Stories: An Aged Gentleman and A Young Woman Join
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| Stavanger, Norge: A Letter Home Dated Tuesday, November 5, 1963 said this: We had a really good week last week. We met with a lot of good people. We have 17 good contacts with whom we are working. We have an older couple who are very good. We gave them the 2nd discussion last night, and they took it really well. Name is Sørensen. Their date is set for the 26th of this month. Sunday, we gave the rest of the 5th to a nice lady who is a widow. We gave it to her at a member’s place out in Sola, which is a 20-minute bus ride from here. After we left to catch the bus, this lady stayed at the member’s place until 11:00 P.M. talking about the Gospel. She told the member that she just couldn’t get the whole thing off her mind. I know she knows it is true and am sure she will become a member before the end of the month. I think I told you about that Hungarian refugee family. Well, we met with them last Wednesday, and gave them the first nine points of the first discussion. They had to translate a lot and talk in Hungarian – but, they seemed to accept the whole thing. They are wonderful people. We also have three other families with whom we are working. Things are going really well. All I have to do is keep my mind on the work and work hard. I really haven’t given too much thought to what I am going to do after my release. Stavanger, Norge: A Letter Home Dated Sunday, November 10, 1963 said the following: Well, Sunday afternoon again. It seems like every other day is Sunday. I thought I would drop you a line and let you know of some of the latest happenings here in Hillevåg area: Stavanger district. The work is going forward, and things are looking up here in Stavanger. We have some wonderful investigators who are progressing very well. Our best, the Sørensens, are working towards the 26th as a goal and are holding commitments very well. I am sure that, if we work hard and keep humble, the Lord will bless these people, as He has done so far. We talked with them twice last week. The Spirit was truly present at both meetings. At the first one, we gave the second discussion to them, but on our return appointment, she was unable to be there, so we talked with him alone. He is truly humble and desirous to know the truth. Where most people are afraid to repent, this man is afraid that he won’t be able to repent enough. He says that he goes and thinks about this the whole day and can’t sleep at nights. As we knelt in prayer with him at the close of our meeting with him, the Spirit was present as much as I have ever felt it during all my mission experiences. I know these people will be soon members of the Church. They are coming out to Sacrament Meeting this evening. We got going with a fellow-shipping committee last week. The members whom we chose are really enthusiastic about the whole thing. I am sure the whole Branch will benefit through this committee. After Sacrament Meeting – Well, Herr Sørensen was out to meeting this evening. His wife, however, was unable to make it. He really enjoyed the meeting, and we have a return appointment with them tomarrow night. We will at that time present the third discussion, which includes the Word of Wisdom. I am certain things are going forward for that wonderful couple. Stavanger, Norge: A Letter Home Dated Sunday, November 17, 1963, contained this: This past week has been a rather interesting one. As I told you last week, Herr Sørensen was out to Sacrament Meeting. Monday evening, we gave them the 3rd discussion, and they both had the immediate desire to quite their “Word-of-Wisdom” habits. Monday afternoon – Hello, again! I got so drowsy yesterday, that I went to sleep in the chair. My cold is a lot better on account of some “Coricidin” tablets that my companion let me have. They surely kill a cold fast. Good stuff! The Sørensens were out to Church last night. We had a wonderful meeting and they liked it a lot. We have an appointment with them this evening for the rest of the 4th discussion, which we didn’t get finished last Thursday evening before I had to leave to catch the train to Oslo to that leadership conference. He drove us down, otherwise I would have been late; and on the way down, I told him I really appreciated what he was doing, and he remarked back: “Not as much as I appreciate what you are doing for us.” So, as you can see, they are truly wonderful people. I am sure that they will be ready for baptism on the 26th, when they are challenged for it. We are going to testify and challenge all our investigators this week to see if they will start to prepare themselves for baptism. We have some very wonderful people studying the Gospel, and I know things will go well. Stavanger, Norge: A Letter Dated Tuesday, November 26, 1963, contained this: Well, that is enough “trunk-riding” for now. Now to get down to some serious business. The Sørensens are progressing fine. They are challenged for today, and we have been fasting since yesterday morning to see if we can get them to make the decision. They know the Church is right, but he is afraid that he hasn’t repented enough. But, all it takes is the right decision, and, of course, the help of the Lord, and they will be baptized today. We had a wonderful group cottage meeting with them and a member family last night, and we will be going there at 5:00 P.M., as soon as they both are home from work. They are truly wonderful people, and I have grown to love them very much, since we started with them. All the preparations are made, and now everything is up to the Lord. Will write again soon. I love you both with all my heart, and am thankful to have such wonderful parents – Love, Harold. Stavanger, Norge: A Letter Home Dated Saturday, November 30, 1963, said: This past week we have had some good meetings with the Sørensens. Tuesday evening, he made the request for a little more time in which to fully repent. He, however, said he wanted me to baptize him, so we set the 12th of December, as their goal to work towards. We gave them the sixth discussion to them on Wednesday, and they accepted the Law of Tithing very readily. I know they will be good members of the Lord’s Church, and they will be true credits to the branch here in Stavanger (which incidentally needs them badly!). We gave them an example of the Church magazine “Lys Over Norge” (Light Over Norway) a couple of weeks ago. It contained an article on Fasting by President David O. McKay and another one by President George Albert Smith titled “What is a Testimony?”. They took the teachings of each and are incorporating them into their lives. Tomarrow is Fast Sunday, and they have decided to fast along with us. They are certainly “Golden” investigators. They will be baptized on the twelfth. We haven’t been able to meet with the Abarbanell family (the Hungarians) lately. He practices veterinary medicine out across the fjord at a place called Tori, and it isn’t too often for us to come in contact with him, because he stays out there quite a lot. But, if we could only meet with them, they would be members soon. I’m sure of that. Stavanger, Norge: The Last Letter Home from Stavanger, Dated Sunday, December 8, 1963, indicated: Monday, December 9, 1963 - But, however, before my release time we have some people to baptize. We had some really good meetings with the Sørensens last week, and, to top it all off, on Saturday, we had another group meeting with them and the Bjerga family. That just about cinched things up for him. He was out to Church alone last night, because his wife came down with a sudden cold in the throat. He had a desire to talk with Branch President Erik Andersen concerning a problem of repentance. President Andersen said afterwards that everything went well, and, that he (Bro. Sørensen) would be baptized this coming Thursday. I had a big surprise last Friday at a Relief Society bazaar sale at which I was asked to play a number on the piano. At the close of the opening gathering, a 14-yr-old girl named Jorunn Jensen, whose mother we have been trying to convert, came up to me and asked me if I would baptize her. Her best friend was baptized back in August, and now she has made up her mind that she wants to become a member. We will baptize her tonight. The T.E.s have been here in town now for a week. They have worked with all the Elders on the team, but have worked a little more with us to get these people into the Church before I go. Stavager, Norge: A Christmas Card Home Dated Sometime before Christmas noted this: We have had some really good meetings with the Sørensens. Boy, they are wonderful people! Date Book, Sunday, December 8, 1963: "½3 (2:30 P.M.) Jorunn" Date Book, Monday, December 9, 1963: "Sørensen; Dåp – Jorunn Jensen; Knudsen; Baptized – Jorunn Maria Holter Jensen"
Date Book, Tuesday, December 10, 1963: "7:00 Kjensberg; Sørensen" Date Book, Wednesday, December 11, 1963: "G.U.F. 7:00; Fast – Sørensen" Bright and early in the morning before his leaving for work, Elder Johnson and I went to Bror Sørensen’s house to begin our common fast in prayer. After finishing work for the day, Bror Sørensen said he was now ready for Baptism. As nearly as I can remember, this is his recount of how the day went: "The day started out normally, with the greetings and plans of the day between my partner and me. At the morning break time, my partner came in the room where I was painting and said, 'Hey, Ludvig, time for a smoke.' and I replied, 'No thanks, I'm not going to smoke right now.' At noon time, my partner came in and said, 'Hey Ludvig, it's time for lunch,' and I said, 'No thanks, I'm not going to lunch.' My partner's reply was one of amazement, 'Ludvig, this isn't like you, not eating!' and I exclaimed, 'I'm not eating today at all!' "What, not eating today at all; what's up?' 'I'm fasting from food and drink today with the purpose of losing my smoking habit, which has been so hard for me personnaly; so I'm seeking the Lord's help to gat rid of it.' My partner went away, shrugging his shoulders. At the afternoon breack time, my partner didn't even bother to come ask about breaking, but I saw him sitting on the floor in the next room with a cigarette in his mouth, and to me that was the most awful thing in my mind he could be doing right then. I realized at that point that the Lord had truly helped me get rid of that repugnant habit that had plagued me for so long. It was a sure testimony that the Lord's way is the right way, and I'm finally ready to be baptized!" Date Book, Thursday, December 12, 1963: "Dåp – Sørensen; Team Fast; Confirmed – Ludvig Marcelius Sørensen" Date Book, Friday, December 13, 1963: "Packed to get ready for traveling home; Visited members and investigators, including, most of all, Jorunn Jensen and Bror Sørensen." Bror Sørensen’s Baptism: When we baptized Bror Sørensen, unfortunately the water heater in the Church was broken, and the water in the font was almost the same temperature as if we had baptized him in the Stavanger Fjord just about 2 miles away. (The font in the Church was under a wooden rostrum cover that had a portable pulpit on top for auxiliary Church meeting use, and folding chairs for those leading the meeting.) When Elder Johnson went down into the font, he gasped for air as cold as the water was. Bror Sørensen stepped down in the font with Elder Johnson’s shivering assistance, and Elder Johnson baptized him without him showing any sign at all of noticing the effect of the cold water. After the meeting ended, with Bror Sørensen now a full-fledged member of the Church, we asked him if he felt the coldness during his baptism by immersion. He answered with a resounding “No,” but then allowed as how he had too much faith in and joy by that ordinance, therefore he felt nothing but happiness that it was finally taking place. |
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