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== Early years of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sweden == | == Early years of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sweden == | ||
The | Historian for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Andrew Jenson writes in his book in about 1855. “The persecutions in Sweden were severe at that time. The brethren were continually hunted by the police, and the citizens who gladly and willing would have treated the brethren with hospitality and kindness, dared not do so in many instances, owing to the stringent laws which existed and the determination on the part of some of the officials to enforce them. The Lutheran clergy had the laws of Sweden practically at their command, and in order to bring trouble upon the brethren, some of the statutes which had been laid dormant for ages were brought to bear upon the case of the missionaries. Thus many of the brethren were arrested and transported from one place to another, while some were fined and imprisoned. Others beaten unmercifully. Some arrested and imprisoned on a bread and water diet. In Malmö it happened frequently that some of the brethren were knocked down in the streets, while others were stoned and had their clothing torn to pieces by mobs who understood that the Mormons had no rights”. (HSM page 104.)<br> | ||
Hector C. Haight, the President of the Scandinavian mission in 1856 reported, “In Sweden the State Church and the clergy have so great an influence, supported by the old intolerant laws, and the strict and rigid executors of the same, that the people are living under fear and bondage, and have no religious liberty, which makes it very difficult to spread the gospel. The Elders in that land have indeed a hard mission; nevertheless it seems as if the Lord, having mercy on scattered Israel in that country, has operated upon the minds of the people, so that a desire for religious liberty is awakened with full force, and different parties and sects have arisen, especially in Stockholm, and the members thereof petition the government for free religious worship."<br> | Hector C. Haight, the President of the Scandinavian mission in 1856 reported, “In Sweden the State Church and the clergy have so great an influence, supported by the old intolerant laws, and the strict and rigid executors of the same, that the people are living under fear and bondage, and have no religious liberty, which makes it very difficult to spread the gospel. The Elders in that land have indeed a hard mission; nevertheless it seems as if the Lord, having mercy on scattered Israel in that country, has operated upon the minds of the people, so that a desire for religious liberty is awakened with full force, and different parties and sects have arisen, especially in Stockholm, and the members thereof petition the government for free religious worship."<br> | ||
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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was not recognized as a Christian religion. As early as 1855 the mission president wrote the king petitioning for this recognition. Again in 1902 a petition was made for this recognition but both petitions were refused. <br>As early as 1857 a proposition for religious liberty, to a certain degree was presented before the Diet assembled in Stockholm. It did not pass but led the way for changes which followed. In 1860 the Dissenter Law was passed which made leaving the Church of Sweden legal but only under the provision of entering another Christian denomination. The passport law was repealed in 1861 allowing the missionaries more liberty than at any previous period. <br> | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was not recognized as a Christian religion. As early as 1855 the mission president wrote the king petitioning for this recognition. Again in 1902 a petition was made for this recognition but both petitions were refused. <br>As early as 1857 a proposition for religious liberty, to a certain degree was presented before the Diet assembled in Stockholm. It did not pass but led the way for changes which followed. In 1860 the Dissenter Law was passed which made leaving the Church of Sweden legal but only under the provision of entering another Christian denomination. The passport law was repealed in 1861 allowing the missionaries more liberty than at any previous period. <br> | ||
Not only the | Not only the missionaries and saints suffered persecution but also those of other non-Lutheran faiths. The Catholics and Baptists had come to Sweden prior to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Both of these faiths plus others that came, also suffered and helped in bringing about a desire for religious freedom. In 1858 six women who had left the Lutheran Church and joined the Catholic Church were banished from Sweden, their native land. Citizens in Sweden raised a cry protesting such cruelty of Christians towards Christians. Subscriptions were gathered for these women. People's hearts were being softened. | ||
The general atmosphere in Sweden gradually became more and more liberal, although in some areas there was strong opposition. In Eskilstuna in the year 1883 people were fined 50 crowns if they rented a room or allowed the Latter-day Saints to use a room for a meeting. In Uppsala those who rented a room to missionaries were fined 20 crowns. Missionaries and Saints continued to suffer but felt and expressed that they “rejoiced in being counted worthy to suffer for the gospel’s sake". This continued until the beginning of the 1900’s. Persecution still continued at this point but to a lesser degree.<br>Rumors about the emigration brought about further persecution and misunderstanding. For example, it was circulated that the missionaries were soliciting young women to come to Utah where they were kept in the Salt Lake Temple, used, and then cast down from the temple into the Great Salt Lake. Such allegations’ were completely ridiculous as there are about 16 miles between the Temple and the Great Salt Lake. Still rumors like this were spread and caused more misunderstanding and persecution.<br>During the years 1912-1914 the Swedish parliament allocated funds to counter missionary activities by printing anti-Latter-day Saint publications. This caused some problems but it also aroused people to further investigate. By 1915 the Swedish parliament was convinced that this was not a good use of their funds and refused to further fund anti-Latter-day Saint campaigns. <br>Finally in 1951 The Law on Freedom of Religion was passed which allowed complete religious freedom, even the right to stand outside any religious denomination. | The general atmosphere in Sweden gradually became more and more liberal, although in some areas there was strong opposition. In Eskilstuna in the year 1883 people were fined 50 crowns if they rented a room or allowed the Latter-day Saints to use a room for a meeting. In Uppsala those who rented a room to missionaries were fined 20 crowns. Missionaries and Saints continued to suffer but felt and expressed that they “rejoiced in being counted worthy to suffer for the gospel’s sake". This continued until the beginning of the 1900’s. Persecution still continued at this point but to a lesser degree.<br>Rumors about the emigration brought about further persecution and misunderstanding. For example, it was circulated that the missionaries were soliciting young women to come to Utah where they were kept in the Salt Lake Temple, used, and then cast down from the temple into the Great Salt Lake. Such allegations’ were completely ridiculous as there are about 16 miles between the Temple and the Great Salt Lake. Still rumors like this were spread and caused more misunderstanding and persecution.<br>During the years 1912-1914 the Swedish parliament allocated funds to counter missionary activities by printing anti-Latter-day Saint publications. This caused some problems but it also aroused people to further investigate. By 1915 the Swedish parliament was convinced that this was not a good use of their funds and refused to further fund anti-Latter-day Saint campaigns. <br>Finally in 1951 The Law on Freedom of Religion was passed which allowed complete religious freedom, even the right to stand outside any religious denomination. | ||
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