| Description |
Hand-written diary of James Miller Christensen (name changed from Jens Moller Christensen). Document contains memoirs from 1846 to 1904 and diary entries from 1904 to 1914. Christensen provides information about his childhood in Denmark, conversion to Mormonism, mission service, emigration to the United States, and overland migration to Utah with the Leonard G. Rice Company in 1867. Later memoirs contain information about his experience with plural marriage and advice he received from Brigham Young regarding the practice of the United Order in Moroni, Utah, and handling business affairs. Throughout the account, he provides information detailing his farming and ranching enterprises. In 1904, Christensen records his travel east to preside over the Scandinavian Mission, and, while en-route, he describes his stops at the Louisiana Fair Exposition and Nauvoo, Illiniois. Thereafter, the bulk of the diary contains information pertaining to the day-to-day affairs of presiding over the Scandinavian Mission. |
| Biographical/Historical Note |
James Miller Christensen was born in Denmark, converted to Mormonism, and migrated to Utah with the Leonard G. Rice Company in 1867. He settled in Moroni, Utah, where he farmed, ranched, practiced polygamy, and participated in a failed attempt at the United Order. By 1893, Christensen and both of his wives had moved to Salt Lake City. He served three missions to Scandinavia and, during the final, presided over the Scandinavian Mission. |
| OCR Text |
Show 31, 1905 Feb., buisness we took, interview Pr. Lund Likwise to Capital, the overplus be devided between Capital & Labor. I heartily endorsed the Doctrine, & ever since suported it in practice, as I became an Employer, I would pay my help ordinary wages, as much as similar work would be paid by other Employers. and at close of the Buisness Years. when all was made up, would devide among all that had taken any part in the Buisness a goodly sum, as much as a thousand Dollars, in latter Years I advanced Wages, & gave less but allways some. It allways satisfied me, & I bilieve the men, as I seldom had ocation to chance. I believe in the princip yet. in the absence of the still better the United Order. My instructions to my men was, to never say anything evil against a competiter, never misrepresent gods, &never tell a lie. Feb 25 I was called by Br. Gibs of the Presidents Office to meet President A.H. Lund at his Home at 6 pm. I done so & learned that it was to assertain if I was willing to take a Mission to Skandinavia, to preside over the Mission, if my circumstances would allow. I told him I was if the President tought it proper, but did not pose as of great ability, only honesty & humility. 32, 1905 Feb., go to Boise, Ret home., Mission call, Visit in Sanpete at 11pm. took train for Boise Idaho. to Visit my Son Alfred. in the State Ligislature. I arrived ther at 3p.m. on the folowing day the 26th went to Legislative building, met my Son & was introduced to several members, on the 27 Sunday, Viewed the City, & New Federal Building open only for members of Legislature & Their friends. a very solid & comodious Structure. at evening atended L.D.S. Meeting. The 28 at 3 p.m. took train for Pocatello, arrived abt. 12. put up at a Hotel, & on March 1st took train for Idaho Falls, stayed there all day, attended Mutual at night, & took train at 11 pm for home, arrived there on the morning of 2nd, found Family all well. but feeling somewhat? as there was @ letter from 1st Presiden cy. Inviting me to take a Mission, if agreable to my feelings. My Wife was not opposed, and imediatly submited it to Bishop Bond. then called at Presidents Office, & learned it was the wish I should start on the 22 or 23 of march to which I consented, and on the 4th recd. a formall call, to be ready to leave on the day mentioned. I at once set abt to arrange my affairs, to that end. on Tuesday the 7th I went to Fountaingreen, visited old friends took part in an Old Folks social, at noon on the |
