Apr 18, 2009

H. F. F. Thorup Letter


Here is a letter written by Herman F. F. Thourp in 1881 while on his mission in Denmark. He has written a report about the progress of the work in his mission and the surrounding area. He was here serving under great personal trial as well. He had just lost his wife and baby and had to leave his three remaining children behind with relatives (see A Loss Too Great). I am in awe of the sacrifices that our early ancestors made to continue following in faith. I can see that a refiners fire was present in all of their lives preparing a solid foundation for the future generations to build on.


From the Deseret News published April 27, 1881



Correspondence

Compagnistrads 285,
Neestved, Sjelland, Denmark
March 22nd, 1881

Editor Deseret News:
On the 21st of October, 1879, I left
Salt Lake City on a mission to Eu-
rope, being called at the October
Conference and set apart by Apostle
C. C. Rich. He said that the Lord
should protect me on land and on
sea; many should listen to my coun-
sel and receive the everlasting gos-
pel, and I should also baptize many
into the Church of God. This, I can
say, has been fulfilled to the very
point. While leaving Salt Lake
City and Ogden, in company with
my brother, John T. Thorup, thir
teen more Elders were leaving
their homes to preach the everlast-
ing gospel to a fallen world--three
of them were for the States and the
others for Europe.
On the 28th we left New York on
the steamer Wyoming, first spend-
ing two days in New York, in seeing
all that could be seen in that time.
On November 7th we landed in
Liverpool, after a pleasant voyage
on the great waters. The cap-
tain was wondering at the fine
weather we had, and told some of
the first cabin passengers that he
had never experienced such good
weather in October; but, said he, I
have Mormon Elders on board, and
ever since I have dealt with the
Mormons I always had good luck.
At Liverpool we were kindly re
ceived by Prest. W. Budge and the
other brethren of the office. Here
seven of the brethren left us, leav-
ing five for Scandinavia. Left Liv-
erpool on the 8th, and landed in Co-
penhagen on November 11th. The
names of the brethren who landed
in Copenhagen were: Jacob Hansen,
of Bear River; Peter Nielsen, of
Washington; O. N. Stolk, of Brig-
ham City; John T. Thorup and H.
F. F. Thourp, of Salt Lake City. We
were kindly received by Prest. N.
Wilhelmsen and the brethren there.
We were appointed to our several
fields of labor the same day; my
brother, John T. Thorup for
Aarhuss Conference; my appoint-
ment was in the Copenhagen
Conference, in the south and west
branches--a very large district,
55 miles one way and
about 70 miles the other way.
I have labored here ever since my
appointment, as presiding Elder of
these branches. I can say that the
Lord has been with me, although I
feel my weaknesses and imperfec-
tions, but God has been my strength
and my protector, and to Him I
ascribe the honor.
I have had the privilege of bear-
ing my testimony to the Gospel of
Christ in 34 towns, 42 have been
baptized, and 33 of them I have bap-
tized myself, and hope to baptize
many more before leaving these
lands, which is fulfilling the Apostle's
word upon my head. While labor-
ing in this northern mission I must
say that President N. Wilhelmson
has been as a father and wise coun-
selor to me and to all of his fellow-
laborers, and he has our confidence
and our best wishes, he is respected
by all the Saints, and by the Gen-
tiles who are are our friends.
In this conference are eight El-
ders from Utah: F. Funk, P. A.
Vicker, Jacob Hansen, Isaac Soren-
son, H. I. Christiansen, Paul Ham-
mer, James H. Hansen and myself.
They are all good brethren, trying
to do their very best in spreading
the Gospel sound to our fellow men.
James H. Hansen is laboring in my
branch as traveling Elder, beside
five native brethren who sell pamph-
lets by going from house to house
and from town to town, and also
hold meetings wherever they have
an opportunity. This city, Neestved,
is a very hard place, and the Elders
could never get the Gospel into this
city for the priest and the mob.
Ever since last May the Spirit of
God has moved upon me in getting
to preach the Gospel in that city,
and last October I rented a place in
my name, where I moved the branch
office. We have held several meet-
ings there, and the Lord is blessing
us His servants. There are now six
Saints, and we expect two more to
be baptized in a short time. The
priests have tried to stop me, but
they have had no power.
The winter has been very hard,
and the poor have suffered a good
deal, and many of the Saints have
thus been tried very hard. Here
are many old Saints who have been
faithful all the day long waiting for
deliverance, but how shall they
come home? They have no relatives
in Zion; no one that they can write
to to get money to emigrate. I
trust that the Saints at
home will remember their poor
brethren and sisters in these lands,
when the Lord entrusts them with
means, and then assist such as are in
the Church and have proved them-
selves worthy of being gathered to
Zion, which, from past observation,
I must say has not always been the
case. Here are some who have stood
20 years and been faithful, and not
come home yet. Brethren and sis-
ters in Zion, help these out and the
Lord will bless you.
Ever praying for the welfare of
Zion,
I remain, your brother in the
Kingdom of God,
H. F. F. Thorup.
________