Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-10-30
The Gospel In Norway.

Christianla, Sept. 20, 1897.
To the Editor:
on Sept 18th and 18th we held our
fall conference in our large and COM
modious hall. Osterhausgade No, "a.
Your reader viii remember that this
hall Is owned by the Church, the only
place In the European mission where
the Saints own their own place OF
worship. We had the honor OF the
presence OF Elders Rulon S. Wells and
Jos. w. McMurrin OF the European
mission and Elder c. N. Lund OF the
Scandinavian mission, together with
twenty-slN other missionaries from
Utah.
Our conference opened Saturday
evening and on Sunday three meet
ings were held. Not for n great many
years has such an interest been taken
IN our conferences by strangers as in
the present one. During our Sunday
meetings standing room was at a
premium. The principles of the Cos
pei were explained by our visiting
brethren, and many testimonies were
born of the divinity of the Prophet
Joseph's mission and the restoration
Of the Gospel in our day. At the close
of our last meeting three individuals
applied for baptism and several others
desired conversations.
All expressed their surprise in find
Ing that the Gospel as preached by
the Latter-day Saints was in unison
with the teachings OF our Savior and
His disciples.
Much of the former prejudice
against us as people is being re-
moved, as the people become more
enlightened. Yet there are many who
Will still believe the blood-curdling
stories that our enemies tell about us
As specimen of what people will tell
can mention that an old lady here
says her uncle WAS well acquainted
with Joseph Smith and that she has
II from good authority that the
Prophet was born in Norway. and was
sent to Sweden in a casket because
he taught false doctrine.
Conference President ID. X. Browns
report was as follows: The confer
ence has ten branches. each presided
over by an Elder from Utah who Is
assisted by one or more Elders. OF
the local Priesthood We have Elders
Is, Priests 10, Teachers 81, Deacons 10,
members 697. Total officers and mem
bers Sl4.
During the last five months we have
visited in their homes IL $40 families
had 3,S32 Gospel conversations, dis.
tributed 1896 Gospel tracts, held lO7g
meetings and added to the Church by
baptism 60 members.
Since our last conference Elder ID
X. Brown and myself have visited al
of the branches In Norway. At Trondh-
lem l met Elder Brown. and after 0
short stay at that place, the 9th Of
June foud US on board the STEAMSHIP
Vesteraalen en- route for Tromso, tn,
most northerly branch of the church
in all the world.
on June Goth at 10 o'clock noon We
landed at Tromso. Here we Were
greeted by about twelve of our breth.
rem and sisters, Even at 60 degrees 4!
minutes north latitude Mormon Elders
have previously found their way. and
as a result of their labors had made
happy this little band of Israelites by
bringing to them the glad tidings OF
the Gospel.
We remained there about ten days
during which time we were busy
spreading tracts and bearing our tes'
timony to the good people of the fal
north. Our stay :hcre seemed to u,
as one continues day, the sun never
ceasing TO cast its brilliant rays upoI
the earth
The following are the names OF tbs
Elders now laboring in Norway, ant
their places OF labor for the cominl
six months; ID, X. Brown. presiden
of conference; N. Is. Nelson. G. w
Peterson and Fred Sohade for Chris
tiania; NJ. II. Christopherson, Olavau
johnson, Drammen; John Peterson ant
Hyrum Olsen, Frederickhald; Jakol
Fikstad and o. II, Peterson, Freder
ickstad; Peter Olsen and George NJ
smoot and Mark Williamson, Bergen
Chas. Poulsen and Hyrum Hogan
Trondjem; Chas. Knudsen and Chas
Thomson, Tromso Rangdvald Karlset
and Lars Halllng, l1edemarkcn
Hyrum Jensen and Jos. Targerson
Arendal GEMS Christensen, Stavan
ger.
Mail addressed to osterhausgaden
No. "a, will reach any OF the Elders,
N X NELSON