Herman Fredrick Ferdinand Thorup: Mission Experience #2

This post is about another mission experience of my 2nd great grandfather, Herman Fredrick Ferdinand Thorup.You can see the first post here.

This experience also took place in Denmark.  No exact date is given but appears to have happened sometime late in the year of 1880.  The experiance was written by him and appeared in the April 1, 1895 edition of the Juvenile Instructor.  You can see an original scan here.


THE LORD IN A WONDEREUL WAY PROVIDES FOR HIS SERVANTS.

In the years of 1879-80, and '81 I was laboring as a missionary in my native country. I was called to preside over two large branches of West and South Sjalland, in the Copenhagen Conference. Several brethren were also laboring as traveling Elders in the same branches. Elder Jacob Hansen, of Bear River City, Box Elder County, was, in the year 1880, appointed to travel in those branches. He never had been on a mission before, consequently it was trying to him; but he was a humble man, and had the desire of fulfilling his mission to the glory of God.

One day late in the season of the year he wanted to go with me, out among strangers, leaving money and everything behind us, and to trust in God alone. So we started early one morning, after leaving our blessings with the Saints. When we had traveled a few miles we entered the houses of the farmers, spoke to them of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, called on them to repent of their sins and turn unto their God. But no one seemed to care to listen to what we had to say. At each house we left a few of our tracts with the people. Night was now approaching, and still we had eaten nothing since morning, nor was there any prospect of our getting either food or lodging. We were already several
miles distant from any of the Saints, but had no desire to visit them, as they were mostly poor. Wherefore we trusted in God that He would open up the way for us. We were just at this time passing
a small graveyard, which we entered for the purpose of calling on the Lord. I was mouth at the time, and in my prayer I asked the Lord that He would open up the way so that we might get a place of
entertainment.

After we had offered up our supplications before the throne of God, we started again, not knowing where to go or what to do.

Finally, as we were walking along the road we came to a fine, two-story brick building. I felt impressed to call at the house. We knocked at the door, and a gentleman who was dressed very nicely
appeared. He invited us to enter, which we did, and found ourselves in what appeared to be an office of some kind. I was the spokesman, and told who we were and what we were doing.

He then asked if we knew who he was. We told him we did not, whereupon he said he had authority to arrest us if he so desired, as we had no right to sell our books and tracts in the country. I told him that we did not believe he could do this, as we had not sold any of the books, but had given most of
them away for nothing, yet at the same time if we were offered money in exchange for the books we took it, for we had to pay for the printing and binding of the books.

After some remarks had passed between us, I began to tell him that we were sent out to warn our fellow-men and to tell them that God had again spoken from heaven and restored the Priesthood unto the children of men; but he did not care for our warning voice. He said there was lots of Christianity in the land, and that we better return home and do somthing else than preach.

I had a small valise with me, and he wanted to know what it contained. I therefore opened it, and on the top was a small pamphlet called "Invitation to the Kingdom of God." He looked at it and told us that if God wanted him to come to His kingdom He would have to come Himself and present the invitation.

As it was now getting rather dark, and not knowing where we would find entertainment for the night, we thought we better leave the house. Brother Hansen was already outside, but I lingered somewhat. When I took my hat to leave, the gentleman unlocked and opened his writing-desk, taking something out of it. I now bade him good-by; but he extended his hand toward me saying, "Take this and use it for your night's lodging."

I was greatlv surprised, for he uttered the same words as I did at the graveyard when asking our Heavenly Father for what we needed. I did not look at the money, but I asked God to bless him for the good he had done to us.

When I came down upon the street where Brother Hansen was I said to him, "What do you suppose I have in my hand?" for I felt that Brother Hansen did not believe there was any good in that gentleman, because of the way he spoke to us. I opened my hand and found that I had been given two crowns, just enough for our night's lodging.

We felt thankful to our Heavenly Father for this, as we could now go to the nearest hotel for lodging.

As we passed out of this small village I heard a voice say to me, "Do not spend that money for your night's lodging, but go and buy provisions with the money and then go to the family of Brother Folkersen, for they have nothing to eat, and your bed is already made for you."

I told Brother Hansen what I had been impressed by the Spirit of God to do with the money. Brother Hansen felt as I did in regard to the matter, so when we came to the other village we bought bread, butter, cheese, sugar, etc., with the money, and then started for Brother Folkersen's place, a distance of three miles. When we came to the house we saw a light within, and through the window we saw our bed ready, as the Spirit had told us it would be. Knocking on the door, the sister came and opened for us, saying as she did so, "I knew you were coming." She had felt very sorrowful, however, because she had nothing in the house to eat, and her husband had not come home yet.

When we got inside we placed all that we had bought on the table. Our sister looked at it and began crying, saying that it was a shame that we had to spend our money in that way. I told her not to cry but to hurry up the meal, for we were very hungry, having had nothing to eat since early morning. While thus speaking to her Brother Folkersen entered the kitchen and said to his wife, "Mother, I was not able to get any bread. The baker would not let me have any on credit, and I could not get any
money for my work today, and here are our brethren and we have nothing for them to eat." He then opened the door into the room where we were, and seeing all the provisions laid on the table he began to cry like a child. In his tears he said, "Brethren, this is too much for you to do. You have left your families, your homes for our sake, and then spend your money to buy provisions for us. "

I told him not to feel sorrowful, but "let us get to the table, for we are hungry, and we believe that you and your wife are also hungry, and when we have satisfied our hunger we will tell you how we came to bring all these things with us."

So we all sat down at the table and gave thanks to our Father and God for His many blessings which He had bestowed upon us, asking Him to bless this food which He in very deed had prepared for us, and for the poor and worthy Saints. We all had a good supper, which we enjoyed, for we had the best
sauce of all, a good appetite.

After we had eaten our supper we told Brother and Sister Folkersen our experience of the day, and how we happened to get the money. When they heard this they both wept, and we could not restrain our tears, not because of sorrow but for joy, for we all realized that we had a good and kind Father in heaven, who watches over all His children, and provides for them in His own due time, and to Him we gave the honor, praise and the glory.

Brother and Sister Folkersen , both died years ago, but they passed away in full faith of the work of God. They have a son and daughter in Zion who are both faithful in the Church.

May the Lord bless the young readers ot this little piece, that they may learn that we have a kind Father in heaven, who provides for all those who seek Him and try to do His will.

H. F. F Thorup.

Herman Fredrick Ferdinand Thorup: Mission Experience

This is a mission experince that my 2nd great grandfather, Herman Fredrick Ferdinand Thorup, had while serving a mission to Denmark in 1867.  This was written by him and appeared in the October 15, 1895 issue of the Juvenile Instructor.  You can see a scan of the original here.


 A KIND PROVIDENCE.

In the month of November, 1867, while traveling from place to place as a missionary in Denmark, I came to a small village called Dysted. It was in the South Sjaelland district, in the Copenhagen Conference. I had visited nearly every house, when it began to be late in the afternoon, and I concluded it was time to be looking for a lodging place for the night.

It was raining very fine, and had been for nearly two weeks, which made traveling very unpleasant.

I inquired at several places for lodging, but was told to go to a farmer, whose house was some distance from the road. When I saw that there was no other prospect for me than to go to that place, I started off towards the house. On arriving and stating my errand to the lady of the house, she said she could not entertain me; so I bade her good-by. I had just turned to leave when I was called back. I was told by the lady that I could stay over night, as she had seen her husband. I went inside the house, and was given a chair in the sitting-room. The lady left me, closing the door, and I was left
alone in a dark room.

One hour had passed away, and I was still alone. Suddenly the door was opened, and the lady stepped inside. She walked right up to me and asked if I wanted something to drink. I replied that I did. She brought me a glass of milk, and then left. When I took the glass in my hand I was not able to raise it so I could drink the milk; yet I could move my hand, and set the glass back on the table. I tried three times to place the glass to my lips, but could not do so. I began to feel uneasy, and believed that some poison was placed in the milk, so I threw it out of the window. I had no sooner done this than the door was opened and the lady came and asked me if I wanted some more milk. I said, "No, thanks, I have had all I want," so she left me again in utter darkness.

It was getting close to nine o'clock and every minute seemed to me to be an hour. I was busy planning how to get away, for I felt that something evil would happen if I could not escape
from that place.

Presently the man appeared with a lamp in his hand. He never spoke a word to me, but sat down on a chair opposite me. Supper was now ready, but no one asked me if I wanted anything to eat.

When the man got through with his supper he turned right towards me. His first question was, "Well, how is the mission? Are there many who believe and become members of the Church?"

I told him yes, there was quite a few. Finally a conversation was begun about the Gospel. The man was very abusive in his language toward me and I was anxious to get away.

As the clock was striking ten, a thought came to me about a family in the village near by who would like to see me at that hour, which was the time the gentleman came from his work. So I said to the man, "Now, you must excuse me, for I have promised a lady in the village to be at their house at
ten this evening."

"O no!" said the man, "it is too late. Your bed is ready," signalling to his wife to show me the place.

I took a look at the room, when to my horror I found it to be a small, square room with no window in it, and only one door which led into the room where we were sitting.

Returning to the man, I thanked him for the room and bed that I was to sleep in, but added that I must go and fulfill my promise to this lady up in the village, and if I did not return inside of one hour he should not wait for me.

Seeing that I was determined to go, he said. "Well, I will wait for your return. "

So I took my coat, satchel and hat and bade them good night.

The man and his wife both kept their seat, so I had to find my way out in the darkness. When I came to the outer door I could not get it open. By feeling with my hand, I found that an iron chain had been placed on the door so that no one could come in from the outside.

Here I stood a long time before I got the end of the chain off, for it was fastened in four places. When I got the door open I can assure you, dear readers, that I felt thankful unto my Heavenly Father that I once more could breathe the cool air of the night.

I closed the door, and off I went for the village as fast as my feet could take me. After leaving the house the dog had been turned loose by the man and was sent after me to bite me. But the dog came so swift that it passed me, and I took up a stone to drive it off if it returned to attack me.

It was getting very late, so I did not call on the people I had told the man that I was going to see, but started off to a place where lived a family who were members of the Church.

I reached my destination at midnight. Here I related my experience of the evening, when I was told that the man whom I escaped from was an ex-convict and had just returned from the state prison where he had been for eighteen years. The crime for which he was imprisoned was poisoning two young men, strangers in the land, whom he robbed and then buried in his field.

Both the family and myself were thankful to our Heavenly Father that my life had been preserved.

H. F. F. Thorup.

Helena Kjeldsen (1833-1899): Emigration

Helena Kjeldsen Fikstad (my 3rd great grandmother) emigrated to the United States from Norway in 1877.  The Mormon Migration database documents her trip (as well as over 700 others) here.  Traveling with her were two of her sons, Oscar and Axel (my 2nd great grandfather.)

From the notes in the link, it sounds like a group of Norwegian converts had sailed to Copenhagen, Denmark and picked up some Danish converts then set sail to Hull, England on June 21, 1877 in two ships, the "Argo" and the "Pacific".  They arrived in Hull on June 24, 1877.  From there, the converts took a train to Liverpool.  In Liverpool, they joined converts from England, Germany, Switzerland, and Holland and boarded the steamship "Wisconsin."  The "Wisconsin" sailed from Liverpool on June 27th and arrived in New York on July 7th.  In New York they set out by train and arrived in Salt Lake City on July 14, 1877.

Some notes I have say that her husband, Hans Christian Fikstad, emigrated a couple of years later although I can't find his name in the database.  Other children also arrived later.

The impact of the train can't be ignored here.  Had they arrived just a few years earlier, the journey from New York to Salt Lake would have taken months, not the week it took Helena and her sons.

The database spells her name Helene.

Herman August Thorup (1826-1907): Death Certificate

This is the death certificate of my 3rd great-grandfather Herman August Thorup.  He was born August 11, 1826 in Denmark.  He passed away on August 20, 1907 at the age of 81 in Salt Lake City, Utah.  I got this death certificate from the Utah State Archives.

This certificate lists his father as Lars C Thorup.  My records show his father as Christian Larsen Thorup.  I guess they are both right.  The mother is listed as Johannah Holm.  My record has her name as Johanne Katrine.  Maybe Johannah is an Americanized version of her Danish name.

I wonder if his middle name comes from the month he was born?