On our wall at home hangs a cover of a Church News from almost 20 years ago. It hangs there because our son Sean is in the cover photograph with a handcart and camera equipment. The unusual thing is that in the background is the dome of the “Savior on the Blood” Church in St. Petersburg, Russia. The headline says, “Handcarts across Siberia.” In honor of the Mormon pioneers who, at great sacrifice, crossed the American plains more than 150 years before, modern-day Russian Saints trekked across their own land. They were an example of the new kind of pioneer—one who sacrifices the World to leave behind the darkness and walk into the light.
One such pioneer was Igor, the president of a little branch in Gotchna. At his first introduction to Mormon missionaries, he was drowning in drink and a life without purpose. He embraced the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and lost his government-supported job, his friends, and extended family. With faith he created his own business, traveled to Sweden to receive temple ordinances, and led his family in righteousness. As we stood with Igor, complaining of the rickety train which was stalled in the frozen Russian winter, it was Igor who dropped his head, folded his arms, and fervently prayed in faith for the Lord’s help. We quickly closed our eyes and felt the power of his pleadings. As he ended and we raised our heads, the train started, and we boarded for the trip back to St. Petersburg.
And now in Russia they look forward to a temple’s being built on Russian soil.
Elder Flanagan and I have talked many times about how you, our brothers and sisters in Laredo, are also pioneers—Saints who are willing to work, sacrifice, and covenant as you build a stake of Zion. We are blessed to be part of this exciting trek. We were asked to speak today about pioneers, and you were the first to come to mind.
For some reason, when I packed for our trip, I included one envelope of family histories. I am thankful for my own pioneer heritage—brave ancestors who faced pain and death in Europe, on the ocean’s waters, and across America’s wilderness. As in many pioneer stories, they left their properties and homes, unbelieving family, wealth, comfort, friends, and jobs, and pledged themselves to the building of God’s Kingdom above all else the world had to offer. My great-great-grandfather, Christopher Syverson Winger, was one of those valiant pioneers in the early restored church. Born in Norway in 1835, Christopher was a strong, handsome, and ambitious man. He apprenticed as a shoemaker. A young man, separated from home and family, he began to withdraw from his Lutheran religion and slipped into a worldly life, though he read the Bible and wished he could have lived in the days of Jesus and his apostles saying, “Oh, that I had lived in that day, then would I also have been faithful in proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and even though I was brought before a judge and thrown into prison, I would have stood fast.” Little did he know that his future held just such a promise!
When two Mormon missionaries came to Drammen and stirred up much interest about a “new” church which proclaimed angels had visited the earth and given golden plates to a boy named Joseph Smith, Christopher listened. At his first hearing, he experienced a “heavenly feeling. It was as though a voice whispered to me that here was something which I must hear and investigate.” He traveled around Norway, securing jobs as he went and ending up as a factory worker with a Mormon who talked to him about the Gospel. Others warned him not to listen to these American ideas and tried to disparage those who would preach or join with such a group. Christopher, however, was drawn to Brother Frandsen (who was probably one of my husband’s ancestors!)and joined with him in a meeting where the Spirit was so strong, that Christopher cried and committed himself to baptism. He says that the Tempter tried to stop him, but he knew he should go ahead and be baptized and give his life to Christ.
At that time in Norway, Mormons were severely persecuted, and Christopher was choosing a difficult path. He was called as a traveling elder (missionary) and began to preach and baptize. This led to his imprisonment at least twice. He faced traveling on foot without purse or script in the freezing Scandinavian winters. Miracles saved him and strengthened him.
Terrible epidemics swept Europe, and C.S.S. Winger was called by the Norwegian government to go to school to become a doctor, which he did for a year and a half until his call to missionary work won out and he returned to God’s work full time. He was falsely accused of crimes and thrown in prison for weeks, subsisting on bread and water. Released on Christmas Day, he walked through the snow until (it is his testimony that) God sent two good men who offered to transport him by sleigh for a small amount of money (which he had hidden in the toe of his boot), then on the deck of a steamer where he was snowed upon day and night, and into Stavanger. He writes, “Even the school children pursued me on the streets, and both myself and the Saints were exposed to mob violence, but the Lord strengthened us and many believed our testimonies.” Again he was arrested for preaching Mormonism, and thrown into a dank and dark cell. When Christopher was finally released, he traveled about by foot, preaching and baptizing. One of the men he baptized was a wealthy man who took many Saints with him to Zion. None of Christopher’s family would listen to him, and none joined the Church in this life. Persecution had become so great that Christopher S.S. Winger was finally granted permission to leave Norway and go to Denmark. He had no money and marched on-foot through all of Sweden. Elder Winger served among the Saints and traveled still, preaching and baptizing until in 1863 when he received permission to emigrate to Zion. He sailed on the B.S. Kimball from Liverpool, England, with 700 Saints bound for America. Many couples were wed aboard the ship, including Christopher and his beloved Ane Marie Salvesen, whom he had known since childhood. They “arrived happy and well at Salt Lake City in the early part of September 1863.” Christopher stayed faithful and stalwart all of his days. He served another mission to Scandinavia and one to Minnesota. He had three wives and 24 children. Through his trials and sacrifices, he remained a faithful pioneer and bore his testimony firmly all of his days. When we are faithful through hardships, the Lord is building us into strong servants.
I am grateful for all the gospel pioneers! Because of their examples and sacrifices, the Church was firmly established for me and for you. And now Elder Flanagan and I have been called to work with the Laredo Pioneers of 2018—to build a stake—to prepare us all for more temples—to teach our young people to be the leaders of southern Texas. Like those who crossed the plains, I bear witness that we do not have to do it alone. Our Heavenly Father will send angels to attend us. Those who have gone before us will watch over us in the Lord’s work. We pray for you and ask you to pray for us in this righteous work.
No comments:
Post a Comment