Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-06-14
THE SCANDINAVIAN REUNION.


The scandinavian Saints who have
attended the reunion here In memory
! or the Introduction of the Gospel ia
. the Scandinavian countries BY Erastus
Snow. have had a time or rejoicing and
. spiritual refreshment. Their meetings
have been well attended, and the testi-
monies given, especially by the old
veterans, have been interesting and
faith promoting. There are only n few
OF the first converts left. and to the
younger generation their experiences,
when related, sound almost like a TO
nance,
The mission was started at a time
when from a merely human point of
view success seemed impossible. II was
IN October 1919, that II was decided on.
The Pioneers had barely escaped the
nobs of eastern states and found
desert refuge here. when they began
to think about sending the Gospel mes
sage to the world They had erected
for themselves some primitive huts for
shelter but had few Of the necessaries
and none Of the Injuries OF life. But
their first thought was Of others. They
were not in position TO form mission
aiy societies with annual fees for mem
beis they had no colleges or theologc-
al schools In which to train men for
missionary work. but they had Faith In
God, and when the voice Of inspiration
told them that the Gospel was TO be
preached to every creature they obey
ed. Missionaries were sent out to Eng
land, France. italy, Denmark Sweden,
and the Society Islands.
What the condition OF the people In
these valleys was at the time may be
gathered from an epistle by the First
Presidency issued In the spring Of 1919:
In the former part OF February. the
Bishops took an inventory OF the bread
stun In the valley. when II was report
ed that there was little more than
three-fourths of a pound per day for
each soul. until the 5th OF July. The
common price OF corn since harvest
was two dollars; some had sold for
three; at present there was none In the
market for sale at any price. Wheat
had ranged from four to FIVE dollars.
aud potatoes from six TO twenty dol
lars per bushel. and though not to be
bought at any price at present. II was
expected there would be "a good supply
for seed by another year Such was the
financial condition OF the Saints when
thoy contemplated the conversion of
the world.
The Introduction of the Gospel dis
pensation I'm Scandinavia took place
under peculiar circumstances. The
first messengers we're met in many
places by persecution. Some were
thrown into prisons, some were the
victims OF mob violence. But these did
not stop the progress OF the work. The
Lord as in the days of the first apos-
ties. confirmed the labors OF His ser
wants by accompanying miracles. The
sick were healed by the prayer OF
faith. Evil spirits were cast out
Friends were raised up and the work
spread. Truth prevailed. Sometimes
the messengers were led. like Philip
TO the man from Ethiopia, by an in
ner force to go 20 places and preach,
and they followed the voice and always
found willing listeners
great many OF the poor received
the message. That was natural.
Among the poor are found the physi-
cally and mentally strong-those who
have not lost their best qualities az
men and women by dissipation. But
many were well of. And they were
willing to give their brethren all finan-
cial aid in their power TO come TO the
valleys of the mountains, and in this
way Zion was built up. Said Presi-
dent Lorenzo SNOW on one occasion;
.During a residence OF many years
In Boxelder county had splendid OPP
portunity of becoming intimately ac-
quainted with the scandinavian peo-
pie who constitute goodly portion
OF the population OF that county. ana
| learned To thoroughly appreciate their
value as citizens and as members OF
the Church. My experience leads me
TO say that the scandinavian element
has been potential one In the progress
OF the Church. and in the building up
OF Zion They are recognized all over
the land. and rightly too, as a sturdy
thrifty and frugal race, and these ster-
ling qualities, combined with their hon
esty, their uprightness and their fdel-
ity to the truth, have made them a
strong and influential class in our
midst.
1T IL estimated that there are now
upwards OF $4,000 Scandinavians in
Zion The little acorn has indeed be-
come a mighty. oak whose branches
spread all over the land In every
settlement YOU will md them and the
fruits OF their industry and skill are
seen on every hand They were among
the pioneers in many sections OF this
intermountain region and shared TO the
fun extent in the hardships and priva-
tlons incident thereto In fact, they
have been an almost Indispensable fac
tor in the building up OF the country.
Notwithstanding they have labored
under some disadvantage, on account
on speaking a foreign tongue and meet
ing with prejudice In some quarters,
they have. by their unfagging toll ana
perseverance, forged ahead and made
themselves a power In the community
To-day representatives ~ the race are
prominent in all the avenues OF trade,
as we'll as In political and ecclesiast-
cal circles An through the church they
hold presiding positions IN the Priest
hood BROTHER Anthem n. Lund rs one
OF the Twelve Apostles and the his
torian ~ the Church. Brother Reed
Snoot another OF the Twelve Apostles
had a Norwegian mother. Brother G
N Fieldsted Is one ~ the First Seven
Presidents or Seventies Then there
ARE two presidents OF stakes. several