--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Kjær, Carl collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 13 number: 9 published: 1910-07 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Carl Kjær, "An Experience in Jail," *Improvement Era* 13, no. 9 (July 1910): 824–827.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1309unse 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: improvementera1309unse start_page: 824 end_page: 827 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1910-07) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1309unse publication_year: 1910 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 1910, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # An Experience in Jail An Experience in Jail. BY ELDER CARL KJ^R. [From a letter written by President Andrew Jenson, of the Scandinavian Mission, to the First Presidency of the Church, it is learned that the successful labors of the elders in Norway, as reported in the Bergen Conference, excited the attention of the State Church clergy. The number of baptisms in Haugesund, a city of about six thousand inhabitants, located south of Bergen on the west coast, where sixteen new members had been added to the Church, was especially alarming to the clergy, who thereupon incited the civil authorities to take action. It was believed that some of the new converts had not formally withdrawn from the Lutheran church before baptism, which neglect is technically against a law that is seldom enforced in such cases. It was found, hewever, upon recent investigation by the officers, that all the elders who had done the baptizing had left the country except one, Elder Carl Kjasr of Salt Lake City, Utah, who was arrested. He is the president of the branch at Haugesund, and, Elder Jenson adds, is true to his duties, obedient to counsel, and a zealous and energetic worker. When Elder Kjser appeared in court he was told that he had been fined twenty kroner, (nearly $5) for baptizing two little girls whose names had not been previously withdrawn, in conformity with law, from the Lutheran Church records. He was told that in lieu of the fine he might serve twelve days as an ordinary prisoner, or four days on a bread and water diet. To the great surprise of the officials, Elder Kjser chose the latter alternative. He was then imprisoned in a solitary cell, on Tuesday, March 8, in the evening, where he remained until the following Saturday. Prior to his entering the cell, Elder Kjser had the opportunity of explaining the principles of the gospel to the judge and to other officials of the court, and he lost no opportunity during his imprisonment to preach the gospel to the jailer, and to his fellow prison- AN EXPERIENCE IN JAIL. 825 ers. He also sent for and bore his testimony to the priest at whose instigation, no doubt, the whole affair had been inaugurated. With this introduction, President Jenson encloses the account of the imprisonment, written by Elder Kjaer himself, from which we make the following synopsis. It should be stated, however, that President Jenson says that subsequent investigation proved that the e'ders were not guilty of breaking even the technicality of the law, for one of the persons whom Elder Kjser baptized had asked the priest to have her name withdrawn from the records, which he failed to do; and the other was a member of a "Mormon'' familv. — Editors.] I could not keep my seat when the priest said that the "Mormons" were not Christians. I told him about my dear mother, who is now dead, taking me on her lap many times, when I was only four or five years old, teaching me that Jesus is the Son of God, and about his atonement, and that it is only through him that we all can be saved. Addressing the pastor, I said: "These lessons I'll never forget, as long as I live. Let me tell you, pastor, that my mother was a 'Mormon,' and I was born over in Utah. Now, don't you ever tell anybody that the Latter-day Saints don't teach Christ and him crucified, for so you tell a falsehood." He bowed his head as if ashamed. "Why," said I, "if there are any people who believe in Jesus it is the Latter-day Saints." I explained authority, revelation and priesthood, telling him about the restoration of the same, etc. I made him a present of the Fundamental Principles of the Gospel, by Apostle Orson Pratt, which he accepted and promised to read. We parted after an interview of about forty minutes. When the elders previously visited this man he in almost every case, had refused to take our tracts, but now he accepted a good book. After the priest had gone, the jailer and one of the police came down to know what the priest had said. I preached to them for about fifteen minutes. Then my friend, one of the judges, also came down, and wanted to know what the priest had said to me, and I had another conversation with him. After they had left, a woman prisoner next to my cell, who had overheard my lecture to these officials of the prison, soon began asking me questions concerning "Mormonism." She read aloud, as I dictated to her from the New Testament, thus following through from one principle to 826 IMPROVEMENT ERA. another until the jailer returned. Our conversation lasted about two hours. She knows more about "Mormonism"' now, and she said it was her intention to investigate further, and try and live a good life hereafter. The next morning I noticed a small crack in the partition (the walls being double). I folded up some tracts and a book and forced them through this crack to a certain prisoner, who had advised me to send for the priest. I signaled to him first, and he gladly received the tracts. I also gave the jailer two books, which ne promised to read. Before making up my bed on this last day, 1 put two small books under the pillow, hoping that they might do good to some one. Friday and Saturday were hungry days for me. I had lost my appetite and had only eaten two slices of bread, but drank considerable water. Saturday evening, at eight p. m., sharp, I was released, went to the home of one of the Saints and ate a go^d, hearty meal. On Sunday night our little hall was so overcrowded that I think we will have to hire a larger one, if it keeps on thus. My name appeared in the newspapers, and the whole affair was explained in the Haugesund Avis on Saturday. The editor of that paper is a very good friend of the "Mormon ' missionaries. Monday I made a revisit, or rather a "first self -invitation'' to the prison, with an armful of books. I asked permission to have an interview with the chief, and was shown into his office. He took me by the hand, and I thanked him for his kindness and friendliness. He looked down at the floor and replied, "ingen aarsag," (no cause). I then praised the force of men under him, and especially the jailer, for his zeal in performing his duty. He thanked me for the kind words I spoke about his men. I then made him a present of a Book of Mormon. He took it, hurriedly looked it over, and then accepted it with a "thank you," and gave me his hand. I next made my friend, Judge No. 2, a present of the same book. He took me by the hand and thanked me. The other judge received a Voice of Warning, and the jailer The Fundamental Principles of the Gospel, while every policeman, and even the marshal who arrested me, received some kind of book. Not one refused to accept my books, and all were as polite as could be. I AN EXPERIENCE IN JAIL. 827 imagine that this is the first time the judges and prison officials have had any prisoner return, after serving sentence, to thank them for their kindness. We have gained many good friends through this occurrence. I feel very happy and never felt the Spirit of God in such a degree as when I was addressing that priest in the prison; it burned in my breast like fire. The Lord was with me while in jail, and I knew that his guardian angels comforted me, for I could feel their presence. I've learned many lessons through this experience. I love my Savior, the gospel, and the opportunity I have of being an ambassador of the same, better than ever before. I love my home in Zion, my dear loved ones there, my fellowmen, freedom and liberty. I feel I have done my duty, and would be willing again to go through the same ordeal, if thereby I could bring one honest soul into the fold of Christ. Haugesund, Norway. Church Organization. The purpose of Church organization is that God may give his covenant people an opportunity to more fully learn the principles of the gospel of his beloved Son, Jesus Christ, and that they may more thoroughly put them into practice. Church organization acts as a disciplinarian of its members; in other words, the laws of the Church are the guards of the members to keep them from overstepping the bounds of propriety. Through Church organization the Lord can more effectively carry out his plans among the children of men. Through Church organization the members thereof may, with authority, counsel one with another and so impart wisdom. In counsel there is safety. Through Church organization it is possible for the members of the Church to do all things in unity. In unity there is strength. Through Church organization God, of necessity, imparts more plentifully of intelligence to his children. Through Church organization its members may attain to peace and perfect harmony. The Apostle Paul speaks (Eph. 4) of the gifts and possible attainments of the Saints in his day, through Church organization. I. W. Fletcher.