| Show scandinavian MISSION the following Is a translation of an editorial article which appeared in the scandinavian star published in copenhagen of december arth 1890 another year to Is about to depart into the mighty past paa tand land as aa we stand aland upon the mighty threshold of a new season about to bid farewell to old 1890 let us before we part take a glance backward and spread before our view a panorama of the labors of the past forty years attention is directed to the yearly re report t of this number of the star mo while ir it does not show so large a number of saints in the mission as others have done yet it is quite satisfactory slice we have with all our emig emigrations rations still a membership of nearly four thousand during the year have been baptized and have emigrated since december 80 1880 up to date have received the ordinance of baptism and during the same period have emigrated from a compilation of the yearly reports up to date which will also be found in this number of the star it will be seen that since the dospel apel was first sounded in these lands have entered the waters of baptism and out of this number lumber not counting except in two ca cases children under eight years of age or at least all all told have gone to the appointed gathering place of the saints sainte in the valleys of the mountains As many as 2184 have died before this privilege was accorded them and rest in their native lands awaiting the resurrection of the just nearly elders have visited the mission proclaiming the word of god to all who would listen ten thousand copies of the book boob of mormon have been printed copies of the doctrine and covenants hymn books swedish and danish ish bible references various tracts on doctrines of the church catechisms catechi sms for children 17 copies of the voice of warning besides the which has been published continually since its first issue oia OB october 1851 with a circulation of each number ranging from to 2000 and the swedish Mord Wern which has been regularly issued jan eJan a circulation of to 1000 each lesu issue the whole involving I 1 an butla outlay y for printing alone 0 of f Kr r this lie ie part of the work that has been a accomplished OCO since silica apostle erastus snow and his co laborers elders P 0 hansen J E For forsgren ogren and geo P dykes first set feet upon the soil ot of scandinavia in the months month of may and june the season of roses and fragrance in the year of our lord 1850 bat it is ony only a small part of the mighty advancement that has bee been made that part that can with some certainty receive the stamp of the statistician A work has been wrought in the valleys of the mountains which cannot be measured by statistics thousands of children rise to bleb their parents and to thank the and merciful god for the deliverance which has come to them because of the gospel which their parents heard and embraced thrifty cities whose populations answer to lo the call of agriculture the hum of industry and the bells belle of schools of culture and enlighten ment have sprung up in the once barren desert and orchards and waving fields pleasant shades and smiling homes meet the sight where not many years ago only as far back as the first brat part of the period of which we write lay the burning sage plains roamed the wild red man and howled the coyote and wolf the desert has been redeemed and tho th prophecy of isaiah has been fulfilled the wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them and the desert shall rejoice and blossom so as the rose it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice even with joy and singing the glory of lebanon shall be given unto it the excellency of carmel and sharon they shall see sea the glory of the lora lord and the excellency of our god the sturdy sons of denmark and sweden and norway have acted a noble part in this wonderful drama of the last days it is true they have not lone done this without sacrifice indeed men get only few blessings and make only little advancement without sacrifice and the cue case in question in no exception there have been tears partings sorrows tolls toils and tribulations too numerous to mention but those who embraced the gospel did so for the love of it not for the temporal blessings that obedience to its ordinances were expected to bring they embraced it because they were convinced of its truths and they were unmindful of all things else so they were permitted emitted to worship iod god and enjoy enoy anoy oy communion with his people they sough tHim wilh every sincere desire that they could muster they little thought it possible and much less asked to be rushed to the promised resting place in a few days and then be carried and cared for upon their arrival they had a living testimony MODY that the gospel to is right and its truths were deep seated in their hearts come what might then they bad found peace with god their reward has been realized and the promise of jesus has been verified in their lives but seek ye first the kingdom of god and S his is righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you lol what changes these forty years have witnessed apostles snow and pratt an and d rio bieh ya and hyde presidents young and taylor and many others whose whom names we all have learned to bear whose zeal in the cause of truth fired our fathers to deeds of valor sleep with many of them in the client tomb but their acts and testimonies whisper sweet consolation to their struggling eh children ildren and so being dead they yet speak speak in their works their spirits are laboring in other spheres just as zealously as ever for the cause of god for the spiritual and temporal emancipation of the children of men the light of the everlasting gospel and the precious cious truth which it has laid brecious Ere bare are shines just as brightly now as in their day and while at this particular time it may not seem as promising as at some other periods in the past the cause of god is still progressing and the growth of his work is onward and upward forever there are today in these lands out of nearly seven hundred who have at various times visited them sixty seven me messengers mengers of the gospel besides many who are native elders proclaiming the glad tidings to tie t ie people they testify with us and with all who have gone before that god has spoken from the heavens in the last days that ge he has commanded wis his servants to go unto every clime and nation crying repentance with a loud voice for the kingdom of heaven is at hand band that he has revealed his will and given authority to his servants the prophets that his church is organized with prophets apostles and other officers as in the days of christ these mess messengers eDgers are here among the people warning them to repent and and turn to god casting away far from them thein the evils that beset them asking them to be baptized in the name of the father son and holy ghost for the remission of their sins sine by one having authority that they may be made the recipients of the holy ghost which shall lead unto all truth they are here earnestly warning the people to seek god that they may be free from the calamities that must overtake the ungodly in the hour of gode judgment which is near at hand blessed are those who shall hear and obey the past has been full of important scenes and the future is pregnant with wonderful events for god has set his hand for the last time to accomplish a mighty work ana among ong the nations may the dawning year hasten his glorious purposes |
