Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-12-30
DFsERET EVENING WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER

Of Elder G.. A. IurnblOm, rendered
some choice aOnga aud hymns during
the conference, which we're highly
appreciated. Among the songs was
an original song Of welcome which WIS.,
greatly enjoyed by the Elders and visits
Ing brethren.
On Thursday morning, In company
with Elder John johnson, we len
Christiania and on Saturday evening,
Oct. 9th, met with the Saints aud
Elicrs OF the Stockholm Conference.
The hall was neatly decorated, and
was null OF people who listened atten-
lively u the reports which the broth.
fen from the various branches gave.
On Sunday three meetings were held,
anu on Monday general meeting OF
| the Saints all well attended. Presi.
! dent LuDdberg aud his associates In
/ Tile work are energetic In their labOfa,
anu their efforts are bearing
frult. The conference numbers up
| wards OF 1910 members and dur
/ ing the summer So persone have been
added by bap;ism. a choir has recently
been organized, and during the services
| rendered some cbolce vocal selections.
During the year there have been lGT
bAptisms In this conference. A larg.
district In the northern part has hot yet
heard the Gospel, but efforts are neing
made 10 have Il proclaimed in that re.
gion as rapidly a. Elders can be OBJ
tained who are capable OF enduring
the bard winters.
The conference In Copenhagen was
held on Saturday and Sunday, NOvem-
Der anu \. A beautiful flag decoration,
relieved by fe-toons Of evefgreens and
flowers, graced the hall, which was
iuli OF S>iuts AMI strangers at every
meeting, aud literally crowded during
the sunday evening services. The large
number OF visiting Elders made the
proceedings lively, and. as In the other
conferences, a rich portion OF the Holy
SpiTit was enjoyed. Outside OF the city
branch there Ia but little progress In
gWllnnd, yet the Elders are doing
faithful labor In warning the people.
In The city good meetings are held,
which arc well attended by Stranger.
There lisa good Sunday school with an
average attendance Of some fifty child
rem. The choir Is ono Of the attractive
features OF the meetings, and this or.
ganization rendered some excellent
songs and music duripg conference.
Elder q. l.. Thorstensen, who has
labotei In the Star Office aud In the
conference for two years. and. through
his zeal, kindness aud valuable labors
In the choir and among tho people,
has endeared himself to the Saints and
won their confidence and esteem, was
hOn0rably released to return home, and
Elder Harold +. LlllenquIst was APP
pointed 10 succeed him a. president Of
the conference, while his place IN the
otiice Is filed by Elder Charles l..
Olsen.
There are fourteen branches Of the
Church In Denmark, ten In Norway,
aud twonty.oue In SWeten; aud IN tho
three countries thctu is now a membe,-
ship OF 319i--l075 In the first named,
Bl7 In the second, and alO4 IN the third.
During the year there Were 5T5 hap.
li'ms, sn increase OF nineteen over
1880, OF which number 2iD lulned the
Church In Denmark, a. In Norway,
aud @p3 In sweden. There are several
Sunday schools, improvement associn.
tons and relief societies. all ding
worthy labor FOR the cause Of truth.
On the whole II can be said truth
fully that there are good prospects for
the work OF God In Scandinavia. The
results arc, OF course. not as great n In
former years, and there IL no denying
the fact that missionary labor now
II 40 difficult and costly rs ever,
aud often dIscouraging 10 the
sensitive Elder WHO Ia uncere-
moniou-ly butlated about among tho
people, yet with all this there Is great
satisfaction and JOY In tho work of
warning the nations. Nehave seldom
any prosecutions, and with few excep.
tons the people sld the legal authori.
ties treat US with consideration and re.
-pect. In most fields the Elders re-
port large numbers Of people who are
willing TO listen TO their testimonies,
while others arc Indifferent or entirely
unwilling to hear. Many are CON
WINGED OF The truth Of the doctrine but
lack the courage 10 Withstand the
ostracism that embracing II would In
sure. Others mako use OF our tostl.
monies to strengthen their unbeliei In
existing false religions, hut themselves
lack courage to repent and cast their
lot with the Saints. But among II all
the Elders preach the Gospel as a wit.
ness, and Ia their midst there is the
true mlssionary splrit-the spirit Of
prayer, sacrifice, union aud humility,
coupled with an earnest desire To fur.
Their the purposes VI God. Under the
present circumstances, It will re.
quire some time yet before the |
Gospel testimony can be borne |
to all who are willing 10 hear II, and |
there arc only few places where tue |
people can be said 70 have rejected the |
testimony OF the Elders. The Saints,
as rule, are united, alive to their |
duties, and are striving 10 live as near |
to the Gospel precop,s as their sur.
roundings and pecuniary conditions
will permit.
We all Join In thanks to God for His |
gracious mefcies In the past, and pray |
that His blessings may continue to US |
through the dawning new year, and be |
made manifest sbundanty To His
servants and people who spend their
energies for tho advancement Of truth
and right the world over.
EDw. II. ANDERSON.
CorENIAGEN, Dee. 1871