--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Lund, C. N., Jr. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 25 number: 1 published: 1921-11 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'C. N. Lund Jr., "Conversion and Testimony of the Late President C. N. Lund," *Improvement Era* 25, no. 1 (November 1921): 58–60.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2501unse 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: improvementera2501unse start_page: 58 end_page: 60 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1921-11) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2501unse 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. --- # Conversion and Testimony of the Late President C. N. Lund Conversion and Testimony of the Late President C. N. Lund* Selected front his Journal by his Son, C. N. Lund, Jr While the members of our family were quietly pursuing their humble course in life, satisfied with their lot, and never daring to hope or dream of anything better, either for them- selves or for their children after them, and satisfying, as best they could, the cravings of their spiritual natures by reading the Lutheran prayer book at home, and once in a while at- tending church, a little circumstance transpired which was destined to change the future course of our lives and scatter cu:; family over two continents and affect our posterity yet unborn. It was on a pleasant day in the month of April, 1857, at the home where I was born. My father was working out, my mother was alone at home with three little boys, the young- est four years, and the eldest, myself, 11 years. A man knocked at the door. My mother bade him come in, and he introduced himself as a "Mormon'1 missionary. His name we never learned. He called but once. He told us the won- derful story of how God had again revealed himseF from heaven and had raised up a prophet in America by the name of Joseph Smith. This sounded very, very strange to my mother. She said she could not understand how that could be true when the Bible, as she understood it, stated that if any- one should pretend to have received new revelation we should by no means pay any attention to him, or place any confi- dence in it. He read from the Bible and conversed with us for some time, explaining the principles of the gospel, and the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ upon earth. When he left, I remember my mother was so impresse 1 that she lemarked, "I believe what that man said is true.'' There the Feed was sown which has since borne so much fruit. But there was a struggle at hand. "Mormonism" was never heard of before in that part of Denmark. The people *C. N. Lund, for many years president of the North Sanpete stake of Zion, and one time President of the Scandinavian Mission, and well known among the people of the "West as a sterling character, died May 7, 1921.— Editors. CONVERSION OF PRESIDENT C. N. LUND 59 went nearly wild with excitement. Opposition arose from within and from without. Awful tales were told about the "Mormons," and about Utah. Courage was necessary to break the ice and be the pioneers in so unpopular a cause. Father hesitated, brothers held back, mother investigated and rea- soned with other elders. The next elder to come in was Mads Anderson, of Mt. Pleasant. He conversed with the family all one night, but it seemed he could not overcome the darkness, until with vigor and loud voice he commanded the devil to leave the home. Immediately after, my mother said she was ready to be baptized. So at the breaking of day on June 21, 1857, she went into the waters of baptism and was confirmed a member of the Church. At this time I was between eleven and twelve years of age and was working out and had not been home much when the elders had been at our home. I was not surrounded by the best influences where I worked, and from what I had been told I was very unfavorably impressed about "Mormon- ism." I felt indignant at what my mother had done, and be- lieved that she had brought disgrace upon our family. A month or so had passed since she had joined the unpopular sect, and my father and older brother had followed her ex- ample. So I determined I would go home for a visit and give them to understand that I thought they had acted very foolishly and brought trouble and disgrace upon their chil- dren as well as themselves. I went home thus determined, but I shall never forget that meeting with my sainted mother. After fifty years the picture of that occasion is still vivid on my memory as when a boy of twelve. Clad in her simple apparel, I remember yet the patches on her dress, she ap- peared to me a changed woman. There seemed to be a peaceful, gentle and holy influence, or expression beaming from her countenance, and when she spoke her words were filled with love and kindness. This completely overcame me. I could not account for it. I marveled. But, of course, I soon knew, and know far better now, that it was the result of obedience to the gospel and the influence of the Holy Spirit which had been imparted to her. I forgot to give vent to my former feelings of regret for what she had done. My father was also there and was happy for what he had re- ceived. But, though changed, I was not yet converted. On the last of November, 1857, as I was again going home from the place where I worked, I met on the road two of my brothers, one older, one younger, who both believed the gos- pel. We had a conversation about it there on the road, and even though I had finally determined that I would have 60 IMPROVEMENT ERA nothing to do with this unpopular sect, it was while standing there on the highway, conversing and arguing, that I felt plainly the Spirit of God coming over me, and an impression or testimony came to me that the gospel was true and that I ought to obey it. I felt like the disciples say they did when Jesus spoke to them by the way, "our hearts burned within us." I went home, and to the great joy of my mother, I told her that I now felt that what she had done was right, and that I would soon follow her example. So, on a cold and stormy evening, March 20, 1858, Elder Hans P. Iversen led me into the waters of baptism in the same spot where my mother had been baptized. I knew but little of the gospel at that time, but I felt that I had done right, and it was aln easy matter for me to leave off the little habits I had formed in my associations with rough men where I had worked, and be a better boy. A short time after my baptism, I dreamed one night I was standing at the place where I was baptized and I saw the Savior coming in the clouds of heaven, and as I looked at him I saw him wave his hand, and then the heavens rolled together like a scroll. This dream impressed me that what I had done was approved of the Lord. I did not then know all that the gospel is and what it will do for people, but in fifty years I have learned much. From the hour of receiving it, I have never doubted nor wavered, and bear testimony today to its wonderful truth and saving power. Mt. Pleasant, Utah.