--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - J. M. Sjodahl collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 24 number: 6 published: 1921-04 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'J. M. Sjodahl, "President Anthon H. Lund," *Improvement Era* 24, no. 6 (April 1921): 499–503.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2406unse 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: improvementera2406unse start_page: 499 end_page: 503 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1921-04) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2406unse publication_year: 1921 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 1921, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # President Anthon H. Lund President Anthon H. Lund By J. M. Sjodahl "Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord from henceforth; when the Lord shall come, and old things shall pass away, and all things become new, they shall rise from the dead and shall not die after, and shall receive an inheritance before the Lord, in the holy city." (Doctrine and Covenants 63:49.) A prince in Israel, a great man, indeed, passed gently beyond our limited horizon, when President Anthon H. Lund, on March 2, 1921, followed the call of the silent messenger. His departure is keenly felt by associates and countless friends, as well as by the members of his family. But we rend not our clothes in mourning, as if death were the end. "Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord." They are only resting after their day's labor in the service of God and man. And if they could speak to us, they would, perchance, say, in the language of the poet: "Heaven's broad day hath o'er me broken Far above earth's span of sky! Am I dead? Nay, by this token, Know that I have ceased to die." And so we rejoice with our loved ones because they have passed from death to life. President Lund's departure was peaceful, as the falling asleep of a sweet, innocent child. Some years ago he suffered from an internal ulcer, but he regained his health, apparently, and was able to attend to his numerous duties. A short time ago, however, the old trouble returned, and on Feb. 22, the symptoms became alarming. For brief periods he seemed to rally ,but he grew gradually weaker. Aibout midnight on Monday, Feb. 28, he suffered a great deal of pain, and after that he failed to rally, although he was conscious until half an hour before he passed beyond. President Charles W. Penrose and Elder James E. Talmage, together with members of his family, were at the bedside. President Heber J. Grant, who was in California, was promptly notified. President Anthon H. Lund's life has been one of long, faithful service. Even a mere enumeration of the positions he filled in the Church and the State would occupy more space than allotted to this paper. 500 IMPROVEMENT ERA He was born at Aalborg, Denmark, May 15, 1844, the year, itwill be observed, of the martyrdom of the Prophet, and the day of the month in which the Prophet Joseph and Oliver Cowdery, in 1829, were baptized and ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood. His mother having died, he was left with his grandmother, who bestowed upon him all the love and devotion of a mother, and gave him a good education, covering not only the — elementary studies, but also some foreign languages English, French and German. Very early in life he began studying the Bible, and in addition he read all the good books he could obtain. The result was that when he heard "Mormonism" preached, he at once became convinced of its truth. One of the early converts, when Elder Erastus Snow, in the year 1850, opened the mission in the Scandinavian countries, was Jens Andeison, an uncle of Anthon H. Lund, and his grandmother was another. She was baptized in 1853, when the boy was only nine years old. Anthon continued to study the history and doctrines of the Church. During this time he fought many a conflict with himself,owing chiefly to the persecution of enemies, that raged even in the school he attended, but his innate tact never forsook him, and he held a place in the hearts of both teachers and pupils, notwithstanding their hatred of "Mormonism." Nor did he discontinue his search for truth, and he was baptized on the 15th of May, 1856, when twelve years old. A year later he was called to labor in the vineyard. His first duties were to teach intended emigrating Saints English, to distribute tracts, and to assist in holding meetings. He traveled without purse and scrip, but was always well provided for, though he had many thrilling experiences. At the age of sixteen he was appointed an elder and president of the Aalborg branch. In 1862 he emigrated to America, arriving in Salt Lake City, Sept. 23, that year, in Elder Christian A. Madsen's companay. Anthon H. Lund's life since his arrival in the Valleys of the Mountains has been one of constant usefulness and service. He first located at Fairview, Sanpete Count) , and then at Mount Pleasant, where he remained till the fall of 1870. He engaged in farm labor, and did whatever work he could obtain, at first. Presently he was called to Salt Lake City to learn telegraphy, and returned to Mount Pleasant to take charge of the telegraph office. While in the capital, he became acquainted with the late John Henry Smith and others with whom, in later years, he has been intimately associated in Church work. In the fall of 1870 he moved to Ephraim, having married, on may 2, of PRESIDENT ANTHON H. LUND 501 that year, Sarah Ann Peterson, daughter of Canute Peterson, later president of the Sanpete stake. In 1871 Elder Lund performed his first mission in the Scandinavian countries. On his return home, he became interested in the Ephraim Co-op., and was very successful in its management. In 1874 he was appointed a member of the High Council, and in 1877 stake clerk. In 1883 he left for his second Scandinavian mission, and succeeded Elder C. D. Fjelds.ed in the presidency. During his absence, he was elected a member of the Utah Legislature, and in 1888 he was re-elected. The Agricultural College of Logan and the State Industrial School, at Ogden, are monuments of his work in the legislative halls of the state. In 1888 he was also appointed vice-president of the Manti temple, and in 1891 succeeded Daniel H. Wells in presiding over that sacred building. At the October conference, 1889, he was called to the Apostleship. In 1893 he was appointed president over the European mission. In 1897 he went on a brief mission to Palestine. Since April, 1900, he has been superintendent of the Religion Classes, and in August, the same year, he succeeded Elder Franklin D. Richards in the office of Church Historian. In 1901 Elder Lund was called to the position of second counselor in the First Presidency, and at the demise of President John R. Winder, March 28, 1910, he was appointed first counselor. In 1911, President Lund was made acting president of the Salt Lake temple, and in 1918, at the death of President Joseph F. Smith, president; and also president of the Council of the Twelve. President Lund's work was not confined entirely to his Church duties, though these were always of first importance to him. At the time of his death he was president of the L. D. S. University, regent of the University of Utah, president of the Amalgamated Sugar Company, vice-president of Zion's Savings Bank, vice-president of Zion's Cooperative Mercantile Institution, vice-president of the Utah State National Bank, vice-president of the Inland Crystal Salt Company, vice-president of the Utah Savings & Trust Company, and president of Snow Normal College. And he performed every duty imposed upon him with exceptional ability, faithfulness, and, withal, with the genuine humility and gentleness that are the characteristics of a gentleman and a true Latter-day Saint. The writer once having the privilege of an intimate conversation with President Lund, asked him: "What has been the leading principle by which your life has been guided, and to which your success may be attributed?" To which, after a moment of deep thought, he replied "I have always endeavored : to find out what is right and then to do it." 502 IMPROVEMENT ERA In that answer is summed up a lesson which especially the young people of the Church may draw from the life of the late President Anthon H. Lund. For by a life guided by that principle he, in the words of Paul, "being dead, yet speaketh." (Heb. 11:4.) President Lund leaves his widow, Sarah Ann Peterson Lund, six sons and one daughter: Anthony C. Lund, head of the vocal department of the L. D. S. School of Music and direc- tor of the Salt Lake Tabernacle choir; Judge Henry C, former judge of the Salt Lake City court, civil division; Dr. Herbert Z., for the past fifteen years a physician of Salt Lake City; Othniel R., of the Northwestern States Mission, now at Portland, Ore.; August William, assistant Church historian of the L. D. S. Church; Cannon, recorder in the L. D. S. Church office; Mrs. Eva Lund Barnes, wife of Herbert J. Barnes of Kaysville. The funeral services were held in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, March 6, where loving and eloquent tributes to the character and life-work of the departed Church leader were offered in the presence of an audience that filled the vast building to its utmost capacity. Thousands upon thousands passed by the flower-covered bier and looked for the last time, this side of the veil, upon his noble features, which still seemed expressive of peace, love, and sympathy; so gently, apparently, had they been touched by the hand of the angel of death. Music and song thrilled the hearts with visions of the glories of spheres beyond, and flowers in profusion spoke with thousand tongues of the beauties and joy of the resurrection day. Over all hovered the holy Spirit of peace. The speakers were: Nephi L. Morris, president of the Salt Lake stake; Dr. John A. Widtsoe, president of the University of Utah Charles W. Nibley, presiding bishop ; Brigham H. Rob- ; erts, assistant church historian; Joseph Fielding Smith, vice president of the Salt Lake Temple; James E. Talmage and Orson Fo Whitney of the council of the twelve; Charles W. Penrose, second counselor to the first presidency, and President Heber J. Grant, who presided at the obsequies. Professors Edward P. Kimball, Tracy Y. Cannon and John J. McClellan, in turn presided at the organ, Mr. McClellan playing the organ music required for the services. Raymond Williams and the choir rendered the great song of songs, "O My Father," and Professor Willard Weihe gave a beautiful violin selection characteristic of his inimitable mastery of his instrument. James H. Nielson sang a tenor solo, from Mendelsohn's "Elijah." Professor McClellan rendered "Nearer my God to Thee," with his usual artistic soulfulness and unsurpassed technique. President Louis Anderson of the South San- PRESIDENT ANTHON H. LUND 503 pete stake offered the invocation, and Bishop F. S. Tingey of the ward in which President Lund lived pronounced the benediction. The funeral cortege, comprising more than fifty automobiles,moved from the Tabernacle, passing out from the west gate of the grounds to South Temple street, east to E street, thence to Third avenue, east to N street, north to Fourth avenue, east to the city cemetery. Leading was the First Presidency, the council of twelve, first council of seventy, and the various Church and business organizations with which President Lund had been identified. The six sons of President Lund, Anthony C, Henry, Herbert Z., Othniel R., A. William and G. Cannon, were the active pallbearers. The honorary pallbearers were the council of the twelve, all of whom were present except Reed Smoot and George Albert Smith. The Elite quartet, James H. Neilson, Hyrum Christiansen, August and Henry Glissmeyer, sang at the grave, "Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken." Elder Rudger Clawson dedicated the grave. And Something Did Happen By Joseph B. Musser "If something would only happen to break the monotony, 1 wouldn't mind it so much," said my companion as we trudged along the twenty hot miles of black lava road that lay between Pahoa and Kapoho; "I wonder if we are on the right road. I haven't seen a house for the last ten miles, and we must have walked at least fifty since this morning." Traveling without purse or scrip necessitated our walking most of the distance between the towns of Puna, and this day had been an exceptionally hot and oppressive one, even for Hawaiian mid-summer. The character of the road over which we walked did not improve our dispositions, as it was merely a strip of broken fragments of lava, leveled with sledge hammers and finished off with a steam roller. The sharp points projecting upward made walking anything but pleasant. "Well, let's stop here and rest up a bit before we go any farther," said I. "It's a beastly hot day and this soda water will taste good even though it is warm." We sat down under a small tree which grew near the roadside, one of those few hardy pioneers of treedom which had