Anthon L. Skanchy, XIV–XVIII

Anthon L. Skanchy A Brief Autobiographical Sketch of the Missionary Labors of a Valiant Soldier for Christ

TRANSLATED AND EDITED BY DR. JOHN A. WIDTSOE

XIV. — THE QUIET YEARS OF HOME SERVICE From 1889, the time of his return from his fourth mission, to 1901, when he went on his fifth mission, Bishop Skanchy remained in Logan, Utah, in pursuit of his duties as Bishop of the Logan Sixth Ward. Under his direction, the ward prospered the poor;

were well cared for and a good spirit pervaded all the organiza- ;

tions of the ward. During this period, also, the longest in his life without foreign missionary service, Bishop Skanchy built up his material interests. The lumber business which he had organized, flourished under his care. Though he had sacrificed many years in spiritual service, they were fully made up to him in a material way, during 'the periods that he could give himself to his business interests. He — was always a good provider for his families, they had comfort- able homes, and the comforts of the day. His personal gifts and charities to people in Utah and in the old countries, have not been recorded, but they were large. Bishop Skanchy loved the poor and afflicted, and to their relief he gave unstintingly of his time, means and sympathy.

XV. MY FIFTH MISSION In 1901, I was called by Presidents Lorenzo Snow, George Q. Cannon, and Joseph F. Smith to take charge of the Scandinavian Mission, which then included Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. I was set apart in the Salt Lake Temple, April 2, by President C. D. Fjeldsted, and I was especially commissioned to buy and erect for the Church, mission houses in these three Scandinavian countries. I presented to the First Presidency the necessity of having C. D. Fjeldsted accompany me as he was well acquainted with Denmark. This was permitted. We had a pleasant voyage across the ocean. In Copenhagen we bought the place where our mission house is now erected. President Fjeldsted was called home again and I remained to arrange the matter. I laid the foundation of the

Copenhagen mission house and dedicated the place together with

the corner stone the 2nd of March, 1901. The house itself was dedicated on the fourth of July, 1901. The next mission house was built the year afterwards on the same ground that the old mission house had stood on in Chris- tiania. The old house had been built of poor materials and was

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, MISSION HOUSE

in a dangerous condition. We therefore took it down and sold the material by auction. I then contracted with architects and

builders and the house was erected and finally dedicated the 24tb

of July, 1902, after a great celebration. The dedicatory prayer was offered by President Francis M. Lyman. When these two countries had obtained their splendid houses, we turned our attention to Sweden. I went to Stockholm but found great difficulties confronting me there, since the Swedish law does not permit strangers to buy building lots. We were obliged, therefore, to secure agents to act for us. We bought, at last, a building lot in a very public place, in an excellent district. There we built a large four-story building, so arranged as to make it a worthy and most beautiful place for presenting the

INTERIOR OF THE STOCKHOLM MISSION HOUSE, LOOKING FROM THE GALLERY

gospel. Several smaller rooms in the building can be rented out, thus providing a small income. This mission house was dedi- cated the second of October, 1904, President Heber J. Grant offering the dedicatory prayer. Thus, my mission time was lengthened out so that I could remain until this house had been dedicated. That I had my hands full on this mission, I suppose everyone will understand. My work appeared to be satisfactory to the Presidency of the Church, and as for myself, I trusted that I could complete this responsible work with satisfaction to my own soul. For the success that was achieved I will continue to give gratitude to my Father in heaven. I owe to him all the praise and honor.

INITIO iVI Ml N 1 1 RA

\t the •

ted "in mission hou i uii

v.l with .1 itonc cutter, b) the name oi Peterson, •II and room for the elders, in .idwelling ;i

house which In- wai derickshavn, Denmark. We also bought a house in Boruj in thecit) of ^arhus, Den .

mark, in which we constructed a baptismal »n Elder Adam t » t .

Peterson, who was on mission at that time, had great influence .i

among tin- people "i Varhus, ;m<l won man) friends, which all helped. While I had ch linavian Mission, Sister Anna I \i it ... .tii. l Gaarden, were called on a mission lnt sister Lina and remained there for about four years. These two Norway, from tin- extreme north to tin- i

.. kik'i m mission House, looking towards ran GALLl HY

trcme south, and spared neither time nor money in order to bring the people the gospel. The) \>>n honor and friends every- where for the cause of truth. They bore a great testimony to the world, which we hope will in time bear fruit. Brother II J. Christiansen was also called on a mission again, at this time, and was chosen president over the conference in

Copenhagen. He was born there, acquainted with the conditions, and had the language of Copenhagen under complete control. He gathered many friends for the mse.

XVI. THE LAST WORD I do not care to write more, as most of my friends are ac-

quainted with the work that has hcen done in the mission field. What T have done here at home has gratified me and the people ;

here know my whole life. Now I am on the sick list. I have for- gotten to take care of myself in my desire to care for others. The Lord be honored and praised from now to eternity and forever. Amen. The Lord he merciful with us all and forgive our weak- nesses and imperfections.

XVII. THE SIXTH MISSION After Bishop Skanchy had returned from his labors as Presi- dent of the Scandinavian mission, he entered again upon his duties in the bishopric of the Logan Sixth Ward. He rallied the people to his support, and he laid the cornerstone of a new ward chapel, one of the handsomest in the Church. This house is now com- pleted. On January 23, 1910, after twenty-five years of service, Bishop Skanchy was honorably released from his position as bishop of the Logan Sixth ward. A little later he closed out such of his business interests as required his daily active supervision. On July 11, 1910, he went again to Norway, with his wife and younger children, to spend some time in gathering genealog- ical information for his temple work. This may be called his sixth mission, for he went with the authority of a missionary, and did much good wdiile away. True to his love for the city of his birth, Trondhjem, he took with him a large and expensive copy of Munkacsy's painting of Christ before Pilate, executed by Dan Weggeland, of Salt Lake City, which he presented to the branch, and which now adorns the meeting hall in Trondhjem. He returned to Zion, June 22, 1911 never again to leave it ;

in the flesh.

XVIII. THE END OF THE JOURNEY Soon after Bishop Skanchy returned from his last trip to Norway, he was seized with his last illness. The evil preyed steadily upon him, but his strong body and iron constitution, could not be broken at once. It took years for the disease to undermine his strength and reach the vital processes of his system. During his long illness, he composed the sketch now pre- sented. From page to page it bears the marks of the physical sufferings which he endured. Had he been in good health, he would have told more of the marvelous experiences of his long missionary life. Perhaps, however, in good health, he would not have undertaken the work at all.

SOS IMPROVEMENT ERA While withdrawn from active life by this lingering illness, also reviewed his own poems, his favorite songs, and the word lit'

of God that he loved. Bishop Skanchy,like all who live in close communion with spiritual was much of a poet; a lover of the fine arts, things, painting and sculpture, and an ardent worshiper of all natural beauty. In his last days, though filled with physical pain, he found the leisure for the contemplation of the things of the spirit he loved so well, which he had been denied in his active life. Ever did his thoughts go back to the land of the midnight sun, in which he was born where the gospel message found him, ;

and where, in the full strength of his youth, he fought valiantly for the cause of truth, and won hundreds, yea, thousands, to the cause of eternal truth. On Sunday, April 19, 1914, in his 75th year, his spirit re- turned to the God he had served so well. On the following Wednesday he was buried from the beautiful chapel he had built. Many wept at his grave, especially those who were poor in spirit or worldly goods, and whom this noble man had loved and helped and raised up, and brought into the glorious light of truth. (the end)