a young girl asked to be excused from the examinations, because her parents had joined the "Mormons," and she expected to. She cited in support of her plea, that the King of Denmark had granted religious liberty. Her request was complied with by the priest, who proceeded to comment on "Mormonism" then and at every subsequent meeting in a way that indicated that he must have been studying "Mormon" literature, and Niels very strongly suspected that the priest was really converted to "Mormonism," although he either lacked the courage to embrace it, or considered it impolitic to do so. Whether this surmise was correct or not, the priest seemed to have "Mormonism" constantly in his mind, and his frequent allusions to its doctrines and the scripture supporting the same had the effect of converting Niels to "Mormonism." Though he did not then declare his belief in the Gospel, he had not from that time a doubt of its truth.

That priest, whose name was Holger Christopher Kongslev Thryde, was a very peculiar man, a thorough scriptorian, a keen reasoner and withal quite inspirational. When the class of which Niels was a member had received sufficient training by him to appear for public examination and confirmation as members of the Lutheran church, they were all notified to be present at the regular Sunday service in the chapel. There they were separately catechised by the priest in presence of the congregation. Their answers being satisfactory, he asked each in turn as to his willingness to enter into covenant to serve God. On being told that he was, the priest said "then give your heart to God and your hand to me." Holding the child by the right hand, he then placed his left hand upon the youthful head, confirmed him as a member of the Lutheran church and exhorted him to faithfulness or indulged in predictions concerning his future, apparently as the spirit prompted him. Of one boy he expressed regret that he had been confirmed a Lutheran, for he would soon abandon the faith. The sequel proved this prediction to be true, for the boy soon left his birthplace to live among relatives who were Baptists, and accordingly became a Baptist.

When Niels was confirmed, the priest proceeded to say: "The Lord has laid a heavy hand upon you in your youth, which will be a hard cross for you to bear through life; but it was for a wise purpose—to prepare you for a great work that you do not understand now. After you have traveled thousands of miles to a strange land you know not, you will there eventually have a chance to go into the sanctuary of the Lord to do a work for your father's family and your ancestors that they did not understand or know anything about."

This prediction made a deep impression upon the mind of Niels, who remembered every word of it, and felt that somehow it would be fulfilled, though he could not then conceive how or when. That he, a helpless cripple and confirmed invalid; without money or influential friends, should ever travel thousands of miles over land and sea, seemed very improbable; indeed, it seemed very unlikely that he would live long enough to make such a journey if he were financially able.

CHAPTER II.

DEATH OF HIS MOTHER—LIFE IN AALBORG—CONVERSION TO MORMONISM—HEAVENLY MESSAGE TO ELDER KEMPE—HIS OBEDIENCE THERETO—BAPTISM OF NIELS—HIS RELATIVES ASHAMED OF HIM—PROPOSITION TO MAKE HIM A LUTHERAN PREACHER.

If the details of the life of Niels for the next six years were written it would be a record of helpless dependence and privation. To the surprise of all who knew him, he continued to live, and even gain a little strength. Life at home had become unbearable since the death of his mother, which occurred December 6, 1854.

In the fall of 1856, when he was twenty years of age, Niels left home and went to live among relatives in Aalborg, where he had a checkered experience, often being made to feel that he was in the way and that his welcome was worn out, but occasionally encouraged by real kindness and genuine charity. One lady in particular took a great interest in him, and, finding that he had some skill in needle work, encouraged him to practice a kind that was much in vogue among ladies, and through her kindly efforts he obtained considerable profitable work from many aristocratic women.

Soon after removing to Aalborg he met and became somewhat acquainted with some "Mormons," a family of Saints being close neighbors to his aunt. His partial investigation of the Gospel then confirmed his early conviction that it was the truth, but his dependent condition, and the opposition of his relatives to such an unpopular religion, led him to defer embracing it.

It was not until November 1, 1862, six years after he first attended a "Mormon" meeting, that he embraced the Gospel, and then under peculiar circumstances. Christoffer Jensen Kempe, who afterwards became well known in Utah and Arizona, was laboring as a "Mormon" missionary in that part of Denmark. One very stormy night he had found lodgings in a barn, about forty-two miles from Aalborg. Some time after retiring to rest he was aroused by feeling a hand laid upon his shoulder and hearing a voice tell him to get up and go to Aalborg and baptize the cripple, Larsen, whom he had seen at the Saints' meetings—that if he ever joined the church he would have to be baptized the next evening. Obedient to the voice of the spirit, he arose and set out afoot in the storm. He walked the entire distance, and on his arrival in Aalborg he called upon Niels at his lodgings and informed him that he had come to baptize him. Niels immediately asked what prompted him to come, as he had not even announced his intention of joining the church. Elder Kempe related the visitation he had received forty-two miles distant, and told of his journey for the special purpose, and added that he would like while he was at it to baptize Niels' brother and sister-in-law who were then living in Aalborg, and whom he had met and talked with on the subject of religion. Niels ventured the opinion that neither of the relatives mentioned had any serious intention of embracing "Mormonism," and that he was sure they would not if they learned their crippled brother intended to do so. "However," he said, "you may try them, and if you succeed in getting their consent you may call back for me, and I will be ready."

The Elder promptly repaired to the brother's house and broached the subject of baptism to the couple, saying he was going to do some baptizing that night, and if they wished he would baptize them. They at first favored the proposition, but when he, hoping to hasten and make certain their decision, mentioned that Niels was going to be baptized they lost all interest in the subject and refused to be baptized.

Returning to Niels, the Elder informed him of his failure and disappointment. Niels was not at all surprised, and told the Elder he should not be disappointed in him, as he was ready. They accordingly made their way that very night a considerable distance out of town, to find a suitable place for the performance of the ordinance, and Niels was initiated into the Church by baptism November 1, 1862.

Some circumstances of which Niels was in ignorance at the time of his baptism, but which he afterwards learned of, may furnish the sequel to what was meant by the heavenly warning to Elder Kempe that Niels would have to be baptized that very evening if he ever joined the church at all.

Something like consternation had prevailed among the aristocratic members of the Lutheran church in and around Aalborg about that time, in consequence of so many of the members being converted to "Mormonism." As a rule they were not the wealthy members who accepted of the Gospel, as taught by the "Mormon" missionaries, but they included those who had been regarded as among the very best and most faithful members of the church, and they were joining the "Mormon" ranks in such numbers that they seemed for awhile to threaten the very existence of some of the