Show THE WORK IN DENMARK I 1 condition of the people and poverty of the saints AARHUS denmark april 21 ISM 1888 editor deseret news the news is a welcome visitor to the elders in te field and it is my I 1 lot qt to be one of that numbering num berin the aarhus conference kingdom of denmark the conference Is divided into four branches and there are bine elders here from utah aarhus is a nice city and the centre of a great railroad rail roan and seaport traffic the inhabitants number from to the gospel has been preached here for 36 years many have embraced it and aad emigrated they leave friends and relatives re malaiba malai maini Bg ag who are generally kindly disposed to u us 8 the authorities are also kind and we have great liberty I 1 in a explaining 0 the principles of the gospel it I 1 t appears however that the harvest is over and the wheat is gathered and but few heads beads are left which it requires much labor to find they are generally halt half spoiled and it requires an additional strong effort to heal them there is a WONDERFUL SPIRIT over the people they will listen to the elders testimonies but cannot understand the truth the the scriptures say that in the latter days darkness shall cover the earth and gross darkness the people anait seems that that is the condition today but bat to all appearances pe arances the people are very reli religious giotis rever ance pomp pamp and great style which can be seen in the churches and synagogues every sunday but bat that gospel and those principles there taught by the different divines cannot be understood and the preachers leave the people in atie dark one oneff of the signs of the worshipers is a handkerchief laid on a hymnbook hymn book carried to church on sunday morning this is a mark signifying the followers of christ I 1 feel to sympathize wl wish th the people when going ahr through ugh the streets and ana meeting hundreds of bright counte bances nances sand and many beautiful children who 1 if taught the truth would more or less le ms receive it and be redeemed from the pitiful condition they are in I 1 feel great sympathy for anem and of often gay say in ia my heart 0 god what can bedone be done it seems that the elders cannot reach them god will use the elements to awaken the nations who are sound asleep their eyes are dim and they cannot see the wore of god at the same time I 1 believe the servants of god are doing much good their testimonies rest with many people and have removed prejudices and as the result many are kindly disposed to us we lately HELID HELD A MEETING in frederic were from to people were present we were requested by the authorities there to explain the principles of our faith which was done without disturbance we had a nice hall meeting closed at 10 p in after which people came to the stand and asked for tracts of which we had many and gave to them who were anxious to receive we were then invited to a smaller hall ball where me had bad a convention with military officers merchants and honorable citizens until two next morning with great satisfaction on both sides several expressing that they would from this time speak more favorably about the latter day saints the af pf next at day I 1 and my companion elder eggertsen wen went to three editors asking them to publish h an article in our defense but they dared not engage in defending the mormons cormons Mor mons one of them said anything against us they being what the people wanted but I 1 got the articles lot faith and the last report from governor west printed copie sand sent them to every family that kept that paper of course I 1 had to pay for it I 1 have lately made a trip through the conference making many friends outside of our people wio who treated me kindly our conference was lately held here president flygare and elder fjeldsted being bei ng present and aalthe elders from utah who are laboring here we had a very good time A heavenly he aveney influence tence and peace prevailed and it was a time of rejoicing for saints and many strangers there have been 20 added to the little flock during the last five months in the conference the total number is the missionaries are very faithful and diligent in spreading the truths and are generally kindly received by the people although two twe of the elders have been banished from north vig who have been laboring 12 1 there and one from odense WE HAVE MANY GOOD SAINTS here who are kind to the elders and with their limited the kingdom of god it has been very vary hard tor lor me poor through the winter and our oar people are of that kind if I 1 should undertake to relate the circumstances they are under I 1 fear many could not believe it many have been without work through the winter and when employed theT they only onIX get from 40 to co 65 cents a day the winter has been very severe the sea being covered with three months I 1 am in the opinion that many of the saints of zion nave forgotten babylon and the le elina to relieve their brethren who are in slavery and misery I 1 will take the liberty to advise them to read a sermon of our beloved president brignac young youna spoken in ogden may 18 1873 his advice to lo the sisters was to pay 50 cents baca year and to all the saints sainta to keep the word of wisdom and to use that means to emigrate the poor if that were done waag great wessin blessings oles sings gs would it not be for the oppressed and the donors themselves I 1 nave have had bad saints come tb to the office to me who for days have had bad nothing b but ut black bread to eat when I 1 have seen some of our sisters look pale and sick and have bare asked what ailed them the answer has been A want of the necessaries of life I 1 will not write more about their distressed circumstances nees the subject is very san tand often gives me grief la in regard to the prospects of the gospel they are not very flattering at the same time our meetings are very well attended and some are investigating but a spirit of carelessness rests upon the people who are growing into infidelity politics strife contend contention division and preparation for war is the spirit of the day confidence in the rulers of the nations is rather weak and peace has fled from the earth the people are f fully ally prepared to destroy one another I 1 feel well and am thankful thanks al that I 1 am s member of the church and kingdom of god and I 1 know zion will prosper gad and hope the trials she is now passing burough will prove a blessing to the honest in heart I 1 will take the liberty to express my sincere thanks to the abe saints for the great sympathy they nave shown to rae me and my deeply sorrowing family in the loss ot of my beloved son erastus andersen who was so suddenly taken from his family ever praying for the welfare of zion I 1 remain your brother L S ANDERSEN |