By Christopher Olsen Folkmann

Christopher Olsen Folkmann was born Feb. 8, 1827 in Aaker Parish, Bornholm, Denmark, a son of Jorgen Christoffersen and Gjertrud Kristine Ipsen Folkmann.  His father was by trade a blacksmith and supported his family by the labor of his hands.  Christopher was the fifth of seven children, and the parents, who were members of the Lutheran Church, were Godfearing people and consequently gave their children a good religious training and showed them a good Christian example.  In his childhood Christopher was by nature religiously inclined and read the Bible with great interest.  He also received a good common education although the public schools of Bornholm, at that time, occupied a rather primitive place educationally.

When Christopher had been confirmed as the custom is in the Lutheran Church, he started as a blacksmith apprentice in January 1845 with Jens Nielsen in Ronne, where he stayed two years and learned the trade; later he worked for mastersmith J. Sanne in the city of Allinge until he took sick and in December 1847 came home to the parents and from that time managed his father's workshop.  His mother died Nov. 20, 1848 at the age of about 59 years.  We will now copy from Brother Folkmann's own record.  He writes:

I made good progress in my trade and had many customers that held me in high regard and I enjoyed the company of my friends, but my heart was ever seeking after something better.

In the summer of 1851, I heard it rumored that certain religious teachers called "Mormons" had arrived at our Island and held meetings in the neighborhood of my father's house.  A burning desire to hear them immediately took possession of me, and on the 12th of October 1851, I attended one of their meetings for the first time.  This was held in the home of Mr. Didriksen in Askirkeby and Elders H. P. Jensen and A. Aagren spoke.  I cannot describe the effect the testimony of these men had on me, but it did appear to me that Elder Jensen was too hard in his expressions, for he declared that a false gospel was preached by the Lutheran Church.  Never the less, when I and my brother Peter walked home from the meeting, we decided that we would repent from our sins though not intending to be "Mormons."

My older brother Jeppe, who also had a desire to hear the saints, invited the missionaries to hold a meeting in his home and on this occasion called his neighbors and relatives together.  Elder H. P. Jensen and teacher Jens Jorgensen spoke.  I attempted to gainsay them, but every time I was answered with Bible evidences which served to convince me of the truth of "Mormonism" with the result, that I now, more than ever, searched the scriptures.  On Nov. 7, another meeting was held at my brother Jeppe's house, at which my father, brother Peter, brother-in-law P. M. Piil and others of my relatives were present.  Elder H. P. Jensen spoke with great power and made a strong impression upon the people, and after this meeting my brother Jeppe, his wife, my cousin Anders Ibsen and wife and Trine Johnson requested baptism.  These five went down to the shore and were baptized by H. P. Jensen in the presence of many of those, who had attended the meeting.  Seeing the rite of baptism being performed in this original manner, I was permeated by a wonderful feeling and great joy filled my soul, but I feared that my brother's wife would not be able to stand the cold water because she had for some time been subject to a kind of fits, which no doctor had been able to cure her for, but to my great surprise, she was now, through baptism, healed from this affliction.  Shortly after, the parents of my brother-in-law, Henning P. Piil, wife and daughter were baptized.

Elder Jensen then went to Copenhagen to attend a general conference and the people of Bornholm began to be considerable disturbed.  Many ridiculed me for my interest in the "Mormons" and for speaking well of them, also for reading their tracts.  Some parish officials and others even went so far as to threaten me by saying that they would not patronize my shop if I became a "Mormon."

Brother J. Jorgensen, whom Elder Jensen before his departure had ordained a priest, continued to hold meetings which I always attended and through these my faith increased.  Thus on Nov. 24, he held a meeting at brother Didriksens in Askirkeby, but there he was disturbed by a mob that forced him out of the house, pulled his hair and tore his coat.  At last he and my brother Jeppe succeeded in escaping from their pursuers and safely reached my father's house, where they hid themselves; but the mob surrounded the house and wanted to get hold of the brethren.  This my father would not permit.  Fearing that my father would not be able to keep the ruffians out the brethren fled out through a back door and ran to my brother Jeppe's house.  Such persecutions strengthened my faith because I recognized the truth of the words of the apostle Paul:  "All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."  But as yet I did not have courage enough to be baptized.

I was however advised to bow down before God and pray with my own words which I had never done before.  In obedience to this advise, I began one evening on my bended knees to plead with the Lord in mighty prayer.  The power of darkness left me and I was filled with a joy unspeakable and a great desire for baptism.  The Lord blessed me also with good and wonderful dreams, which were a great comfort to me during the persecutions that grew more intense to the extent that the mob even sought the very lives of the saints.

Elder O. C. Nielsen arrived at this time for the purpose of assisting priest Jorgensen in the ministry.  These two brethren visited me in my father's house on Nov. 27, and talked a good deal to me about religion.  In the evening they departed for Aaker, where they had called a meeting at the home of a man named Ole Peterson.  As they walked along the road past the house of Carl Thorsen, they were stopped by some men who were out hunting for them and soon there was about 50 men gathered, and under the direction of the constable they transported the brethren out of the parish, telling them that their lives were in danger, should they ever return.  Brother … received also a stroke over one cheek with a cane.

When I learned that the mob had taken the brethren I got my apprentice (Norten Engel) and Brother Didriksen to go with me out searching for them intending to give them assistance if they were being ill-treated.  But as we were walking down the road, came two farmers driving towards us, Jorgen Kaempe and Peder Nielsen.  They let go of their horses and took hold of us, but when we tore ourselves lose from them Jorgen Kaempe hit me with his whiphandle and roared:  "Here are Mormons."  "Beware, beware," answered a mob, that came towards us on the road, while we at once began to run northward to get away from them.  "They are running north," shouted Jorgen Kaempe and we saw the whole gang run after us.  Suddenly an idea struck me; when the shout "They are running north" went from mouth to mouth, we also began to yell "they are running north" and thus we passed by them without being recognized.  After having walked about 6 miles we found to our great joy both Nielsen and Jorgensen at Jeppe Bentsen's place in Sose 4 o'clock in the morning.  They were both well, feeling happy and grateful to the Lord for their escape from their enemies.

On the 29th of November, I went with my beloved brother Jens Peter Folkmann to Arnager, where we both were baptized by Jens Jorgensen at the seashore.  It was a fine, clear night which I will never forget.  We walked back the same night to father's house.  Early the following morning, Nov. 30, I had a visit of some of my customers, who withdrew their work from me henceforth, paid their bills and gave me to understand, that no "Mormon" should have anything to do for them; they had already learned that I had been baptized.  In the afternoon I and my brother Peter again went to Arnager, where we attended a meeting and received the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.  Brother Neilsen spoke with great power and my soul rejoiced.  At this occasion my brother Jeppe was ordained a priest and set apart as president of the branch.

My cousin Anders Ibsen was at the same time ordained a priest and Ole Petersen a teacher; they were called to assist the president.  When we went home a number of people were in the fields armed with clubs intending to waylay the brethren and beat them up when they left the town; but fortunately they stayed in Arnager, and decided to leave from there for Copenhagen at the first opportunity on account of the increasing persecution.  As soon as I arrived home I was notified that I had been summoned to appear in court the next day in the townhall in Nexo.

I therefore went to Nexo on Dec. 1, and appeared in the courtroom, where the complaint was read to me, charging me with assault upon Jorgen Kaempe when I on the 27th of November met him and Peder Nielsen on the road.  Jorgen Kaempe also presented a doctor's certificate showing that he had a lump on his head, which he alleged I had given him when I struck him with a cane.  Peder Nielsen testified that he heard him receive the stroke but was unable to say which one of us had done it.  The judge then addressed me in a stern voice believing me guilty according to the testimony given.  But now I was permitted to explain my side of the affair and with Jens Didriksen and M. Engel as witnesses, I proved that it was Jorgen Kaempe and Peder Nielsen that had attacked us and that the first named had struck at me with his whiphandle but that I had not hit back.  The judge understood at once the whole procedure and started to reprimand Jorgen Kaempe who would not admit that he had attacked me but offered to swear to the fact that he had been hit by me.  He also showed his badly torn vest as a proof that I had attempted to rob him of his money.  The absurdity of this explanation was apparent to the judge who gave him a deserved rebuke and dismissed the case against me.  Those acquainted with Jorgen Kaempe declared that he always had the above mentioned lump on his head and that he had got the doctor's certificate for the purpose of using it against me.

On Dec. 2, a large mob, made up mainly of farmers, went down to the fishing town Arnager with the object in view of apprehending the brethren Nielsen and Jorgensen, who were yet to be found at this place in Brother Jens Nielsen's house.  The mob armed with clubs surrounded the house and demanded the missionaries turned over to them; but this made some of the fishermen quite angry and they said:  "No, nothing of the kind; let us arm ourselves and drive the mob away, maintain peace in our town and defend the Mormons for they are not doing us any harm."  In a short time a number of them had armed themselves with axes, clubs, iron bars etc., and one fired a shot from his old gun.  The farmers, who had not counted on such opposition, soon decided to get away as quick as possible before risking their limbs and thus the brethren were saved from harm.  Among those who at this time acted in their defense can be named Didrik Funk (Lund), Mons P. Ibsen and P. Poulsen, all now living in Plain City, also Jens Kofod, Lars Thorsen, Hammer and others.  Later most of these embraced the Gospel.

Soon after the affair in Arnager, the Missionaries left for Copenhagen, which caused us some distress for we were all as yet only "tender plants," and my brother Jeppe, who was called to be our president, was one of the least among us with reference to education, wherefore some of the brethren wondered why he should be our teacher, but the Lord blessed and qualified him for his position so he soon gained the love and confidence of the saints and we felt greatly blessed.  At this time the branch on Bornholm numbered about 30 baptized members beside the children.  The families were as follows:  Jens Nielsen (the first person baptized on the island), and his wife; Jeppe Bentsen his wife and two daughters, Jorgen Hansen with wife and wife's sister, Jens Didriksen wife and another sister in his house, my brother Jeppe, who was president and whose wife was in Copenhagen, where she thought she could better provide for herself as her husband in the future should give his time in the service of the Lord, J. P. Piil with wife and daughter, H. P. Pedersen and wife, Trine Johnson, Nikolaj Bejer and wife and an aged woman named Karen, my brother Peter, I and my cousin Anders Ibsen and wife, Ole Petersens and wife and my father's housemaid Cecilia.

Our persecutors now lived in the hope that they had finished "Mormonism" on the isle of Bornholm, for they did not think that the teachers whom they had driven away would dare to return anymore, and they further decided that none of the baptized persons should be able to obtain work; neither would they sell us anything unless we promised to denounce "Mormonism."  As most of us were poor and had to depend upon the labor of our hands for a living, they believed they could force us in this manner.  But in this they were mistaken.  Only H. P. Pedersen and wife denied the faith because the minister promised them assistance, and they fell back into their old life of intemperance.

Among the rest of us a great love for the gospel prevailed.  We met often together in prayer and held small meetings in which we received great joy.  We also assisted each other in temporal things as well as we were able and the Lord raised friends up unto us who let us have provisions either for or without pay.  I myself used a part of my time in testifying for my friends and worked at my trade for the rest of it.

I prayed to the Lord for more knowledge about the gospel as there were many things I could not understand.  Thus I often wondered about the resurrection of the dead for I could not see how we could again receive the bodies that the worms had destroyed.  But one night I had a dream in which I saw my departed mother stand before me just as she was when she died, and while I was looking at her she changed into the beauty of her youth.  At the same time I heard a voice saying:  "Such is the resurrection from the dead."  I awoke with great joy in my heart and from that time I never anymore had any doubts on this subject.

On Dec. 25, (Christmas) we held meeting in my father's house where I spoke in public for the first time.  The spirit of the Lord was with me to such a degree that both I and the hearers were very much surprised over my sermon.  Some strangers were present and among them a few of my former comrades.  As yet I had not been ordained to the priesthood.  The next day we also held a meeting and celebrated Christmas in this manner although our former friends ridiculed us for not celebrating Christmas as was customary with feasts, dance, drinking and card playing.

The few saints on Bornholm began the New Year (1852) with great joy.  We testified for neighbors, relatives and friends and we made attempts at holding meetings among strangers while our enemies continued to hate and persecute us.  On the 18th of January, my brothers, Jeppe and Peter, with my cousin Ibsen held a meeting at C. Munks place in Valensgaadhusene; but a mob gathered and made them leave the house, and beating them with clubs they drove them away about a mile like cattle.  My brother Jeppe and cousin Ibsen were badly beaten and my brother Peter suffered a loss of much blood having been hit in the head with a club by a man named Mikkel Brogaard.  This man (Brogaard) one of the worst Mormon-haters on the Island was later overcome by drink, lost his reason and committed suicide.  The brethren rejoiced because they were found worthy to suffer for Christ's sake and they were strengthened in their faith thereby.  They complained to Judge Smith in Nexo over the treatment received, and this officer warned the persecutors against doing such things again.

I continued to assist the brethren holding meeting and we gained many friends.  My brother baptized four persons but others who had been converted, preferred to postpone baptisms until the arrival of the brethren from Copenhagen.

General conference was held in Copenhagen, Feb. 20 to 22 to which my brother went in order to report the work on Bornholm.  At this conference, Elder Ole Swendsen was called to go to Bornholm, to labor there with my brother Jeppe and A. Ibsen.  We received brother Swendsen with great joy and soon after quite a number were baptized.  Thus no less than ten persons were baptized on March 13 and six the following evening.  In June my brother Jeppe went to Copenhagen, where he was called to perform a mission to Norway.

On July 10, we held a large meeting at Brother H. P. Piil's home to celebrate the anniversary of the church on Bornholm for it was just one year since the first four persons were baptized on the island.  At this time, Elder John E. Forsgren was with us.  He had arrived on a visit from Copenhagen and was the first elder from Zion to visit the island.  The following day a meeting was held at J. Bentsen, where Anders Ibsen was ordained an elder and set apart as presiding elder.  I was ordained a priest and set apart as secretary and book agent, also to do some missionary work.  My brother Peter was ordained a teacher, and others were ordained to different degrees of the priesthood.  The same evening a large meeting was held in the open air at Anders Mollers place in Vestermarie, where the brethren Forsgren and Svendsen were asked to meet and defend their faith against Lutherans, Grundtvigians and Baptists.  Several hundred people were present.  While Elder Forsgren spoke with great power he was interrupted by a Mr. Brant who cried, "He hasn't got the spirit of God now."  Elder Svendsen also spoke and presented our doctrines in a clear manner.  Our sectarian opponents, who for this occasion had united in attacking us, now disagreed among themselves and spoke against one another.  A Baptist minister named Nielsen continued to preach so long that not a soul was left on the place.

The people had decided to drive the "Mormons" out in a pond close by the meeting place and give us a good ducking but we succeeded in getting away from our persecutors and went to Brother Bentsen's house, where we continued our meeting.  Elder Forsgren held several other meetings and remained with us until July 17 when he went back to Copenhagen.

Up to this time I had been working mostly as a blacksmith and some of my customers began to come back to me, but from now on I traveled a great deal around with Bro. Svendsen preaching the gospel.  On July 22, I performed my first baptism, the candidate being Hans Peter Holm.  On the same day, my cousin O. C. Olsen, who had accepted the gospel in Copenhagen, arrived on a visit to the island, and I spent several days in his company visiting our relatives.  Thus on the 30th, we visited his brother-in-law, H. P. Hansen, in Ronne, and we began testifying to him and the family.  It was soon rumored in town that the "Mormons" had arrived and consequently a large body of people gathered in and outside the house and a tanner by name Bruun began to mistreat Brother Olsen and me.  Then another tanner named Wolff came to our rescue as he cleared the room and drove the people out after which the owner locked the door and thus we escaped further ill treatment.  The next day Brother Olsen went back to Copenhagen.

Elder Svendsen and I decided to go to Tindstad the same evening (July 31) and on the road we visited Mr. J. West, who had asked us to hold meeting but we found out upon our arrival that they intended to do us harm, wherefore we declined the offer.  We inquired about the road to Tindstad and a man named Holst pointed the way out to us but as soon as he had done it he went around as a messenger from the devil and told the neighbors who had decided to beat us about our whereabouts.  We soon reached Tindstad and went to a farmer named Wallentin Wallentinsen, with whom we formerly had held two large meetings and he had asked to be baptized that same evening.  Towards evening a number of strangers came to look at the cattle pretending to be prospective buyers.  We went into the sitting room and talked with my brother's wife, Sister Folkmann, who had brought us some clean clothes, but we felt at once that the strangers had evil designs and were planning to do us harm.  In our hearts we prayed the Lord to protect us for there was no chance to get away as the place was surrounded and the mob increased in numbers.  After a while some of the ruffians came in and invited us to come outside, where they said some "Mormons" desired to talk to us, but we refused to follow the invitation as we clearly saw the purpose of it.  A moment after the ruffians forced their way in and a smith named Hans Ibsen (Wallentinsen's brother-in-law) took hold of Brother Svendsen intending to pull him out.  Some of the others assisted him and they pulled Svendsen in the hair tearing some of it out, tore his clothes, ruining both coat, pants and vest, and hit him with clubs; but they could not get him out through the door.

At the same time Waevest Peter Holm took hold of me and would lead me out.  He tore my coat, vest and collar to pieces and Peter Waevest came over and began to beat me unmercifully with a bull whip.  Waevest Peter Holm got hold of a piece of wood with which he hit me in the head giving me several bad cuts from which the blood streamed down my face.  Others attempted to pull me outside but did not succeed although many had hold of me.

Wallentinsen became quite bewildered over what was taking place and kept on demanding peace, until finally there was a moments respite which we made use of to leave the room and hide ourselves.  Brother Svendsen went into the milkroom and I got up in the attic.  But as soon as the mob found out that we were hiding they began to search for us.  Soon a few of them came up in the attic and although they hunted for me in vain twice they found me the third time and as soon as they saw me they began to yell and shout for joy just as a wild animal when it pounces upon its prey.  They pulled me down the stairs and out in the yard, where they attacked me and beat me with clubs in a cruel manner until I fell down in a swoon and came near giving up the ghost.  When I regained consciousness and opened my eyes I found myself laying outside the gate and in the clear moonlight I could see my own blood flowing on the ground.  I made an effort to pray about as follows:  "O God, the eternal Father, I pray thee in the name of Jesus Christ to be merciful to me and receive my soul in thy kingdom and to forgive mine enemies, for they know not what they do."  Here I was interrupted by a ruffian near by who yelled:  "Don't act too saintly or I will…" and uttered a most terrible oath.  Some others took my part and a man named Christoffersen said:  "Consider what you are doing and spare his life:  after all he is our countryman."  This made many of them angry and he had to flee and hide behind a bush.  Wallentinsen and one of the men carried me into the house where they washed me and stopped the bleeding by pouring vinegar in the sores.  When they had bandaged me one of the fellows began to praise my parents and mentioned how good and honest we had been until we had been led astray.  He said that all we had to do to gain salvation was to keep the ten commandments.  I asked him if the ten commandments gave him permission to kill people.  I was then laid in a bed but I could not lay my head on the pillow on account of sores and bruises.

They again began their search after Svendsen, who had not yet been found, but he was well hidden in the milk-chamber for the woman had locked the door and put the key in her pocket.  In an adjoining chamber they found Sister Folkmann, who also had been hiding.  On finding her, the mob shouted for joy being under the impression that it was Svendsen; but when they learned it was a woman one of them remarked that she was not worth a beating, but another swore that she should have some for being so bold, and he then gave her a stroke on the forehead, which caused a big bump to develop.  The fellows now partook freely of spirits to bolster up their courage, and began to sing and drink, but it annoyed them greatly that they were unable to locate Svendsen.  One of them came in to me as I was laying in bed and would force me to say where he was.  When I could not do this, he would strike me, but another stepped in and said that I had been beaten sufficiently.  Then they would have me promise never to appear in Tindstad again, but I said:  "Let me get away from here first."

After awhile the mob departed without finding Br. Svendsen and then Wallentinsen locked the doors and went to bed but the enemy watched the place until 4 o'clock in the morning.  When all was quiet, Svendsen came out of his hiding place and went away.  Wallentinsen had, while the ruffians were mistreating me, sent word to the constable, Lars Peter Dahl.  He sent his boy with an extra horse to permit this official to arrive as soon as possible, but he refused most emphatically to come.  When Wallentinsen remonstrated with the mob and begged for peace they intimated that police sergeant Garde, the sheriff and the prominent Mr. Wagener had given them permission to beat the "Mormons" to their hearts content and even to kill them.

In the morning (Aug.1) I tried to get up but could not do so without fainting.  About noon, I had gained sufficient strength to get out of bed and start for Ronne, where I got a doctor's certificate and brought police sergeant Garde a complaint written by Wallentinsen about what had happened.  In this complaint, he named the ruffians and gave a clear and truthful account of the whole affair.  The complaint was signed by Wallentinsen, Svendsen and I and on Aug. 2, I delivered it to police sergeant Garde, who at once poured a string of abuse against me and declared that he would have nothing to do with the case.  I therefore sent word to Wallentinsen and when he arrived Mr. Garde had to promise to take action against the criminals.

On Aug. 3, Bro. Svendsen baptized my brother-in-law, P. M. Piil, now living in Mount Pleasant, Sanpete Co., and my sister Christiane.  I continued to travel around with Bro. Svendsen preaching and we held several small meetings while persecutions kept on unceasingly.  Bro. N. Pedersen's house in Ronne was on the 6th surrounded by a mob, who thought we were in the house.  They attacked the house, busted the door open and ransacked every corner with the object of finding us but fortunately there were no visitors present except Sister Folkmann who was hiding in the bed.  Br. Pedersen sent for the police who, in order to please the mob, helped to ransack the house.

On Aug. 7, Brothers Svendsen and Ibsen left for Copenhagen to attend conference there Aug. 12.  I had intended to go with them but had to remain home in order to be present in court when the ruffians, who had mistreated us in Tindstad, were tried.  Consequently on Aug. 9, I appeared in court in Ronne against these men who in the meantime had inflamed the people in the city so that a large crowd had gathered in the town hall.  The hearing started in charge of police sergeant Garde but soon after the leader of the mob entered a protest against continuing the proceedings.  At the same time the people outside became unruly and made ready to storm the court house and the trial was therefore discontinued.  Wallentinsen came out and was pursued on the streets for some time before he succeeded by the help of his friends to hide in Mr. Madsen's store.

I asked to be kept at the court house as a prisoner during the night under police protection, but as they wanted to get rid of me they led me out through a back door and across the yard; when I came out on the street, I was discovered and seized by the mob, who hit me with clubs so the blood ran down over my face.  I got away from them however, and ran through the crowd back to the courthouse and again asked the police for protection, which they finally gave me.  But some minutes after, the mob outside became more offensive and threatened to have the place searched and if any "Mormon" was found there, he would be taken out and killed.  At last the police were forced to help me over a high wall into an enclosure to which no door led in.  There I lay surrounded by walls and with the sky as roof until midnight and thanked the lord for my escape, while the mob went through the courthouse yelling and shouting but without finding any "Mormon."  When all again was peaceful about 12 o'clock at night, I came out from my hiding place and a policeman went with me out of town.  My rescue that night I mostly owe to jailer Petersen, who helped me into the little enclosure.  When the policeman had left me, I lost my way and not until next morning did I reach Jeppe Bentsens house in Sose in a very hungry and weakened condition.  But here I found rest and refreshment for which I thanked and praised the name of the Lord.

I learned later that the saints in Tindstad and Oster Larsker on that same night were forced to leave their houses and hide in the forest (Almindingen), for the enemy had decided to go from house to house and kill the "Mormons," for which purpose they had armed themselves with guns and other deathly weapons.  But the Lord saved us all for which the honor and glory be his forever.  After this episode, I went around and visited the saints quietly and on the 22nd we had a nice little meeting in my brother-in-law, P. M. Piils house, where a number of strangers were present and the power of the Lord was over us.

On August the 28th, I went by steamer to Copenhagen where I spent a few days in a very pleasing manner among the brethren and the saints there.  I sailed back to Bornholm Sep. 12.

On Sep. 14th were nearly all the saints on Bornholm gathered in the pavilion (Prinsehuset) in the woods of Almindingen, where we had a real joyfeast with faste, prayer and preaching.  It was here made known to the saints that they at the recent conference held in Copenhagen were organized as a conference under the name of Bornholm conference with Ole Svendsen as president.

The first council meeting after the organization of the conference was held Oct. 4, Bro. O. Svendsen presiding.  Several cases were handled and it was decided to hold a council meeting the first Monday in every month.  On the 6th came Wallentin Wallentinsen and asked us to baptize him and his family; his mind had not been at ease since the attack at his home, and he was afraid that his neighbors should kill him before he had been baptized.  We complied with his request at once and 2 o'clock the following night, he and his wife and son were baptized by O. Svendsen without being molested, although our enemies were watching us.  We were left in peace that month and we labored diligently for the spread of the gospel, held several meetings and baptized a number.

On Nov. 6, the first conference meeting was held on Bornholm at the home of Wallentinsen in Tindstad.  O. Svendsen presided.  After some remarks by Svendsen, Ibsen and others, Elder A. Ibsen was released as presiding elder and permitted to emigrate, and I was ordained an elder and set apart as president in his place; my brother Peter was ordained a priest and several were ordained to various offices.  When we were about through with all these matters, one of our friends named J. Jorgensen came and informed us that our enemies were preparing an attack on us.  We therefore finished in a hurry and left the place after designating Brother J. Nielsen's home in Arnager as the place of our next meeting.  We went out in the woods and sang praise to the Lord.  The following day a numerous congregation and peaceful strangers met at Bro. J. Nielsen's.  The house was overcrowded, but we had peace and good order while we continued the conference.  Good testimonies were also borne and the sacrament administered.  I was secretary of the conference.

At this time, some of the saints made preparations to emigrate to Zion and among those were also President O. Svendsen, with whom I took a hearty leave in the latter part of November, as well as with the following families who were the first saints to emigrate from Bornholm:  Anders Ibsen (my cousin) with wife and three children; Christian Munk with wife and children; Henning P. Piil with wife and daughter; Hans Piil with wife and two children; Hans Pedersen, wife and two children; Jens Pedersen Marker, wife and two children; Jeppe Bentsen, wife and children; Peter Petersen and John Pedersen, in all 25 adults and 11 children.

After the departure of the emigrants, I took sick and had to stay in bed a few days but I soon regained my health and continued my missionary labors with good success.  On Dec. 6, I held a council meeting in my father's house and on this occasion I divided the branch into districts and appointed the brethren ordained at the conference to watch over the saints and hold prayer meetings in the different districts.  On the 26th of the same month, I met my beloved brother G. G. Larsen in my father's house.  He was called to preside over the conference and had arrived on the Island the 24th.  In company with him, I took hold with renewed efforts to build up the work of the Lord on Bornholm.  Success and happiness were the fruits of our efforts and we became the instruments in the hand of the Lord to bring many to a knowledge of the truth so that new members continuously were added to the branch in spite of persecutions, that almost unceasingly raged around us.  The power of the lord was made manifest from time to time under our administrations, which served to strengthen our own faith and that of the saints.  I will relate one instance concerning a woman 70 years old.  She was the mother of Anders Madsen's wife in Clemmensker Parish and had been baptized in the beginning of 1853.  This woman had been sick in bed a long time and suffered pain and convulsions to such a degree that her hands and feet were so distorted that she could not walk on her feet nor do any kind of work.  But when she heard the testimonies of the brethren, she at once received faith in the gospel and asked to be baptized.  She was carried down to the water and was baptized by priest Peder Pedersen.  When Brother C. G. Larsen and I, both of us having known her before, on the 7th of January came to confirm her, we were greatly surprised to find her sitting up working at the spinning wheel while she praised the Lord for his great mercy unto her, for she was entirely free from any pain and her limbs were no longer stiff and sore as before.  As a proof, she laid both her hands on the back of her head while before she could not lift them to her mouth when eating.  The other members of the family believed and gave God the honor.  We confirmed her and rejoiced that the Lord was with us as in the days of old.

It was soon rumored in the parish that the old woman had been healed, and the minister who also had been told about this came to visit her for the purpose of personally finding out how matters were.  When she was asked what method she had used to be well, she said, praising the Lord:  "I have been baptized with the baptism of Christ and that is why I am healed."  The minister marveled at this and walked thoughtfully back and forth on the floor, and finally he said that it was not the power of God that had healed her but the cold bath.

On January 23, 1853, we held a meeting at farmer Svend Monsens.  The man was a believer, but his wife and children were quite angry and would not remain in the room, where the meeting was held.  Soon a number of relatives and neighbors gathered armed with clubs, intending to mistreat us, but we held a short meeting and got away before the worst ruffians of the neighborhood arrived.  When we said good-bye to the man, an old woman cried with a loud voice:  "Do not seduce him!  Do not seduce him!"  We got away from the place unmolested, although they cried and shouted after us from all directions.

A week later we held a meeting at A. Madsen's in Klemmensker parish where the sick woman had been healed.  There the devil had been let loose, for when we had started our meeting and Bro. Larsen began to preach to the many saints and friends present, he was suddenly interrupted by a mob, who had gathered in a valley close by and now rushed towards the house like bandits and robbers.  The already mentioned P. Waevesten appeared at once as leader and commanded Larsen with a terrible oath to stop talking, which he did.  Waevesten then began to strike at us and the rest of the mob followed his example while they shouted:  "Will you go back to our faith?" etc.  With their clubs they hammered away at any one they could get hold of.  I succeeded in getting out after having received a few blows on the head, but Bro. Larsen received a terrible beating and got a bad cut in the head, from which the blood ran down his face.  After a while he also got out and at last, after great exertion, we succeeded in getting away from our enemies.  We went into the forest and hid ourselves there for some time and then went to Bro. P. Pedersen and had our wounds bandaged.  We anointed the bruises with oil and they healed rapidly.  Besides Larsen and I, the following brethren were wounded:

"P. Pedersen, Jorgen Hansen, Frederik Oman, Johan Oman, A. Beck and Sister Wellentinsen.  Several others were also beaten in lesser degree.

In spite of these mobbings, we continued our work among the people, but we learned to be more careful, for which the Lord held his protecting hand over us, although many plans were laid for doing us harm.

On April 16, I in company with Bro. Larsen went to Copenhagen, where we reported conditions in the Bornholm Mission.  Ice prevented us from reaching over in time for the general conference, held shortly before we came.  During our stay in Copenhagen, we rejoiced being among the saints and brethren there.  Bro. Larsen also baptized Congressman Sonne's sister.  Bro. H. P. Olsen from Zion and my cousin O. C. Olsen accompanied us back to Bornholm, arriving there April, 29.  The brethren named were at the conference set apart to labor as missionaries on Bornholm.  I now traveled around a great deal with my cousin Olsen and baptized many.  Among these were two farmers, J. Jorgensen and Jens Ibsen, who now lives in Box Elder County, whom we baptized with their families 12 o'clock at night between the 8th and 9th of June, 1853.  As soon as we had left them and it became known that they had been baptized, all windows in their places were broken and great ill-feeling shown towards them.

On August 14, and 15, a conference was held at Bro. Beck's in Ostermarie, at which time the conference was divided in three branches namely Aaker Branch, over which I was called to preside, Ronne Branch with Bro. Bistrup as president, and Svanike Branch, with W. Wallentinsen as president.  After this time the work made wonderful progress.  Persecution became less bitter, meetings were held everywhere and many were baptized.  Oft-times we met opposition from the priests and school teachers, who frequently visited our meetings for the purpose of contradicting us, but the Lord assisted his humble servants so that the learned were always put to shame.

On Aug. 27, I met my dear brother Jeppe, who had labored as a missionary in Norway for fifteen months and had been in prison on Elverhoj about six months of that time because he had baptized a few for the remission of their sins.  He had surely suffered for the sake of the gospel and our meeting again was very joyful to all of us.

In company with my brother Peter, the 10th of Sept. (as) we were on the road to Ronne a man came towards us with a club in his hand intending to beat us, but we got away from him.  This same man broke his arm, shortly after, in an attempt to steal pears.

While I, in company with H. P. Olsen, C. G. Larsen and other brethren from Bornholm departed for Copenhagen on Oct. 1, where we arrived in the evening after a very stormy voyage.  We attended general conference there on the 6th.  In a priesthood meeting held the 10th, I was appointed to labor in the Lolland Conference under John Svenson's direction, and on the 13th I departed to my new field of labor in company with John Svenson and other missionaries.  We landed at Koster on Moen, where four members of the church resided in a place called Speljlsby.  Three others were baptized in Raabylille by Svenson on the 15th and the next day a branch of the church was organized on Moen with seven members.  A few days later, owing to threats from the farmers, we had to leave the Island and sail over to Falster, but we soon returned and took up our labor with great success.  About the middle of December, I went on a visit to Copenhagen to say goodbye to my relatives and friends from Bornholm, who were about to emigrate to Zion.  Among these were my brother Jeppe and wife, my brother-in-law, P. M. Piil and his wife (my sister Christiane), W. Wallentinsen and family, Jens Nielsen and family, Jorgen K. Riis and many others, with whom I was well acquainted.  The emigrants left Copenhagen Dec. 22, and a few days later I returned to my field of labor of Moen.  I continued my work on the three islands Lolland, Falster and Moen up to the latter part of April 1854, when I was released from that conference and called to labor again as a missionary on Bornholm.  We went from town to town and held large meetings; we gained many friends and suffered some persecution as well as opposition from the priests.  On March 1, we visited a farmer named A. Kryld, and here the minister Vollike and a school-teacher Klausen were just now warning the man against believing in "Mormonism."  Kryld had a short (time) previous, obtained one of our tracts and by reading it he had received faith in our teachings.  When we unexpectedly stepped in the minister became quite frightened but Kryld remarked:  "Don't lose courage, Mr. Pastor, because these good men came in."  "No," answered the minister in a very meek voice, "I fear not those, who can only slay the body."  After a little while and upon the host's request, began a conversation with the minister and a number of the neighbors gathered to hear the discussion.  We kept to the first principles of the gospel and I proved my faith from the Bible, which I also requested him to do, and when he could produce no proof whatever for infant baptism the people became impatient.  I then called the minister to repentance, which made him very angry and in his eagerness he bought tracts from me for 4 Mark 8 Shilling, and put them in the fire, saying:  "Now I got that devil burned."  Then he left the house in great wrath.  People who were witnesses to this, lost confidence in their minister and a farmer by name, C. Brodersen, who was present became converted and was baptized in a few days.

On March 28, I baptized a woman 80 years old, the mother of N. Pedersen.  Because of infirmity, she had been bedfast for a year and had lost both her sight and hearing.  She was very happy, she said, for having lived to see the time, of which her father had spoken so often, when the servants of God should wander about and preach as in the days of old.  Although she was blind, she could see many things, for she could see the spirits, who sang and read for her.

(From C.O. Folkman's journal:  On Feb. 21, 1854 I wrote my father like this:  Dear Father, with a happy heart and thanksgiving to God, I got to think(ing) about my dear father who had brought me up and who I loved.  I felt like writing you.  After having accepted the Gospel I feel as though there is still one thing that is needed and that is a fatherly blessing with the power of the Priesthood.  Not only in this world should a father enjoy his children, but in the life to come the children should bless their parents and the parents their children, and then God will be pleased with us.  O, I wish you had accepted the Gospel and could feel the blessings from the Lord.  Now our whole family is split up.  My father and one of my brethren in Bornholm, others have gone to Paradise and still others have gone over the big water.  What a blessing it would be to meet in the other world, all together.  Dear father, how long shall I pray the Lord in vain that you may accept the Gospel and that I may see a letter from you as an answer to this letter that you have entered his kingdom.  The Lord bless you in the name of Jesus Christ is the wish of Christopher O. Folkman.) 

Having received my new appointment I left at once for Bornholm, where I arrived May 5, 1854, and the following day I was well received by my father, still living in Limensgade, but he had sold his house for the purpose of emigrating to Zion, although he had not yet been baptized.

As traveling elder on the whole Island, then as president for Svanike Branch and later as president for Ronne Branch, I traveled around constantly in company with President C. G. Larsen, H. P. Moller and others, and preached the gospel in about two years and nine months with the exception of a short period at harvest time 1854 and 1855, when I worked to earn a little.  During this time the work of the Lord continued to grow and I felt very happy in my labors.  The power of the Lord was ever with us, the sick were healed, evil spirits driven out, and the spirit of God poured out over the saints in great abundance.  I will only relate one instance.  On June 17, 1855, I visited a Bro. A. Andersen.  His wife was afflicted with an unclean spirit; her face was terribly distorted and her mind deranged.  We decided that I and my brother Peter, who was with me, should lay hands upon her, which we did.  We rebuked the evil spirit in the name of Jesus and commanded it to leave her and promised her a peaceful night's rest, for she had not had any sleep for a long time.  The power of the Lord was certainly made manifest on this occasion, for every promise given was fulfilled.  The evil spirit left Sister Andersen at once, she got perfectly well and slept in peace all night.

In July 1855, I and President C. G. Larsen worked about a week harvesting on Soldstergaard.  Here we gained such influence over the people of the house, that they knelt down with us in prayer and left off their swearing and brandy-drinking.  The men treated us more like masters than workmen and left all the harvesting to us and Bro. Hans Munk, now living in Logan, and gave us permission to do as we pleased.  We worked very hard and were soon done with the harvest to the satisfaction of the farmer, after which he arranged quite a party for us and gave us the use of two buggies and provisions for an outing in the woods.  As all the workmen were "Mormons" we had a very enjoyable time with songs, dance, games and prayer.  And when we left the man gave us twice the wages that others received.

In a council meeting held at Hans Kofod's place in Arnager Sept. 7, 1856, the law of tithing was introduced among the saints on Bornholm.  (From his journal:  On December 23rd, 1856 I was engaged to my dear Elie.)  On the 24th day of December my father was baptized (by Hans Kofoed.)

Although I had permission from my president to emigrate and had already sent in the handcart money, etc., I received in the beginning of 1857, a letter from President Hector C. Haight in which I was told that I had been called to preside over the Fredericia Conference.

On January 28, 1857, I therefore took leave of my family and friends and departed for my new field of labor.  Feb. 7, I arrived in Vejle, Jylland, where I met Elder Jens Jorgensen, whom I should succeed.  With him I traveled around considerable and became acquainted with the saints in the conference.  On March 6, we had a day of humiliation and confession and on the following day we began the well known reformation.  Bro. J. Jorgensen baptized me and later we baptized the elders and all the saints for the renewal of their covenants.  This brought in new life among the saints and the gospel made great progress.  The power of the Lord rested upon me in great abundance during my labors among the saints and the friends of truth in the Fredericia Conference.

In the first part of February 1858, I received a telegram from President Hector C. Haight, which gave me permission to emigrate, provided I could procure the necessary means.  Although I did not possess a single Rigsdaler, I answered by telegram, that he could put my name down on the list.  Bro. H. P. Olsen, now living in Fountain Green, later loaned me the money for my emigration.  On Feb. 14, I said good-bye to the saints and my friends in Jylland and on the following day I arrived in Copenhagen, from where I, in company with other emigrants, departed on the 20th for Korsor, that was the gathering place for the little emigrant company, that this year was to leave Scandinavia and go to Zion.  Elder Iver N. Iversen was appointed leader of the company with C. A. Madsen and I as counselors.  After a hard voyage, we arrived in Liverpool on March 15, and remained here for a few days.  On the 18th, I was married to Elia Mecella Funk, with whom I, for some time, had been engaged.  On the same day we boarded the sailing vessel "John Bright" and left Liverpool, March 22.  We arrived in New York, April 24, and continued our journey by rail to Iowa City.  Here we met H. C. Haight and other brethren from Zion.

Because an army of soldiers had been sent out to make war on Utah, it was not considered wise for the company to travel further for the time being or until peace had been declared.  Only the young unmarried brethren were given permission to continue the journey in company with the missionaries.  I was called to preside over the families and sisters that were left behind.  We at once leased a farm and had already commenced to till the ground in American fashion, when a change suddenly took place.  Peace was declared between the United States and Utah, and we were ordered to make ready at once for the trip across the plains.  Emigration agent, Joseph W. Young, sent a brother Homer from Crescent City to us for the purpose of assisting us in buying oxen and wagons.  In a few days we were ready and started our journey over the plains of Iowa with this, for us, strange method of traveling.  We had great difficulty in handling the wild oxen and several times, when they were out feeding, did they run away from us and hid themselves in the woods, but I had that special gift that when no one else could find them, I could walk right out to the place where they were.  Heavy and prolonged rains caused all rivers and streams to swell and in many places it seemed almost impossible to get over because the bridges had been washed away.  A number of times we had to use some of our best wagonboxes as ferryboats wherein to bring over our baggage.  In several places, the oxen swam over and we had to pull over the wagons with long ropes.  At one place, we came to a tumble-down bridge, but we laid some of the boards in place and pulled the wagons over by hand.  No sooner had we got the last wagon over before the bridge was carried away by the stream.

At last we got to … where our six wagons were joined by five others.

A young girl particularly was struck by the electric power and fell to the ground as if she was dead.  Brother Homer called to me and told me to anoint her, which I did.  She soon regained consciousness, but was considerably burned and had to stay in bed several days.  A few moments later Homer again called to me and asked me to anoint his little son, who was yet laying as if he was dead.  I laid hands upon him and prayed for him, and at once he showed signs of life.  After I had breathed into his mouth he came to life and the day after he was out driving cattle.  Many of the brethren took sick as time went on, but I and Bro. Fjeldsted administered to them and they were soon well again.  At last I took sick of the ague and was shaken for quite awhile.

 

During the journey through the Black Hills, I one day caught sight of a large dry tree standing by the roadside.  On it I found the following written:

"Jorgen C. Folkmann became lost here in these hills, and we, the undersigned, went back and searched for him two days, but we did not find him, which made us feel very sad."

1. P. Folkmann, N. Kragerup.

My father had emigrated from Denmark in the Spring of 1857 and as he used what means he had for the support of missionaries and for my brother Peter's emigration, he had very little left and was compelled, therefore, to travel over the plains with handcarts.  Naturally I felt very much grieved over the sad news about his supposed death, but upon my arrival in Zion, I, to my great joy, found father well and happy, and he gave me the following description of his disappearance in the desert:  One day while the company with which he traveled, drove through the Black Hills and his son Peter and wife pulled their handcart, father felt a little unwell and unable to walk as fast as the company traveled for which reason he lagged behind a good deal, and finally he got in on the wrong track and got lost in the wilderness.  He walked aimlessly around in the Black Hills for three days and found nothing to eat but a few berries, which he picked.  On the evening of the second day, he felt very sick and tired, wherefore he made himself a bed of dried grass and laid down to die, as he thought.  The next morning, however, he felt rested and in better health, so he continued his tramp and came at last to the Platte River, and waded across.  On the other side, he met a mountaineer, a white man and his Indian wife.  This man took my father up in his wagon, brought him to his tent and cared for him as well as possible.  The day after he brought him to the company, where all had given up hope of finding him.

On Oct. 6, we arrived safe and sound in Salt Lake City, and were received with great joy by our friends.  The following winter I and my wife lived in Lehi, and in the spring of 1859 we moved to "River Bottom," where I assisted in making a 7 mile long canal and together with others founded Plain City.

(Here the autobiography ends, and the publisher adds the following, apparently an abbreviation of the remainder of the narrative:)

In March 1859, the brothers Jeppe, Peter and Christoffer Folkmann and other pioneers settled down on a spot about 8 miles northwest of Ogden, where they surveyed for a city, which soon after was founded under the name of Plain City with W. Reymond as president and Collet and J. G. Folkmann as counselors.  But the thrifty pioneers did not get their canal ready for use in time, wherefore the seed planted withered away as soon as it came out of the ground, and when harvest came, there was no crop.  In order to earn something to live off, Christoffer and Peter had to make 10,000 adobes for Bishop West in Ogden.  In October of the same year, Christoffer Folkmann moved to Ogden where he labored as a blacksmith until he, in April 1863 moved back to Plain City.  In the meantime, he had lost his beloved wife, who died in Ogden Dec. 4, 1860, leaving a son, George D. Folkmann, born April 22, 1860, and now (1884) living in Plain City.  After being a widower for about 16 months, he, on the 15th of March, 1862, was married to a Norwegian girl named Caroline Ugland, with whom he had 8 children, only 3 of whom now are living.  At the same time that he married this woman, he had his departed wife Elia sealed to him for time and eternity and received his endowments.

On Sept. 10, 1864, his father died in Plain City on his 72nd birthday as a result of an accident the day before, when he fell from a wagon because the oxen became unruly.

At the general conference held in Salt Lake City in April 1865, Bro. Folkmann and many others were called to go back to Scandinavia on a mission, and having made the necessary preparations for the journey, he started May 20, after a pathetic farewell to his family.  When he arrived at Copenhagen, August 2, President C. Widerborg called him to labor in Norway, where he, after a visit to his native island Bornholm, labored as traveling elder until May, 1867, when he was called to preside over Gothenburg Conference.  During his labors in Norway, he baptized 48 persons in the northern part of Norway, including Trondjem, and organized a branch of the church in Namosos, which at his departure numbered 26 members.  When he left in May, 1867, the whole district numbered 102 saints organized in three branches.  After presiding over Gothenburg Conference about a year, he was released with permission to return home to his family in Zion, and in May, 1868, he left for home as leader for a large company of emigrating saints.

On the 26th of April 1869 he married Maximalianne Maria Oliva Linvall of Trakalma, Gotland, Sweden with whom he had seven children, five of whom are still living at the time of his death.

A report in the "History of Scandinavian Mission" page 117 it states that "Christopher Olsen Folkmann filled two missions from Utah to Scandinavia the first 1865 to 1868 and the second 1886 to 1888."