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قراءة كتاب One Year in Scandinavia

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One Year in Scandinavia

One Year in Scandinavia

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دار النشر: Project Gutenberg
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New York. But Elder Forssgren soon won the friendship of the captain; and when they arrived at Elsinore, where the vessel called to pay toll, the captain landed him on Danish ground. Very soon after landing he was arrested by the Danish police, at the instigation of the Swedish consul of that place, and was about to be re-shipped for New York.

He now ascertained that the Swedish authorities at Stockholm, fearing that he might land in Denmark and recross the sound into another part of Sweden, had sent despatches to their consul at Elsinore (the only place where the vessel would stop,) describing him and the vessel, and directing the consul to see that he was shipped to New York. He produced his American passport, and claimed the protection of the Hon. Walter Forward, American minister to Denmark, who had just landed in that place from Copenhagen.

My previous interviews had won the friendship of Mr. Forward, who quickly came to his assistance, and effected his release, repudiating the aspersions of his enemies, and accompanied him to Copenhagen, where he arrived in good health, full of joy and the Holy Ghost, having been absent from us about three months.

* * * * *

The following extract from a private letter, which found its way into the "Frontier Guardian," contains some further particulars.

LETTER TO Z. SNOW, ESQ., OF CANTON, OHIO.

196 Norgesgade, Copenhagen, Denmark, February 14th, 1851.

Brother Zerubable,—I have received, through Elder Pratt, the letters you sent him to be forwarded to me; and was very thankful for them, and perhaps you have expected an answer before now, but I have deferred writing as long as I thought I could in safety and have my letters reach you before you start for the Valley; and you will be able to carry a report of me up to this date, in case the letters which I sent by mail fail to reach my family. I was very much pleased at the good spirit which was breathed in your letters, and particularly that you were so decided about going to that peaceful home of Saints early in the spring.

Your appointment as Judge of the Supreme Court of Utah territory, was from the Lord, though it came through the President, and will doubtless be a blessing unto you, in a pecuniary point of view; and if you are wise in the use of it, may be a blessing unto many thousands. * * * * * *

I suppose the Valley news of a general nature you will have obtained from the papers; probably you will also see my letters in the Star, and learn a little how we prosper here.

This is a well fortified and pleasant city. The winter has been pleasant—but little snow; and about the temperature of New York. I have good health, and plenty of business, warm friends, and plenty of enemies.

This is a perfect priest-ridden and king-ridden people, but many honest souls among them. We have had some persecution in this city, (saying nothing of the flood of lies that always follows the truth), such as breaking up our meetings, stoning houses and windows and the like, but not so much here as in some other places in the kingdom.

Brother Dykes, who is now laboring in the province of Jutland, has had a hard time, and made some hair-breadth escapes from his enemies, but has been greatly blessed notwithstanding, and has baptized over fifty.

Brother John Forssgren, (whose persecution and expulsion from Sweden I mentioned in my letter in the Star), has fared but little better in Denmark. He and a Danish brother was mobbed, and variously maltreated lately in Roskilde, the old capital of Denmark; and after two days complete uproar in the town, they were expelled by the chief authorities of the town, against all law. 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.

Pray for us continually, that we may do a good work.

I am now very busily engaged with brother Hanson, in translating and publishing the Book of Mormon; it is a very laborious and tedious work to get it issued clean and pure, according to the simplicity of the original; and requires the closest attention. I am publishing three thousand copies—have only one hundred and sixty-eight pages finished, it will take me till May or June. I circulate two hundred by the sheet, weekly.

Yours, &c.

E. SNOW.

LETTER TO PRESIDENT BRIGHAM YOUNG.

15, Wilton Street, Liverpool, July 10th, 1851.

Beloved President,—As I intimated in my letter of last August, I have made an exertion, and through the blessing of God after eight months faithful and unceasing application, have succeeded in the translation and publication of the Book of Mormon, in the Danish language; a copy of which I hope to have the opportunity of sending you soon.

I have issued an edition of three thousand copies; I should have had it stereotyped, and issued a smaller edition first, if I could have found a stereotype foundry in the kingdom, but Denmark is a little behind the age in this as in most other improvements. They are now being thrown into circulation by the brethren, and a bookdealer of Copenhagen.

In the work of translation, I employed such help, as the Lord furnished to my hand, feeling that it was better so to do, than to confide it to learned professors who were not imbued with the spirit of the work. I sought the acquaintance of several, but could not feel satisfied in spirit to confide the work to either of them. After brother Hanson became improved in his language, by a few months' practice, I set him to re-writing and revising his old translation, and soon a Danish lady, a teacher of French, German, and English, embraced the faith, whom I employed to assist in the work; but I did not allow it to go to press until I had become sufficiently acquainted with the language, as I believed to detect any error in sentiment, and given it a thorough review with them a third time.

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.

In September, I published a small work, entitled "The Voice of Truth to the honest in heart," containing a sketch of the rise of the Church and its doctrines; and in March I published one containing the articles of the Church, and several extracts of revelations, for the instruction and government of the Saints, and also a small collection of some of our best hymns, put into Danish, and adapted to the tunes used in Zion. These little publications were a great help to us, and a source of much joy to the Saints.

Those who have laboured as you have for many years in a cold world to preach the word of life, can easier imagine than I can describe the sensations of our bosoms on hearing the Songs of Zion in a foreign tongue, and the Saints relate their dreams and visions, and pray for Zion and the Presidency, and the travelling Elders and Saints throughout the earth.

On the 15th September, 1850, we duly organized "Jesu Christi Kirke af sidste dages Helege" in Denmark, consisting of fifty members. We had been baptizing and confirming from the 12th of August, but had operated privately in small family gatherings, for I felt constrained to refrain from any attempt at public meetings.

We now presented our organization

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