinavia were organized in Copenhagen, Denmark. A new publication entitled Ungdommens Raadgiver was commenced in Copenhagen, Denmark, in the interest of the young people of the mission, in 1880. It was a monthly periodical and continued for 8 years. Successful missionary work was commenced in Holstein, but that part of the mission was soon afterwards transferred to the Swiss and German mission. During the year 1,160 persons were baptized and 35 elders arrived from Utah. During the year 1881, 38 new elders arrived from Utah and 1,078 persons were initiated into the Church. Elder Niels Wil- helmsen died in Copenhagen, Denmark, August 1, 1881, after which Elder Andrew Jenson took temporary charge until the arrival of President Chr. D. Fjeldsted in September following. In 1882, 51 elders from Utah arrived in Scandinavia and 990 baptisms took place. In 1883, Apostle John Henrv Smith, president of the Euro- pean mission, visited Scandinavia, and attended meetings in all three countries. During the year 851 were baptized and 46 elders ar- rived in the mission. In 1884, Elder Anthon H. Lund succeeded Chr. D. Fjeldsted as president of the mission; 767 were baptized and 38 new elders arrived. The police authorities in Denmark inaugurated a crusade against the elders, in 1885, and banished several of them from the country for preaching the doctrines of Christ, In the latter part of the year Elder Nils C. Flygare succeeded Anthon H. Lund as president of the mission. Daniel H. Wells, president of the European mission, visited Scandinavia, where 567 baptisms took place during that year; 51 new elders from Utah arrived. In 1886,605 were added to the Church by baptism and 30 new elders arrived. Elder Jesper Petersen, of Castle Dale, Utah, died in Odense, Denmark, June 23, 1887. He was the second Utah Elder who died and was buried in Scandinavn. Daring the year 1887, rOOJ H b80 IMPROVEMENT ERA. 634 were baptized in Scandinavia, and 45 missionaries arrived from Zion. In the latter part of 1888, Chr. D. Fjeldsted succeeded Nils C. Flygare as president of the mission. Daring the year, 664 persons were baptized and 20 elders arrived from Zion. In 1889, 572 were added to the Church in Scandinavia and 43 elders arrived from Zion to assist in the ministry. two elders from Zion laboring as missionaries in In 1890, Scandinavia died. The one, (Andrew K. Andersen of Ephraim, Utah) died in Aalborg, Denmark, January 5, 1890, and the other (John A Quist, of Big Cottonwood, Utah,) died in Wingaker, Sweden, March 13, 1890. In September of that year Elder Edward H. Anderson succeeded Chr. D. Fjeldsted as president of the mission. During the year 557 were baptized and 34 elders lrom Zion arrived. In 1891, 576 were added to the Church in Scandinavia and 58 missionaries arrived from Zion. In September, 1892, Joseph Christiansen succeeded Edward H. Anderson as president of the mission. During the year 464 were baptized and 56 missionaries arrived. In May, 1893, Elder Carl A. Carlquist succeeded Joseph Christiansen as president of the mission. Elder Pehr A. Bjorklund, of Provo, Utah, died August 28, 1893, at Helsinborg, Swedrn, where he labored as a missionary. During that year 395 were baptized and 45 elders arrived from Zion. In April, 1894, Peter Sundvall succeeded Carl A Carlquist as president of the mission. Apostle Anthon H. Lund, president of the European Mission, visited Scandinavia. During the year 437 souls were added to the Church by baptism and 65 new mission- aries a; rived from Zion. In 1895, 50 elders arrived from Zion and 424 baptisms took place in the mission. Elder Christian N. Lund succeeded Peter Sundvall as presi- dent of the mission in July, 1896. Elder Anders Bjorkman, of Salt Lake City, Utah, died August 19, 1896, in Sweden wht-re he labored as a missionary. In the latter part of the year, Elder Andrew Jenson, on his special mission around the world, vi.-ited the various conferences in Scandinavia, gathering material for the THE SCANDINAVIAN MISSION. 881 history of the mission. During the year, 50 elders arrived from Zion and 496 members were added to the Church by baptism. Tn 1897, 70 elders arrived in Scandinavia from Zion and 502 baptisms took place. The year 1898 proved fatal for three of the missionaries from Zion; Joseph H. Jenson of Union, Utah, died in Gothenborg, Sweden, March 5, 1908; Ole C. Jensen, of Mayfield, Utah, died at Randers, Denmark, May 30, 1898, and Albert Petterson, of Murray, Utah, died in Upsala, Sweden, December 30, 1898. In May, 1898, Geo. Christensen succeeded Christian N. Lund as president of the mission; 5 months later Andreas Peterson succeeded to the presi- dency. During the year, 93 elders arrived in Scandinavia and 590 souls were baptized. In 1899 Norway, which hitherto had constituted one confer- ence was divided into three, namely Christiania, Bergen and Trond • hjem. During the year 90 missionaries arrived from Zion and 433 were baptized; 2 elders from Zion were banished from Bornholm, Denmark, for preaching. In 1900, 99 elders arrived from Zion, and 471 souls were added to the Church by baptism; one elder (Henry W. Berg of Provo) died in Norway, February 21, 1909. At the close of the century (December 31, 1900) the Scandinavian Mission consisted of 9 conferences (3 in Denmark, 3 in Sweden and 3 in Norway) or 60 branches; there were 165 elders from Zion laboring in the mission. The local membership consisted of 268 elders, 163 priests, 143 teachers, 71 deacons, 3,890 lay members, and 1,018 children under 8 years of age, making a total of 5,553 souls. In 1901, Bishop Anthon L. Skanchy succeeded Andreas Ptt-rson as president of the Scandinavian Mission; 60 mission- aries arrived from Zion; 434 baptisms took place in the mission. Elder Christian W. Christoffersen, of Richmond, Utah, died in Silkeborg, Denmark, August 23, 1901. In 1902, the new mission house in Copenhagen (Korsgade 11) was built, and the mission headquarters moved from St. Paulsgade 14, (where it had been since 1859) to the new building which was dedicated by Apostle Francis M. Lyman, July 4, 1902. A new edition (the 4th) of the Book of Mormon in Danish, was pub- 882 IMPROVEMENT ERA. lished in Copenhagen, Denmark. During the year 592 were bap- tized and 88 missionaries arrived. In 1903, a new conference house was built in Christiania, Norway, on the site of the old one (Osterhaugsgade 27) which had been taken down. The new building, a fine three-story structure* was dedicated by President Francis M. Lyman, July 24, 1903. During that year 108 missionaries from Zion arrived in Scandinavia and 478 souls were baptized. In 1904, a building which the Church had purchased in Aarhus Denmark, and remodeled as a meeting and conference house, was dedicated March 12, 1904, by Elder Chr. D. Fjeldsted. In October a mission house which had been purchased by the Church, and re- constructed as a meetinghouse and missionary dwelling, was dedi- cated in Stockholm, Sweden, October 22, 1904, Apostle Heber J. Grant offering the dedicatory prayer. In December, 1904, Elder Chr. D. Fjeldsted succeeded Anthon L. Skanchy as president of ELDERS OF THE TRONDHJEM CONFERENCE, MAY, 1909. — Sitting Geo. W. Christophersen, Pres. Soren Andersen, Pres. Andrew Jenson, Enoch Chriatoffersen, Rolf C. Wold. — Standing Karl J. Knudsen, Oliver M. Munk, Willard E. Stephensen, Heber J. Hansen, Hans C. Johnsen, David Christianson THE SCANDINAVIAN MISSION. 883 the mission. During the year 396 souls were baptized and 96 missionaries arrived from Zion. In July, 1905, Sweden was detached from the Scandinavian Mission and made a distinct mission, with Peter Matson as presi- dent, while Jens M. Christensen succeeded Chr. D. Fjeldsted as president of the Scandinavian Mission, which was now confined to Denmark and Norway, and consisted of 35 branches grouped into 6 conferences (3 in Denmark and 3 in Norway). Elder Wilford A. Knudsen, of Provo, Utah, died in Copenhagen, Denmark, November 3, 1905. During the year 305 persons were baptized in Denmark and Norway, and 89 missionaries arrived from Utah. Elder Niels Evensen, president of the Trondhjem conference was in 1906 sentenced to pay a fine of 500 kroner or be imprisoned 45 days in Trondhjem, Norway, for baptizing; he appealed his case to a higher court, which reversed the sentence and set Elder Evensen free, on the ground that the "Mormons," not being Christians, could not be punished for performing rices pertaining to their religion. Sister Julia A. Berg, of Tilden, Idaho, and wife of Hosea Berg who, like herself, labored as a missionary Njr^ay, died Nov. 21, 1906, in Christiania. in During that year 79 elders arrived in the mission from Zion, and 254 persons were baptized. A conference house which had been erected by the Church in Aalborg was dedicated July 7, 1907, Apostle Charles W. Penrose offering the dedicatory prayer. In the latter part of the year Elder Soren Rasmussen succeeded Jens M. Christensen as presi- dent of the mission During the year 259 persons were added to the Church in Denmark and Norway and 84 missionaries from Zion arrived. In 1908,232 souls were baptized in Denmark and Norway and 69 elders from Zion arrived to labor in the mission. Elder Charles Martensen, of Koosharem, Utah, died January 12, 1909, in Stavanger, Norway, where he labored as a mission- ary. In February, 1909, Elder Andrew Jenson sacceeded Soren Rasmussen as president of the Scandinavian Mission, and in March, April and May last, the usual semi-annual conferences were held as follows: In Copenhagen, March 27 and 28; Aarhus. April 3 and 4; Aalborg, April 10 and 11; Bergen, April 24 and 25; Trondhjem, May 884 IMPR VEMENT ERA 1 and 2; and Christiania, May 8 and 9. The groups of elders labor- ing in the different localities were made from photographs taken at the time the respective conferences were held. At the present time, June 1, 1909, 130 elders from Zion are laboring in Denmark and Norway, distributed in the respective conferences as follows: Copenhagen 26, Aarhus 23, Aalborg 20, Christiania 31, Bergen 16, Trondhjem 14. From the opening of the mission in 1850 to the close of 1908, 48,441 persons have been baptized in the Scan- dinavian mission (including Sweden till the close of 1904). Dur- ELDERS OF THE BERGEN CONFERENCE, APRIL, 1909. — First Row James C Christensen, Wm. D. Norman. Edward P. Mackelprang, George Georereson, Lars Samuel Christensen — Second Row Jam»s C. Petersen, Edward A. Olsen, Jr., Torkel E. Torkelsen. Wilford H. Wild. Erastus Johnsen, Carl Kjar, Franklin J. D. Jensen. — Third Row Mary E. Keller, Pres. James M. Keller, President Andrew Jenson, Wrol C. Olsen, Orson P. Heilesen. ing the same period about 24,500 adult members have emigrated to Zion; 14,139 have been excommunicated and 3,185 have died- The remainder of the 48,441 baptized as stated, have been lost fr^m the statistical reports year by year. If unbaptized children who have accompanied Latter-day Saints to America are counted, it is safe to state that nearly 35,000 souls have emigrated from