| Show missionary life in scandinavia ELDER RE COUNTS HIS LABORS how mormonism fares in the north sea islands the usual sabbath services of the church of jeus christ of latter day saints wore held in the meetinghouse meeting house on sunday afternoon at 2 president A 0 smoot presiding the choir sang bo it my only wisdom here to serve the lord with filial fear prayer was offered by elder J W cluff the choir sang ho died the great redeemer died and israels daughters wept around the sacrament sac ramont was administered by the bishopric of the second ward LARS E said that it was with strange feeling he addressed the people although he haea he was among those with whom ho had been acquainted from his youth up yet m arising before the saints he felt a timidity that ho had not experienced while preaching the gospel to the world he realized his inability without the aid of tho spirit of god to say anything that would be of benefit to tho saints assembled ho folt a pleasure plea suro in giving an account of his missionary labors he way glad to bo homo again for ho had learned while away that there was no place like home while he had been abroad he had experienced oftentimes a longing to be home again with loved ones it is some two years and a half said the speaker since I 1 loft home in may 1887 my visits among my parents relatives in denmark led me to realize the responsibility resting upon me as an ambassador of god many a time have I 1 reflected upon my early life and seon instances choro rua feRi hate done better but such reflect eions stimulated me to diligence in my important calling it was interesting te to me in traveling around among my relatives to learn of incidents connected with the early lifo of my parents my relatives mam felted great kindness to us but they cared nothing for the gospel it gave me joy however for day by day I 1 could aeo the gospel plainer and plainer and I 1 began to think more seriously upon the duties of a saint of god after arriving in denmark and receiving our appointments my father and I 1 visited our relatives and friends who received ns very kindly but listened with somo indifference lo 10 the gospel it would have been a great joy and satisfaction for me if my father could have remained but owing to his health being poor and getting worse he was released and returned home otherwise I 1 would have had his company during my mission after n month and a balf had boon spent in visiting relations I 1 commenced upon the mission to which I 1 had been called I 1 had a desire to present the principles of salvation as I 1 understood them and as the spirit of god might dictate and I 1 realized tho experience L had gained short though it was visiting the relatives of my parents was of much value to me I 1 was first appointed to labor in tho horsens branch aarhus conference and happy to say I 1 found my traveling companion to be an old schoolmate of mine from the B Y academy wa had many good times the saints under our supervision extended over an aroa of miles in september my president was released to return home and I 1 was appointed to the presidency of the branch in bis stead onabe first day that I 1 was to meet with the saints over whom I 1 had been appointed to preside I 1 took a walk and on my bended knees outside the city sought the lord that ho would be with me in this important position meeting time came and I 1 there bore almost my first testimony and it was a joy and a peace I 1 remained president over the branch for tho two years I 1 have been away the saints are vary faithful there and are determined to live their religion but tho outsiders entertain vary peculiar feelings about us they aro very ignorant on the mormon question oma have the idea that we do D in jesus christ others the principles we teach and ahey are right but simply be causo the gospel would require bliem to sacrifice father and mother brother and sister and all that is near aad dear to them they have not tho courage to embrace i it there are many who believe that tho gospel of jesus christ has been materially changed yet when we go to thorn and offer them the plan of salvation in all it simplicity they will not accept it after I 1 bad been in my field of labor some six months I 1 became extremely energetic god blessed me abundantly and I 1 had a greater desire to preach the glad tidings of lifie and salvation vo obtained a hah and advertised through the papers that on such a night we would preach mormonism somo fow came but they wore of all kinds some ere honest some were critical bome were indifferent and some were hostile we opened our meeting however and preached the gospel as revealed in this day somo time afterwards a few of those who present on that a testimony to the truth of mormonism with the exception of one little city I 1 found that the elders had preached in all portions of the field I 1 presided over in connection with two other elders I 1 went to this place and held a meeting the priest was there as a matter of course after wo got through preaching the priest wanted to answer us his remarks were of the regular type such as are found in the newspapers of today denmark is fall of such foolish stories about the latter day saints and it is this that we have so much to contend with I 1 often think and try to place myself in a position like one of the world and ask myself how r would treat a mormon elder if I 1 was to encounter one would I 1 act like many have treated the elders I 1 have then come to this conclusion that I 1 must reason with these people and after that bear my testimony to them and endeavor to remove the hatred they have against us I 1 have attended some of the religious gatherings of the world at one of I 1 was somewhat astonished by the priest asking the sunday schools what was tho sect on the earth but I 1 was more astonished when I 1 saw so many little hands got up and hear the answer from the inq in q lips the cormons mormons Mor mons the children are taught to shun the mor mons right from infancy I 1 actually attended a meeting once where the priest told some of hia flock that if they ever left the faith of their fathera to be sure that they did not join the cormons mormons Mor mons but I 1 have often told them that theio is another side to this question that while we are derided and persecuted yet we are ambassadors of our lord and savior jesus christ I 1 once went to an editor of a daily paper with a ro ply to an article be had published of the kind against the mormon people when I 1 asked him if he would publish it he said that if he did he would lose his position that it would be fatal to him to say anything good about the mormon community such is the condition of the people in denmark benco it is hard work preaching the gospel in the face of such opposition bat I 1 have always experienced much joy in laboring for the welfare of the human family and know as I 1 have often told the people there that ithe day will come sooner or later when they will be thankful that a servant of god visited them bearing th gospel of a redeemer the work ia not now blossoming bloss oming as it was years ago there is a great change today to day the world as a whole is becoming negligent gl igent in religious affairs the branch I 1 presided over was strengthened to the amount of thirty three souls during he two years I 1 was here stany have emigrated but the branch now numbers sixty two people the government of denmark is becoming more bitter towards the mormon elders every effort under the constitution and laws of that country is being made to stop the work of god we are allowed to distribute tracts and preach to the people all tho time I 1 labored in that branch many things transpired that gave me a fi great amount of exer ienco all through my mission I 1 enjoyed my labors and had an inward satisfaction that I 1 was doing the will of god I 1 had a testimony that the lord was with mo and this fact was demonstrated in the results that attended my labors unless I 1 had had this testimony I 1 never would have labored in thu manner I 1 brethren and sisters know how the testimony you auve sustains you in doing your duty this gis the consolation that we have a consolation which the world knows nothing about it Is this coia that enables us to all trials and all tribulation and come off victorious in the end I 1 was treated with respect by those among whom I 1 traveled but I 1 cannot say I 1 eel as well towards them as I 1 would have done bad they embraced the gospel I 1 have had many pleasant ei while traveling on the railroad As eoon as the fact would become known that I 1 was a Mor monel eri was plied with ques eions on all sides some of these instances result in making friends tho speaker related one instance in particular which resulted in two sous being baptized baptised sed the workings of the spirit of bcd and oftentimes wonderful I 1 am very glad to return to my home I 1 am proud of the people among whom I 1 have labored sometimes I 1 have gone hungry but I 1 return home in health and strength and ibis recompenses all aid for such a I 1 am thankful to god today to day I 1 dont feel as though I 1 evor suffered I 1 feel perfectly well and have much joy in being home among relatives and friends and in bearg able to say to you in all truth that mormonism is true I 1 hope we may all be true to mormonism and to god and keep sacred choso covenants that we have made with god in baptism and in holy places I 1 am gla that I 1 have been born in utah 1 an glad that I 1 am a mormon I 1 know that if we keep firm to what we have received that we will receive the salute well done thou good aad faithful servant the choir sang the anthem thino 0 lord is the greatness benediction was pronounced by bishop J E booth |
