In Hersholm, where they next commenced, they fared but little better. In Copenhagen, our hall and the streets about it were thronged by a great crowd of journeymen, apprentices, sailors, &c., led on by the theological students, who turned our meetings into a "pow wow," dealing out all manner of threats and abuses, until we were finally obliged to cease our public meetings, while the police refused interference in our behalf.
Some private houses where we had small gatherings next became the object of vengeance. Near the same time also evil spirits attacked some persons in the Church, and manifested their power in many strange ways, and it took sometime to entirely subdue them, all of which afforded lessons of wisdom and experience to the young Saints. They also made an angry demonstration upon brother Forssgren and myself, in our room at night, somewhat similar to that upon elders Hyde and Kimball, in Preston. My eyes were open to behold them, and through humble prayer we obtained power to withstand them and rebuke them from our presence and room. It seemed, indeed, as though the powers of earth and hell were combined to crush the work of the Lord in that land, but through much prayer and fasting we received strength, and the clouds began to disperse. We sent a deputation to the king with a memorial, a Book of Mormon, and my pamphlet. I shortly after heard of the Book of Mormon in the possession of the queen dowager (who is reputedly pious, and a lover of the Bible), who, as her "maids" reported, was so wrought upon by the presentation, and tale of the book, that excitement and alarm spread through her palace, and she was unable to leave her room for several days.
We were afterwards informed through the "Cultus-minister," who has the superintendence of all school and church affairs, that the government was disposed to allow us our regular course, and interpose no obstacles. After this, the police officer in Aalborg, by order of the "Cultus-minister," restored to the Saints their privileges, and we began also to enjoy peace and quietness in our meetings at Copenhagen. Branches were organized in Hals and Hersholm, and the Saints generally increased in number, faith, and joy, in the Holy Ghost.
Before the adjournment of the legislature, a law passed in a modified form, sustaining religious freedom, and abrogating the old law which denied the rights of matrimony, and all other civil and social privileges to native subjects, unless sprinkled, educated, and confirmed in the Lutheran church. Yet there is nothing in the constitution or laws that guarantees us that protection in our worship, and in the exercise of our religious rights, which is afforded by the laws of England and America.
I now feel that "the shell is broken" in old Scandinavia, and the work of the Lord will advance. Probably an earlier mission to that country would have proved a failure.
Though to you and others they might have seemed trifling, yet upon me the cares, anxieties, and pressure of circumstances attending the mission have weighed heavily. In the midst of them I have frequently been visited with encouraging dreams, in which I often saw brother Joseph Smith, yourself, or president Kimball, and received instructive lessons. In the midst of the exciting scenes of the winter, I saw myself and brethren navigating a dangerous stream, on a fishing excursion. Our vessel had neither steam nor sails, yet (by what power was not perceivable) it was slowly but steadily advancing against a rapid current, and we were drawing in fish.
In the spring three Icelanders who had embraced the faith in Copenhagen returned to their native land, with the Book of Mormon and pamphlets, two of whom I ordained and commanded them to labour among their people, as the Lord opened their way, to read, pray, teach, baptize, translate, &c., and one of them to return to me in the fall. They were mechanics, and the Spirit rested copiously upon them.
The total number baptized, including those baptized by elder Forssgren in Sweden, is about three hundred. The number of elders, priests, teachers, and deacons, ordained in branches, and travelling, is about twenty-five.
Towards the close of May I appointed brother Hanson and five others in pairs, supplied with books and pamphlets, to open new fields of labour: two to south Jutland, two to Bornholm, and two Swedes to that part of Sweden lying immediately across the Sound from Copenhagen. These last were instructed to go among their friends, circulate tracts, read, talk, pray, and baptize, secretly if they could, in a manner to attract the least possible attention from the priests.
The winter in Denmark was mild. Little snow, but much rain, and exceedingly thick foggy weather; this coupled with my anxieties and close application to the Book of Mormon, and my other duties, considerably impaired my health. Leaving the presidency with brother Forssgren, I resolved to join my brethren in conference at London, and rest and recruit myself a little season, by a change of labours and scenery.