Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-06-09

NNNlhUs AINNtE NIl|NH MNIH ANMNl n
Bruun and Christen Christensen
Brother Bruun was the fret member
Of the Danish Lutheran church 10 EN-,
brace the Gospel Elder Dykes per.
formed the baptism.
on Sunday the 18th OF August 1850
the converts were confined member.
of the Church I'm the house of Han.
Larsen. Three children were also
blessed on this occasion. -Four more
persons were baptized on that day, and
among these were Peter Beckstrom
on Sunday the 2ith OF August, the
Sacrament was administered for The
first time in Denmark, Ia the house of
Hans Larsen Brother Brunn was or
dained a Priest and another brother
was ordained a Teacher
During the month Of September the
brethren appealed 20 the kultus minis
ter. or secretary OF ecclesiastical affairs.
for permission 10 preach In Denmark
and their request was granted, but his
eXcellency informed them, that they
might have trouble with the police.
owing to the evil reports circulated
about the "Mormons Ia prediction that
proved but too true.
On the 18th OF September 1850 the
first branch Of the Church was organ
lied In a rented room In Vlngaard-
strHdet with a membership Of about
30, and Elder George =. Dykes as presi-
dent John d. Forster was appointed
clerk and Lauritz r. Mailing. Ole
Swendsen. and Andreas AaFren a
finance committee.
a suitable hall was now rented, and
the work proceeded Bapusms were
performed, and the power OF God was
manifest In spiritual gifts
About this time Elder Snow issued
his we'll known pamphlet EN- Sandheds
Rost' and later translation Of the
Book OF Mormon was prepared for the
press by Elders Snow and z. O. Han
sen Elder Forsgren. who had been
banIshed from Sweden, was appointed
20 labor I'm Copenhagen and vicinity
and Elder Dykes went to Aalb0rg. Jyl-
land
While the brethren were laboring
faithfully aud successfully, the adyer-
sary mustered his forces. too. The new
~ baptized converts were the objects OF
hatred and persecution. One Of the
most active prosecutors was stricken by
the hand OF the Lord, and became a
raving maniac. literally possessed by an
evil spirit. but this did not deter others
from raging against the Saints on ac-
count OF the disturbances by mOhs. the
public meetings had 10 be discontinued
for a time. and the Saints gathered
quietly I'm their homes. where they en-
gagged In prayer and worship They also
sent a deputau0n TO the king Frederik
VII. presenting him with a fonS OF the
Book OF Mormon and Elder auoRs En-
Sandheds Rost" 1t Is said the king sent
the books TO the queen dowager. and
that they made such an impression on
her. that she became sick FOR several
days
At the close Of che year 1850, there
were about 1870 members OF the Church
In Denmark The foundation had been
laid for the scandinavian mission
which has been, and is. 50 important
part OF the Church Of Jesus Christ OF
Latter-day Saints.
LIGHT BROUGHT TO SWEDEN.
As already stated, at the October
held In Salt Lake city in
the year lS49, Elder John +. Forsgren
was set apart as a messenger of the
Gospel 10 Sweden. Accordingly. he took
an affectiOnate farewell OF his brethren
In Copenhagen on the 18th Of June
1850, and proceeded to Gehe, his native
town. HE took leave Of us. says Apostle
Erastus Snow with our blessings up
on his head and full Of the Holy Ghost,
though his eyes were full Of tears and
his heart ready 20 burst
ii has often been the case that mes-
sengers Of the Gospel have found the
way prepared before them by the Lord,
through visions, or dreams. and Elder
Forsgren had a similar experience. on
his arrival IN Gefle he learned that his
sister some time previous had had re-
vision which had made a deep
impression upon her. She was sitting In
church one sunday morning. having
previously engaged IN devotional eXer-
cises AS the hymn was sung. she saw
clearly parsonage standing before her,
who said. ION the 9Th Of july a man
will come 20 you with three books. and
an those that believe In
the things written in the books.
shall be saved" when Elder Forsgren
arrived with the Bible, the Book of
Mormon, and the Doctrine and Cove
l8nts, she believed his testimony.
The Lord. further sealed his preach
ng with a wonderful miracle Of heal
ng Elder Forsgren's brother, Peter
was suffering Of consumption, but he
was completely restored through faith
and prayer. lie was the first 10 receive
baptism, on the 10Th OF July. Elder
Peter A. Forssren is stilisa faithful
member OF the Church residing IN Brig
ham City, Utah. Shortly afterwards.
1n the Srd Of August Elder Forsgren
baptized his sister and two other pei
sons
Elder Peter Forsgren relates a re-
narkable incident. His brother was one
lay summoned 10 the office OF the pub
ic prosecutor and the latter asked him
Z he had a picture Of the Prophet Jo-
leph. He procured a picture. and the
ifilcer set fire TO IT, While Il was burn
ne, Elder John Forsgren had vision
n which he saw the city OF Getie des-
royed by fire. He told his friends OF
his vision, and also that they
would be In America, when the visita-
ion would take place. Nineteen years
rom the date of the burning OF Jo-
eph's picture. the city Of Gene was al
most totally destroyed by Ere, and the
onlagration started In the very house,
where the picture Of the Prophet had
'een sacrificed TO the flames.
Elder Peter FOrsgren coptinued his
ANNl NAAAfA NlaNAN NtlAAN hiAlNNt AiNNMk
he first TO embrace the Gospel We're
eyenteen persons who were about 10
10 the United States. Some OF !
hese Il Is believed found their way 20
he settlements Of the Saints In the |
Vest
According 10 the laws Of Sweden al |
hat time Il was a criminal offense for |
nybOdy but regularly appointed clergy
men, 10 preach the Gospel. or admins !
er In the sacred ordinances The con- |
equence was that the faithful messen. |
.er Of the Lord was arrested and sent |
o Stockholm, the capital OF the king |
ON. AS prisoner he had many Oppor- /
unities, as the Apostle Paul formerly, |
o bear his testimony 20 civil and eccle- |
iastical authorities, and his name |
ecame known all over the country. In !
he capital, many fioCked around him |
nd listened to his message Of love and /
Aviation. Finally II was decided 10 /
anlsh him and send him TO America. !
ie was then put aboard a vessel. But |
e soon gained favor with the captain, |
I'd when the ship touched az oresund