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Show PAGE SIX BOX ELDER NEWS Brigham City, Utah Wednesday, December 21, 1949 YM2V $5$ Q THlNK iMissionaer Gordon K. Jensen Ostergade 47 Faaborg, Denmark Fyn November 20, 1949. The Box Elder News Brigham City, Utah Dear Bill and Friends: Your editorial Our Favorite Mail in the October 5th issue of the News caught my eye as I read it, and I immediately resolved to get a letter off describing a little more about Denmark and the work I am doing here. First of all I will say it kind of touched me on the sentimental side when I saw the banner BOX ELDER NEWS on the I cherish many paper again. fond memories of a little office on North Main street where would the newsboys gather twice a week waiting to catch the papers hot off the press, and get them out to the reading public. Of course once in a while it was the other way about with the newspaper waiting for some of the boys, but then that is another story. Many times it has come to my mind that w'ith all of the people w'e have in Box Elder counfrom ty that have descended Danish ancestois, that it would be interesting to them to learn a little bit about the history of these ancestors and what it was that caused them to emmigrate to America. In this letter. I will try to describe a little bit of the religious history, and tie it in with the local color that exists among the cities and people here today. When a person first comes to Denmark, or anywhere else in Europe for that matter, he is forcibly struck by what it meant It by the term Old World. seems that every city and little village has its buildings that are many hundred years old, and many folk legends that have been handed down from one generation to the next over the years. It seems that Christianity first came to Denmark in the year 826 A. D. when a Danish king named Haraid Klak traveled to Germany to obtain help against his enemies. While there he was baptised into the Catholic church, and a man was found . named Ansgar who agreed to try to introduce the'Christian faith in Denmark. Ansgar began to preach in the southern part, and had some success, however the king succeeding Haraid Klak was an enemy of and persecuted the Christians them a great deal. Even in the face of persecution there was still progress, and many joined the church and several churches were erected. Ansgar preached for some forty years, and finally died being taken to Bremen for burial. The following king, Gorm den Gamle (Gorm the Old) was a persecutor of Christians, but his son who succeeded him to the throne, Haraid Blaatand (Haraid Bluetooth) accepted Christianity himself, and although Christianity went steadily forward, heathendom was not totally driven until Haraid from Denmark Blaatand's grandson, Knud den Store (Knud the Great) came to the throne. Knud den Siore was king over England as well as Denmark, and many priests were brought from England to Denmark during his reign. This was a large period of growth and building for the Catholic church in Denmark, and many churches and cloisters were built all over the country. Faaborg, the little city where I am laboring now was the location of one of these churches, and cloister used as a hospital, run by nuns.' The remains of the first church in Faaborg are still standing, although they were built about 300 year3 Columbus discovered before America. The tower of this early church is still used as the city bell tower. Ttie church that is in use today was built sometime between 1200 ahd 1300 A. -- D. The reformation was felt very strongly here in Denmark, and began shortly after - the year 1500 A. D. during the reign of Record Player This was for King Frederik the greater part due to a Catholic Monk named Tans Tausen, who, on a trip to Germany, became converted to the doctrine of Martin Luther. Upon returning to his cloister in Denmark he began to preach this doctrine he had learned, and was immediately transferred to another cloister in another part of the country to be kept under close surveillance. He still continued to preach Lutheranism and soon found himself in prison where he preached to his fellow prisoners. The king then took it into his hands to protect Hans Tausen, and Lutheranism soon spread throughout the country, I. Factory Closeout A SENSATIONAL BUY $38 VALUE (An Exclusive) L E-O- ON RECORD UT PLAYERS RADIOS PHONOGRAPH RECORDS "Miners and farmers CLOSING OUT are pretty close kin. One gets his living THE TOWNS TOP STOCK OF from the soil of our valleys; the other from the rocks of our hills. And the two of WIND-U- P TRAIN $2.14 Engine, Track And Four Cars. FARM SETS $3.25 50 Animals, Farmer, Farmer's Wife, Houses, etc. ground an abundant life for everyone." Farmers Daughter, House, Barn, Corn Cribs, Out THE GOOSE THAT LAYS THE GOLDEN EGGS WE them bring out of the 49c: GOT MIXMASTERS UTAH MINING WE GOT POP-U- P ASSOCIATION after the king in the year 1527 the people their whether they wanted to be Catholics of Lutheran. Soon after Lutheranism began to take hold, the Bible was translated into Danish by a man 4D. gave dSoice named Kristiern Pedersen. As this began to be circulated among the people the Catholic church lost much of its former strength, and few of the people in the country had any desire to be held under the rule of the Pope of Rome. The king was also of this opinion, and to carry out his purpose he had all of the Catholic Bishops set in prison and held there until Lutheranism gained the stronghold all over Denmark. At this time the Catholic churches were seized by the Lutherans. On October 30. 1536 a public meeting was held and the people voted to be free from the rule of the Catholic Bishops, thus acknowledging Lutheranism as the state reli- gion which it has remained until this day. Today about 98 percent of the Danish people belong to the State or Lutheran church, however only approxi- mately part in 2 percent take an active The church is supported b taxes paid by the people. Next year will be a year of great importance to the Danish Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, in that it will be the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the first missionaries to that mission. It was on June 14, 1850 that Elder Erastus Snow, one of the quorum of the twelve apostles, and Elders John P. Forsgren and George P. Dykes arrived in Copenhagen and met with Elder Peter O. Hansen, who had come a few weeks in advance, for the purpose of opening the Scandinavian Mission. Elder Snow was somewhat seasick from the trip to Denmark from England so lodging was found as soon as possible. They found sleeping very difficult in the place they picked because of the noise of the horses coming and going on the cobblestone streets, and the noise of men playing billiards downstairs. The next day lodging was obtained with a family on Bredgade which runs near to Amalienborg Palace which is the official residence of the king. Among the contacts that were made in the next few days was a Baptist preacher who had been preaching in the neighborhood of Copenhagen for about eight years. He had met a great deal of persecution and had spent a good part of the eight years in prison. He greeted the Elders cordially and invited them to speak before his congregation which opportunity they accepted. The first converts to the church came from among this group, and on August 12, 1950 Elder Erastus Snow baptised 15 persons. Since that time the church has grown steadily and there have been thousands of people emmigrate from the Scandinavian countries, driven by the truthfulness of the everlasting gospel, and the desire to live among people where they could share the beliefs they held so dear to their hearts, and where they could come to the Lords temples. Today, as in former days, the work is still going forward and people are still showing interest and accepting this same message that was accepted by those who traveled across the plains with handcarts to find the peace they sought. Thus is where the only true happiness manifests itself for a missionary, is seeing the happiness that comes to others through accepting the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Although there is still an economic crisis here in Denmark, conditions seem to be Meat was slowly improving. taken off of the ration list a short time ago leaving only butter,- chococlothing, sugar, nana except in pictures. Faaborg, the little city where I am laboring now is one of the It beauty spots of Denmark. has about 5000 inhabitants, and lays between a beautiful ocean inlet and a chain of low rolling hills called the 'Fyen Alps. Somehow the term "Alps is a little disappointing to be because I expected mountains, but they are actually only about one third the height of Little mountain there at home. What they do lack in height they make up for in beautification of the surand this rounding landscape, has attracted many artists and painters to this little village, somp of them gaining some famp here in Denmark. Again I w'ant to express my thanks for the papers I am receiving, and I also want to thank the people there at home that have sent me letters. To get an idea of the scope of your circulation, I will say that I got an answer to the last letter you publish, from one of my friends that I hadn't seen since 1944 in Pearl Harbor. Hawaii. He wrote from Oklahoma so you can see cffiDistonce We have added There Are Over 400 Happy Sleepers Brigham City Under DO RIGHT BY THE OLD CARCASS These Blankets GET ONE FOR CHRISTMAS. In From $1$) I, (UP)' The George Washngton hoiel long has advertised: "Children welcome." The manager, Cal lye Anderson,' got a telephone call from Mober-ly, Mo. C. L. Craig asked if she meant that about the children.; She acknowledged it. 'therell' "Well." said Craig, he myself and the wife and eight righam and children. Miss Anderson, taken back somewhat, said, Anybody willing to travel with eight kids and a wife is entitled to special at- Fora! Gift 437 So. Main rnone WE WILL DELIVER tention." When the Craigs visited the hotel the bill was on the house. PLOTNER WA1?ND YOU ME TMT IF I VlDti'T GET MV WHEELS ALIGNED SOMETHING DRASTIC WOULD itpjQms Nor m ) wsaimg eve Ml HAPPEN you cTj VJ a 6UA1?AMtpEp waeeL cmurui VQti'T PLAV IT COMfe Irj TCDaV mr W 323 So A(AIN ERI6HAMCI1Y UTAH. Here are a few of the real Christmas Specials you will find this the North Main. Come in, look around, then buy "Something ?Aua 56 week at For The Home" DINETTE SET Colorful plastic top extension table with straight chrome legs. I chairs upholstered in Duran plastic, complete five piece 569.95 THROW RUGS Just in time for Christmas! Heavy twist throw rugs w ith rubberized back, all colors, washable, a real bar- loop gain r,18 $2.45 $3.45 Size Oft QC UewiJ 36 x 60 FLOOR LAMPS floor priced as low as Seven-wa- v lamps, $8.95 FLOOR LA Ml SHADES Beautiful rayon shades, lined, attractively trimmed, Desk Kneehole desk, two large filing drawers and 5 smaller , o y - i ; drawers, beautiful walnut finish $49.95 from TABLE make Long calls at Christmas many $3.95 $7.95 v avoid the'; rush by placing call before Christmas Ive Christmas Day. Reduced role j in V eded all day Monday, KITCHEN STOOLS PLATFORM ROCKERS Beautiful tapestry covers, platform rockers, Aunt Alice in Alabama or to c- Four sturdy metal folding chaiis Samson card table, complete set ors, priced But if (?, BRIDGE SETS Duran plastic covered hassocks, brilliant col- you want to say "Merry Christmas" to Cousin Clancy in Connecticut, Double braced metal legs, reinforced lop, priced as low as HASSOCKS new circuits on the ob. operators CARD TABLES LAMPS Only a few left pottery base, washable silk shades, from and there will be an extra force of Get Under An ELECTilC BLANKET or $3.45 that there ore bound to be delays. Get Up To Date Mothers Sweethearts Chris, nuts ST. LOUIS GAR AG F SIX MONTHS AGO late and toffee that are still rationed except of course for a few very hard to get items that are almost never seen such as rice, dried fruit and oranges. born Very few of the children since 1939 have ever seen a ba So many people ITS COLD OUTSIDE! Fr Having Eight Children Gets Father Service HAPPENS EVERY DAY & COFFEE MAKERS IdS it. TOASTERS WE GOT AUTOMATIC your paper does get around. I will close by asking the b'essings of the Lord to be upon ail of your staff, and all the people there at home that support the missionaries through their faith and prayers. Sincerely, ELDER GORDON K. JENSEN. b priced from well made Q0Q QR AH metal with back, in bright e,tra yfaVivu Buy Now your' or after December Pay Next 26 lTk5.Wlewatiiiil$titi5lJelepboneItlTelegrepKCe28 Year ...FLOOR COVERINGS C. B. STRA TFORI) color $3,75 |