Although Norway did not suffer the battlefield or bombing damage of much of the rest of World War II Europe, Norway was occupied by Germany early in the war and cut off from trade and free communication with the world. For four long years, church leaders in Salt Lake City heard nothing from or about the Saints in Norway.

What would you want to report about the Saints in your care under those circumstances?

Oslo, September 4, 1944

President Thomas E. McKay
Salt Lake City

Dear Brother:

It has been a long time since you heard anything from us here in the Norwegian Mission, but now I have an extraordinary chance to send you a greeting from the Saints in Norway.

The condition here in our mission is good taking the circumstances in consideration. We are living under the yoke of war, and that does interfere with our work to some extent. Thus it has been difficult to travel and visit the Saints in the branches, but I have been able to visit most of them since our spring conference.

Our conferences we have held twice a year and I am glad to tell you that they have been very well attended and a blessing to the Saints.

Up to this day we have been saved from destruction and the church property is still on our hands except the Stavanger meeting house which for the two last years has been used by the German “protectors.” In spite of this the meetings have been held all the time in this branch, but in hired halls.

The activity in the priesthood has been very good lately, especially in the larger branches, and many good brothers are willing to do their best in performing their duties. All our organization are active and holding their meetings regular. It has been some difficulty in providing lessons for all these classes, but the superintendency in the auxiliaries have done their best in providing lessons each year. We look forward to the time when we again can have connection with the General Boards in Zion and get the necessary instructions for our work.

The offerings are coming in better than ever, and thus the economical condition of the Norwegian Mission is very good.

We are sorry to say that we not (till yet) have been able to purchase a property for the Trondheim Branch, which was the desire of our presiding brethren in Zion. it has been almost impossible during the war to get anything as people do not sell their properties now. A lot of properties are also claimed by the Germans, but we hope to get something when the war is over. The meetings in Trondheim are now held in the old hall, in the former Church property, and this has been large enough for our use.

Our Star, “Lys over Norge” is published regular once a month, and is now printed in 700 copies. Several non-members are subscribers.

Our Church literature we have all the time got from Denmark, but now there are some of our standard works which we can’t get any longer, they are all sold out and can’t be printed again till the war is ended. (The Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price.)

When I look back on the four years which are gone since we were left alone, I feel to say that in spite of the difficulties which often have been hard, there has always been a way out of it, and I must thank my Father in Heaven for his help and guidance which I have often been blessed with in many different ways. I don’t think the Norwegian Mission ever has been in such a condition before as we have had for the last three years, without connection with Zion. This has been difficult in many ways, one can’t get away from that fact. But we have many good and loyal brothers and sisters who each in their own place are doing their best, and I don’t think the Saints have agreed so well before as they have done these last years.

The presiding brethren in the branches have got as their main duty to work with the Saints, to make them more active, and it has been of good help to many. In some branches there also has been done much to bring order in the membership of some not so good members. It also has been necessary in some cases to excommunicate some unrepentant members for adultery.

We also have baptized some, and the membership is, in spite of many deaths, a little larger than it was four years ago. We also have had the privilege to send out seven missionaries who have worked from four to 13 months. At the present we have only one who has been out for 16 months. These missionaries have been provided for by the Saints who have donated sufficient means so there has been no difficulty in keeping them. But the conditions are now so hard that it is impossible for us to call upon more missionaries to go out. They have been of great help to some of the branches where there are few brothers to take charge of the work. It also has been a blessing to the missionaries to have had this opportunity.

I have now tried to give you a small report over the condition in our mission, and I hope that the time soon will come when we can send our reports over to Zion which will give you a more detailed view of the facts.

Will you please give our best regards to our presiding brethren and also send greetings to all the Saints in Zion from us here in Norway. We are all safe. None of the Norwegian Saints have been hurt or killed on account of the war. We are all looking forwards in hopes of getting out of bondage and being free again!

You can’t write me any answer to this letter, but I am glad for the chance to send you this greeting from all the Saints and myself.