The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Norway

Finding ancestors in the Norwegian L.D.S. records may be an important step in building the family story. L.D.S. records (both membership records and emigration records) may help in finding the place of origin in Norway or may simply provide interesting facts about the family, their faith, and their courage.

The first missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints arrived in Norway 11 Sep 1851. One of those was Hans F. Peterson, who baptized the master blacksmith John Olsen and his assistant Peter Adamsen, Nov 26, 1852, in Risør city.

The first resident Norwegian to join the Church, however, was a ship captain named Svend Larsen. He joined the Church in Ålborg, Denmark, having been baptized 23 Sep 1851. Svend Larsen had brought Hans F. Peterson to Norway from Denmark, and he gave great support to the missionary work in Norway.

The first branch in Norway was organized in Risør, Aust Agder County July 16, 1852, and the Brevig (Kristiania) Conference was organized August 14, 1852.

A dissenter Law, regarding religious freedom had been passed in Norway as early as 1845. As time would show the Norwegian government did not consider the "mormons" Christians, therefore they were not protected under that law. Instead there were great persecution of the Saints, both through imprisonment and fines. They were fined for proselyting and baptizing, and being too poor to pay the fines they were put in prison.

Because of all the difficulties the members faced, the church encouraged the Saints to gather to Utah; "Zion" or the "Promised Land", where they could practice their religion in peace.

The first Norwegian convert left Copenhagen for Zion Dec 22, 1853.

L.D.S. Record Sources


 * Scandinavian L.D.S. mission Index See Scandinavian Mission Index
 * Records of Members: 1852-1951
 * Records of deceased members of the Scandinavina Mission up to March 1, 1895
 * Early Church Information File
 * Norway: L.D.S. Branches and Wards
 * Norway: L.D.S. Conferences, Districts, and Stakes

Emigration from Scandinavian Mission, 1852-1855