Chapter IX: I Labor in Aalesund

I was retained as a missionary, but was now at liberty to go wherever I wanted. I said goodbye, and journeyed on to Guldbrands valley where I thought there would be a good field for work, as the whole valley is thickly populated. From there I went to Roms valley and at last reached Aalesund. In this city I found a sister whom I had baptized in Nordland and who was now married to Mr. Myre, a bookkeeper. As I was the first elder who had visited this town, I was greatly persecuted by the minister, Mr. Buck, and by the police who were on my track every day. Nevertheless, I won friends there and after a time baptized Mr. Myre.

Just at this time Elder Christian Folkman, and the Saints who were in Trondhjem, invited me to spend the Christmas season there, and sent me traveling money so that I could buy my steamship ticket. I was in my native city by Christmas and had a most interesting time.

Early in January, I returned by steamer to Aalesund, to continue my work. When I arrived I had only twelve cents, which was just enough to pay the man who rowed me from the steamship and placed me on land in the city. I secured lodgings in the house of a master shoemaker, Nielsen, who owned a large three-story house. The police chief soon came and ordered me to leave the city, but when I told him I was paying for my support, and that I knew something about the Norwegian law and his authority, and that it did not extend so far as to drive me out of the city, he left me alone, but commanded his force to keep a very close watch over me.

[Image captioned "INTERIOR OF THE ASSEMBLY HALL, LATTER-DAY SAINTS' MISSION HOUSE, CHRISTIANIA, NORWAY."]

Then came the priest of the city, the Mr. Buck formerly mentioned, in company with one of the local merchants, and gave me considerable more such information, that if I conducted any meetings, the doors of the prison were ready to close behind me. A few days afterward I went to call on the priest, but he saw me come and instructed his housekeeper to tell me that he was not at home. When I asked if the pastor was at home, she said, "No, he is away." As I knew that he was at home at that time, I warned the lady she should not tell an untruth to one of the Lord's servants. She took my words to heart and told her folks what had happened. It so happened that this lady was of very prominent parents, and they immediately took their daughter home. Two days later, one of the merchants greeted me, and told me that this story of the pastor's untruthfulness had spread over the city to the shame of the pastor himself. Sometime after I had left Aalesund, I heard that this minister, Mr. Buck, had hung himself, for what reason I did not learn.

Then came the superior priest of the district and pressed upon my landlord that he must drive me out of the house, and not give home or habitation to false prophets. Mr. Nielsen, who had learned something of the gospel, bore testimony in my behalf, and then everything went wrong. I was not present, but the two must have had a serious time together.

In a few days came a letter from the superior priest to Mr. Nielsen insisting that as Nielsen was a respected man in the community, in order to maintain his good name he must not any longer give me lodging. Mr. Nielsen was now in a tight place, and he presented the matter to me. He did not want to turn me out, yet he desired to favor the chief priest of the district. In fact, so overcome was he that he cried. An evening or two later he received another letter from the pastor which was even more insistent.

The morning after the receipt of the second letter, I placed the whole matter before the Lord, and received my inspiration that if I would call on the priest he would acknowledge the correctness of every principle that I might present to him. Filled with joy, I walked to his home some two miles beyond the edge of the city. I was courteously invited into the office of the great man. We had first a conversation concerning the Bible: then, concerning the relation of "Mormonism" to Biblical doctrines. Questions were directed to me, and I replied in the spirit of truth that was present; and he acknowledged the correctness of every principle that I advocated. For two hours we were together in friendly conversation. The battle was won; and from that time on he was especially kind and helpful to our missionaries who followed me. The same day Mr. Nielsen was informed by letter from the priest that he could give me lodging as long as he liked, and the priest further stated that he had had a conversation with Mr. Skanchy which convinced him that he had been mistaken in his opposition, but excused himself by saying that it was the duty of his profession to oppose those who believed in any other religion than that supported by the state.

Even after this, I had a pretty hard time in Aalesund; but after several members had been brought into the Church the work became somewhat easier. Among others who were baptized at this time was Mrs. Soneva Torgesen, the wife of a friendly ship captain. This woman was a true daughter of Israel, and did much good. She had two small children whom I blessed. The boy was instructed by his mother and is a faithful elder in the Church today.

In the spring of 1867, at a conference held in Christiania, C. C. A. Christensen, who had arrived from Utah, was assigned to preside in Norway. I bade farewell to Aalesund and began my journey up the valley of the Roms, over Dovre mountain again, and then down Guldbrands valley until I reached the little town of Lillehammer, where we had a sister in the gospel, Ellen Buckwald, who was employed in the household of a Mr. Revers, a friend of our people. To this house the elders were invited whenever they came to the city, and were treated there in the very best manner. I had many conversations concerning the gospel with this educated man. The family did not want to part with Ellen, for she taught the children of the household "Mormonism," and used to pray, even, for Brigham Young as a leader of Israel.

I finally again came to Christiania, and in the conference then held was released from my second mission by the outgoing president.