Erastus Fairbanks Snow

“ Although the ancient races of Scandinavia have become somewhat intermixed, and a strong analogy exists between the Danish and Swedish languages, and one country is more or less subject to the influence of the other, yet the state of society in Sweden and spirit of the people are, in many respects, quite different from that of Denmark. At present there is much less freedom, both political and religious, a wider difference between the toiling millions and the nobility and gentry, and more extreme cases of degradation. ”

“ The result is, that we sometimes may hunt whole neighbourhoods over and not find a copy of the Scriptures, except, perhaps, in church, or with the priest. The novelty of a new religion in the country, the excitability of the people, the control of the priests, over churches and school-houses; the fear of violence and damage, that deters men from leasing us houses; the restrictions of law upon street preaching and promiscuous assemblages; the spleen and jealousy of a well organized national police, are all no small obstacles in the way of getting truth before the people. ”

“ The priests are by no means so pious out of church as to prevent their mingling freely in those amusements.
Churchgoing is in late years getting much out of fashion, except on extraordinary occasions. It is no uncommon things in their popular churches, to see only eight or ten persons, but the priest is paid and required by law to perform services if there are two present.
I was very strongly impressed on an occasion of the congregation of a priest in "Frue Kirke," a splendid edifice, the pride of Copenhagen, patronised by the royal family. ”

“ I feel quite willing that the Lord should use the Methodists and Baptists to prepare the way for the fulness of the gospel; for their systems are less exceptionable to the wicked, and they have more sympathy to sustain them. How truly can we behold in these things, as in every other move among the nations, the fulfilment of the words of Jesus in the Book of Mormon, that "when these things shall come forth among the Gentiles, the work of the Father shall commence among the nations, in PREPARING THE WAY for the restoration of thee, O House of Israel." ”

“ But the literature of Copenhagen is the regular and standard language, if in truth it can be said to have a standard. But the language, like the people, is so surrounded and intermixed with others, that changes and improvements are very considerable, and its laws quite unsettled.
In the State of Norway, the Danish language is spoken and written generally and taught in her schools. And although they maintain their rustic dialects, it is doubted if the old Norsk language has been used in printing since the days of the Reformation. ”

“ A recent letter from elder Forssgren's father, brings news of a newspaper war between the two parties, in which the defender of reform principles animadverts severely upon the priests for their tyranny and oppression of people who had no confidence in their doctrines, and he fails not to charge home upon them with effect, the expulsion of "Mormoniten Forssgren," without judge or jury. I shall continue to watch with deep interest every movement in Sweden, until the yolk is broken, the fetters burst, and Israel that is pent up in those north countries goes free. ”

“ After the separation of Sweden, Norway still continued under the Danish government until the fall of Napoleon, and then the Allied Powers, as a sort of punishment upon Denmark for her alliance with France, gave Norway to the king of Sweden; since which time Norway, though nominally subject to the Swedish king, has had her domestic legislature, and enjoyed a greater degree of political freedom than either of the other two countries. ”

“ God be thanked for a family that amid the overflowing emotions of the heart never say "don't go." The journey over the plains, four hundred miles of mud, through Missouri; the trip through the States, crossing the Atlantic, visit in England, voyage from Hull to Copenhagen, the first scenes in Denmark, are all to some extent known to the English Saints, and however many associations of interest they might awaken, the writer has no design here to recapitulate them. ”

“ Unlike the cold mountainous regions of Norway and Sweden, it lies low, and by being to such an extent surrounded by water and interspersed with small lakes, preserves an equilibrium of temperature beyond what its latitude might otherwise indicate. Though it is sometimes visited with heavy falls of snow, and the severity of winter has congealed the salt water of the Belts and the sound, so that teams have crossed the ice between Denmark and Sweden. The islands, particularly Zealand and Fuen, the two largest, are rich and in a high state of cultivation. ”

“ Notwithstanding all these things, we rejoice continually in the Lord our God, who blesses our labors and pours out the Holy Ghost upon us and the Saints, with its gifts and blessings, visions and dreams, prophecy and healing, casting out devils, &c. We have baptized about one hundred and fifteen in this city, and have a good prospect. We are but miserable tools in the Danish language, at the best, but the Lord makes weak things become strong unto them who believe. ”

“ As to the signs of the times and the aspect of affairs among the nations of Europe, dark forebodings of the future seem to pervade all hearts, and the heads of the nations seem to be conscious that they are steering the ship of State in DANGEROUS SEAS. Denmark is at present the point of the greatest interest. The Dukedoms of Holstein and Sleswick, which are mostly German, have been in a state of REVOLT ever since the death of the old king. The new government has been unable to compel their submission. ”

“ Meanwhile French philosophy, infidelity, and republican principles have been increasing in this city and throughout the country, until about the time of the late revolution in France, the death of the old king of Denmark afforded the Danish people an opportunity to reform their government. ”

“ This secures to the people a "Rigsdagen" or legislature, to be elected by the people; and quite as much POLITICAL FREEDOM as is enjoyed in England. The press is sufficiently free and untrammelled for all purposes for which we wish to use it; and while it protects and supports the Lutheran Church as the State Church, it secures to the citizens the right to dissent and organize other societies; but the rights and privileges of such societies are to be defined by law. ”

“ The reason assigned by the president of the police department was, that he had taken upon himself, at the request of the Swedish government, to see to it, that Forssgren did not make his escape into Sweden. He has consequently remained in and about Copenhagen ever since, and has been a great help to me, for he was soon able to make himself understood by the Danes, as well or better than myself; besides, there were many native Swedes in Copenhagen, many of whom are now numbered among our best members. ”

“ Yet with the masses, a much stronger religious feeling appears to exist than in Denmark, and a much more general diffusion and perusal of the Scriptures; and in the absence of that encouragement which they have a right to expect from the Lutheran clergy that swarm the country, the labouring classes who feel religiously inclined, have formed their little associations for investigating the Scriptures and edifying each other therein. ”

“ In the large towns a degree of order and neatness is exhibited, and urbanity of manners, such as is common to English towns. Nearly every village, however insignificant, has its Church, and priest to receive their tithings, and attend to their spiritual wants. With regard to improvements, the Danes are sadly deficient in means or enterprise, probably both. They have but one piece of railroad, sixteen miles in length, from Copenhagen to a neighbouring town. ”

“ I feel that I have done the best I could under the circumstances, and that the Lord has accepted it and will add his blessing. As the Saints began to peruse its sacred pages, the Holy Ghost descended upon them, and bore record of it in a marvellous manner, speaking to some in dreams, visions, and divers manifestations, which caused our hearts to magnify the Lord. ”

“ Elder Forssgren found warm friends among the leaders of this party. The king is favorably disposed towards the popular wants, while the majority of the nobility and clergy seem struggling to maintain their power and influence. While measures for reform and extension of liberty, which had been submitted by the king, were under discussion before the legislature last winter (which finally failed) insurrectionary movements were set on foot in Stockholm, and large quantities of troops from a distance were called to maintain order, till the close of the legislature. ”

“ They are well-grounded in the work and firm—We had with us one copy of Elder O. Hyde's German work, which we kept moving among the Dutch, and when we found any that could read English, we gave them English books; and to the Danes we read Brother Hanson's translation of the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants, &c. We have operated only in private, and in small family meetings; but we have now arrived at the time when we shall no longer seek retirement but notoriety. We hope soon to find a large public place, and we thank God that the seed has sprung up, and has deep root ”

“ A strong dissatisfaction exists in Sweden with regard to reigning institutions, religious and political, and the opposition is strengthening itself daily, and becoming more thoroughly organized for efficient action. It has its seat in Stockholm, and extends its influence throughout the country, chiefly among the mechanic associations, and farming interests. ”

“ The country generally is poorly supplied with highways, and I sometimes found myself wandering from house to house and from village to village, through bye roads and footpaths, crossing sluiceways on a plank or pole, and at wet seasons, when the country was nearly half covered with water, obliged to wade through mud and water, or take a serpentine route through fields.
The country people, generally, live in small villages, miserable houses, with thatched roofs and clay floors, and are generally filthy and uncouth in their habits. ”

“ As the king opened the door he drew back with terror, but strengthening his resolution he entered and saw a large table surrounded by sixteen grave looking men, with large books before them, and a young king standing at their head, at the motion of whose head they all smote hard upon their books. As he turned himself he saw blocks with instruments for beheading, and executioners, and at the motion of the young king the grave men smote upon their books, and the executioners began the work of beheading. Those beheaded were all young noblemen. ”

“ He shall sustain and strengthen it, (pointing to the man by the throne) , and after shall Sweden experience great prosperity and blessings, such as she has never enjoyed." Further particulars were explained to the king which I do not here give, but the above is the substance, and then the vision vanished, and the king and his men found themselves alone in the hall, with light in hand, and all appeared in its natural state. Whether true or false, the vision is not without its influence upon Sweden. ”

“ One of the reform leaders writing to brother Forssgren in March, congratulates us on the liberty we enjoy in Denmark, and the success of our mission there, and says, "no such good has yet come over poor Sweden;" ”

“ There is a number of priests in the legislature, and they will stave off any action on the subject as long as they can. Among other important reforms that will be much in our favor, is the abolition of the odious internal passport system. ”

“ He then demanded of another officer, who that moment called to inquire after his health, if a fire had not broken out in the legislative hall. This man offered the same solution of the light as the first, but on gathering his garment around him, and going to the window, the king not only saw more distinctly a light, but also the appearances of personages in the hall, whereupon he called immediately for the master of the watch, with the keys, and accompanied him and four others to the hall. ”

“ They still maintain their own literature, and have a translation of the Scriptures, but as their priests are educated in Copenhagen, and their merchants mostly Danish, the national religion, policy and impress of Denmark is stamped upon them as upon her other provinces. At present, with a territory larger than Denmark Proper, Iceland only numbers about sixty thousand inhabitants. ”

“ Elder John E. Forssgren being banished from Sweden, arrived in Copenhagen on the 18th September. Soon after this elder Dykes was appointed to commence labour in Aalborg, in the province of Jutland, where he soon established a branch of the Church. I thought to send brother Forssgren to the island of Bornholm, which formerly belonged to Sweden, and has a dialect nearly allied to the Swedish ”

“ These last were instructed to go among their friends, circulate tracts, read, talk, pray, and baptize, secretly if they could, in a manner to attract the least possible attention from the priests.
The winter in Denmark was mild. Little snow, but much rain, and exceedingly thick foggy weather; this coupled with my anxieties and close application to the Book of Mormon, and my other duties, considerably impaired my health. ”

“ He preached and bore testimony of the word with power, and many were pricked in their hearts. After he had closed and dismissed, the marshal, with the priests and police, arrested him, variously insulted him, marched him through the town, and proclaimed "the dipper," &c., and arraigned him before the governor of the city, and all the priests. Having an American passport he was sent to Stockholm. The king was not at home ”