Show IN ST OLAFS LAND perhaps it would be of some interest to the readers of the NEWS to bear from one in this far off land norway who is laboring for the cause of truth and righteousness publishing the tid inga of glad joy it seems as if there were almost no desire to investigate the Gospel among the people they say eay they have the word of the lord in the bible and that is all they want therefore all v e can do is to preach the gospel as a witness auto them after conference con ferenee brother erickson and myself were appointed to labor and open up a new field in Aale Asle sund where the gospel has not been preached for about thirty years we arrived in Aale Asle sund on the of december and got accommodations accommodation at an inn next day we viewed the city Aale Anle sund is built on the tops of the mountains so one can see tar far out at sea it has a population of about it to is sustained by its fish products and is one of the lari largest zest flab fish shipping ports in norway no farms are to be seen in this vicinity only rocky mountains and some shrubbery sunday the of december in the evening we attended church the ministers and people got into a discus ion about certain passages in the bible the result of which was a very unpleasant feeling among those present we asked permission to say a lew few words and aad were granted to do so brother erickson Erl okson then quoted the ath and jtb ath vero versea of the first chapter of the galatians and bore hla his testimony that the gospel which paul preached was on the earth again the meeting dismissed people came and thanked us and so did the minister questions wore were then asked where we came from and it was soon found out that the mor mons mono had bad come to town and some one published a piece warning the people of Aale sund against us the eighth article of our articles of faith was published with the com coin ment that we smuggled our doctrine to people privately before we came out in full fall light this caused a bad feeling against us we were warned by the police not to preach we were to be seen but not heard A rumor was circulated that we were going to hold a meeting in the evening evenin of the lot of november so men aul ana boys had prepared themselves to breall break up our meeting and mob us A police officer came and asked us if we were going to hold meeting we answered in the negative and tried to find ova oat his intentions but did not succeed la jil the he evening another man came and asked us the same question we began to think that something was wrong however we entertained our visitor and explained the principles of the gospel to him he got uneasy very soon and went out then all at a war yell was heard board and a shower of rooks came against the house bouse the mob then rushed up the stairs talas and threw our door open over fifty men and boys boy rushed into our room I 1 arose and addressed them explaining lain to them the principles we taught and 01 told them if they intended to convince us that we error to do so BO in a christian way with love and good will and the bible for out our guide but not with violence brother erickson Erl okson gave them good counsel and answered questions gack factory to them the mild laft influence bence of the spirit than overcame wrath so they did not molest us one of the mob told us after the others had gone that the disturbance was agitated by those professed teachers of christianity it seems as if the ad adversary venary were doing all 1 1 in his hl power to hinder us from spreading the truth in this place we feel grateful to our heavenly father for his mercies towards we have seen his hand manifested la in our behalf in freeing us and opening up a way for us as to work for there muga most be some honest in heart or the opposition would not be so strong against us we hope for the best beat that a way will yet be opened up for us so we can hold meetings so that the people can hear bear the gospel of peace and good will to all that we have to proclaim we are all well and extend our regards to all friends at home your brethren in the gospel J B S JOHN JOHNSON JAXEs JAMES nov 3 1892 |