Abstract

The "History of the Danish Mission, 1850-1964," gives a detailed account of the Mormon "beginnings" in Denmark and attempts to trace the development of a system of proselyting and its effect upon the lives of both missionaries and converts of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. No attempt has been made in this study to record chronological detail to any extensive degree. Rather, emphasis has been placed on "beginnings" and major historical developments.

This study includes an examination of the Scandinavian and Danish Mission records, several missionary journals and all known printed material related to the Mormon Church in Denmark. The Historian's Office of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City is the chief source of information on the history of Mormon activity in Scandinavia. Most of the mission and emigration records have been assembled there. Two large manuscripts, "Scandinavian Mission General History" (1850-1920) and "Danish Mission General History" (1920 – the present), kept in several large loose-leaf folios, were most informative because they included many eye witness accounts taken from diaries, journals, letters, and newspapers. A manuscript history of "Church Emigration" provides a description of each organized emigrant company to 1869. Also the records of individual congregations and early Church periodicals were informative. The library of the Historian's Office, furthermore, has copies of all Mormon literature published in Danish--tracts, pamphlets, periodicals, and books. The Brigham Young University Library was also useful for its many books, diaries, and articles dealing with the Danish Mission. Because of the author's ability to read source material in the Danish language additional perspective was given to this study.

Degree

College and Department

Religious Education; Church History and Doctrine

Rights

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