Show THE ofle scandinavian NATIAN MISSION SION the rothenburg kandels andels JS ooh aoh arts one of the leading journals of sweden in a recent number devotes devotee a column to the mission of the latter day saints in this the scandinavian furnishing statistical figures and other data of interest Interi mt to the breaden of the NEWS numerically the article says in suc but stance the mormons cormons ste are about SO as many duany as they hey were a year ago or 2100 in sweden a little more than in norway and 1100 in denmark or about in the three countries the number of emigrants are said bald to lao ibe including omildred ob ildreD while those received by bap cism were or in sweden in denmark and 60 in norway the writer pays his bis respects respect to elder anthon H R lund who has authority as one of the twelve api ape sties and as the president ident of the european mission succeeded no less person than brigham young J jr r with residence I 1 in n london and then after giving the names of various conference presidents presideD to in the scandinavian mission says i it would be wrong to judge oi of the labor of the mormons cormons and the influence exercised in scandinavia and especially in sweden only from the number of those who have been baptized and are members of the denomination it must be remembered that the mormon missionaries unfold an energetic activity as distributors distri butora of tracts and not seldom appear as aa speakers before large audien audiences it Is ia true that in the win winter ter time they sometimes find it difficult to procure balls b alls yet mr A J hoglund last christmas addressed persons in a hall hail of the good Temp lars at Norr koping and in the hall ball belonging to the same order in motala metals he be had an opportunity of speaking to more than persons while on the other hand band an attempt to secure the good templar hall ball in kalmar failed but the auditorium of the good template Temp lars lare in Sund the hall of the labor union in Ves teras and the assembly hall ball of the society E and V in eskilstuna Eskil stuna have been opened to the mormon in the summer time there to is no trouble about places in which to hold meetings for it is generally ily practicable to gather large audiences ace with nothing but the sky overhead end on several occasions they have addressed congregations of seven or eight hundred persons As an illustration of the influence exercised by the missionaries an dent is related which is rather amusing two of the tr brethren ethron traveled a few months ago through her fedalen Je dalen one saturday they sold quite a few books and tracts to in a certain parish the following sunday they called at the house of one of the members of the school board in order to see sec it they could not got get the school building build log to preach in the gentleman was not at home but had gone a place where the people used to congregate to listen to the reading of sermons the missionaries went there too teo on their arrival they found a man reading to a large audience a dissertation on a prophecy prop becy by isaiah i about a banner 12 to be raised up to the gentiles the language seemed strangely familiar to them and at last it dawned on them that the audience was being entertained by extracts from the well known voice of warning fl which they had bad sold the previous day the people enjoying the reading not knowing that they were listening to famous extracts of mormon literature it is noticeable that the me whole article in the Got gothenberg henburg paper is in free from bitterness and aims at giving facts on an a subject which people sometimes seem mom unable to approach with fairness it augurs well for the future of sweden that doors are befog opened for the gospel of jesus christ that country has a glorious post past as the successful champion of protestant principles on the european continent at a time when the work of luther deemed doomed to destruction when le ie ormed formed germany trembled before the ravaging hosts of tilly and wallen stain but its future will more mor than ethan equal its past it if the abo religious liberty bequeathed the people shall be jealous ly guarded and the truth as revealed through the inspired inep ired reformers of this age be accepted and defended ao an it was in ages gone by sweden has in late years been the scene of many religious movement kall of which have contributed their share towards the education of the people they are now BOW placed in a position to judge intelligently about the merits merite of the gospel of christ and the opportunity to is amply given them by the humble bumble missionaries on their choice not only their own future but the happiness of the country depends to accept the gospel is salvation to reject it is to draw away from light and grope about in darkness and that in a time when it if ever heavenly light is needed for the guidance of the nations |