Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-08-17

they have been coming almost continu-
ously siuce then. Altogether about 49,
600 Saints have come from that mission
10 ZION and they are still coming
During residence Of many years
in Boxeldcr county | had splendid OPP
uOruinity oi becoming intimately ac.
duaintad with the scandinavian people
who constitute q gOody portion Of the
population OF that county, and
learned To- thoroughly appreciate their
value as citizens and as members Of
the Church. My experience leads ne TO
say thar the scandinavian element has
been d sotential one in the progress 10
the Cnuich, and in the hiding up ~
Zion. They are recognized all
over the land. and rightly too, as
a sturdy, thrifty and frugal race,
and these sterling qualities, combined
with their honesty, their upriBhtness.
and their fidelity 20 the truth. have
made them strong and influential
class In our midst
at Is estimated that there are now
upwards Of $4,000 Scandnaylans In
Zion. The little acorn has indeed be-
come "A mighty oak, whose branches
spread all over the land. In every set
Element you will find them, and the
fruits Of their Industry and skill are
seen on every hand. They were among
the pioneers in many sections of this
intermountaln region and shared to the
full extent i'm the hardships and priva-
tons incident thereto. In fact they
have been an almost Indispensable fac
tor In the building up Of this country.
Notwithstanding they have labored
under some disadvantages, on account
OF speaking foreign tongue and meet
ing with prejudice I'm some quarters,
they have. by their untlagging toll and
perseverance, forged ahead and mage
themselves a power In the community.
Today representatives Of the race are
prominent In alb the avenues OF trade,
as well as In political and ecclesiastical
circles. All through the Church they
hold presiding positions In the Priest
hood. Brother Anthem III. Lund Is one
Of the Twelve Apostles and the his
torian of the Church. Brother Reed
Smoot, another OF the Twelve Apostles,
had a Norwegian mother. Bither {.
d. Fjeldsted Is one Of the First Seven
Presidents Of Seventies. Then there
are two presidents Of stakes, several
counselors TO presidents OF stakes,
number Of High Councillors and about
$50 Bishops and Bishops counselors-
all of Scandinavian origin. In pOlitl-
cal circles they hold positions OF re-
sponsiblity and trust, in literature they
have furnished us several good writ
ers and poets I'm law and medicine they
are wOrthily represented In musical
matters they excel. and in agriculture
they are second to none. From
this Il can be seen that both In civil
and religious life they are valuable
members OF the community
II congratulate you, my brethren and
sisters. ON belonging TO so distinguished
race. But, more than that | con-
graduate you on belonging to the
Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints. This Church Is composed OF
men and women Of many nationalitIes,
As the Gospel was preached TO you IN
Denmark. In Sweden and In Norway,
so 1t has been declared In other parts OF
the earth. and people have been gath
cred here from more than score OF
different lands. But as Latter-day
Saints we know no nationality; we be-
long 10 the kingdom Of God. AS Paul
said In his day. "By one Spirit are we
all baptized into one body whether
we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be
bond or free" That Spirit has been
bestowed upon us all. from whatever
nation we may have come, and il has
united us together and made us one
people Springing from many nations
and speaking different languages, we
have under the influence OF this Spirit,
become a homogeneous whole dwelling
together in peace and harmony a
really remarkable work has been ac-
compllshed In this direction, and no
power but that Of God could have done
it. II should be a testimony 70 the
world that God Is with us; for this
wonderful union OF people OF so many
different nationalitles cannot be ac-
counted for in any other way.
"In conclusion. my brethren and
sisters, let me exhort YOU TO be faith
full 10 that Gospel which you so gladly
received In your native land. Many
OF you have perhaps sacrificed home
and dear friends In order TO gather TO
| Zion, and ask you TO live now so that
that sacrifice shall not have been made
In vain. Make this land Of Zion In
| very deed by keeping the command
| ments Of God thereon; and strive to
| teach your children In such woy, both
| by examine and precept, that thew will
| unhestatingly follow In your footsteps
and become as valiant for the truth
as you have been. May the spirit Of
these faithful fathers and mothers rest
| upon the children, and may God bless
! YOU all In your homes and In every
| thing that pertains unto you, even
more abundantly than He has done In
| the past, Is my desire In the name OF
Jesus Christ Amen"