Part 4

In the fall of 1873, we began to build the Logan tabernacle. Brother Charles O. Card was called to act as the superintendent and he called me to assist him. It was my special work to keep accounts and to collect donations with which to pay the workmen. I measured and weighed rocks, sand, and other materials of construction, brought in for the building, and paid the workers in beef, vegetables, and the variety of things donated. Many beeves were brought in as donations, so we tanned the hides, and began to manufacture shoes. Thus came the Tabernacle Shoe Shop and Meat Shop in one building, which we called, Our Meat Market and Our Shoe Shop. I labored nearly six years in this capacity. In 1879, I was ordained a High Priest and set apart as a member of the Cache stake High Council.

XII. MY THIRD MISSION.

In 1879, when the Logan tabernacle was completed, and we were at work on the Logan temple, I was called, at the October conference, to go on a mission to Scandinavia. I left Logan in November, 1879, and reached Liverpool, December 12. We had a rough voyage across the ocean. I was sent to Frederickstad, for a short time, then to my native city, Trondhjem, in Norway. Elder Ellingsen, of Lehi, was there when I arrived, but in a couple of months he was released to return to his home. I then remained there alone to represent the gospel of the everlasting covenant, but I harbored only gratitude to my heavenly Father. I organized a choir, held meetings and preached the gospel with all my might. Many were won to the truth. Those who did not enter the Church, through baptism, are good friends to our people, and respect "Mormonism" with its doctrines and principles of salvation. Among many others, I had the honor to baptize, as a member of the Church, Anna C. Widtsoe. Her son, John, I had the joy to baptize after the family arrived in Utah. Our meeting place, at that time, was on what was known as Mollenberg, in a house belonging to Johnson who later settled in Logan.

The branch over which I presided extended far into Northern Norway. I went frequently to the northern city of Namsos, where I rented a hall and had large meetings. Many were also brought into the Church in that place. I made many friends in Namsos, and among the more influential, a Mr. Salvesen. He belonged to the aristocracy of the city, but became friendly to me and the cause I represented, until he even offered me one of his large halls for our gatherings, in case the priest should attempt to banish me. Mr. Salvesen, with his two sons, came to our meetings. Once when the hall was crammed full, he stood up before the congregation and testified to the truth of what I had said. So much to his honor!

I went from house to house and offered books and writings. I did not find much to eat, but I was well satisfied and when I sold a few books I could buy myself a little bread before I returned to my little room. And a little bread with fresh water tasted really good!

By the early spring, I had baptized, in Namsos, among others, Brother Hassing and his family, who are yet living in Salt Lake City. Before I left Namsos, I organized a Relief Society so that the good sisters could conduct meetings when I left.

In the spring of 1880, I was called to attend the conference in Christiania. After the conference, I tried to find some of the brethren and sisters of Christiania whom I knew so well in earlier days. Some I found, and many had moved away to the distant valleys of Norway. I decided to find, if I could, the family of Gunder Johnson. To do this, I was obliged, again, to walk the full length of southern Norway, over the Dovre mountain and down Guldbrands valley and up and down other valleys. I found at last Gunder Johnson with his family. I found that they had had no opportunities for schooling, nor for meetings, for several years, but they had our books and the _Scandinavian Star_, which had been read and reread until the books were almost worn out. They lived as the gospel demanded. I remained with these friends about two weeks, held meetings, and baptized all who would embrace the doctrines taught by me.

During this visit, in Guldbrands valley, I had very great success. The whole community took sides with me, until the priest came and broke up my crowded meetings, and warned the people against following teachers of false doctrines! This priest, Mr. Halling, was well respected and beloved of the people. He edited a magazine called _Rich and Poor_. He was good to the poor. He lived only four miles from where I held my meetings, and I stayed with a friend near his home.

One day I called on this minister to discuss things with him, but his feelings were so bitter that he showed me the door several times, and at last took my hat and cane and threw them out. As I left the house, he spoke bitter, hard words to me. Half a year later I came there again. The priest had then become the chairman of the county court. One of his duties was to keep the country roads in good condition. This brought him in quite close contact with the people who all worked on the roads. I was told that on one occasion when he was supervising a body of road workers, while they were all at lunch, one of the men, a friend of mine, curious to know what the priest would say, said, "I should like to know what became of that tramp 'Mormon' preacher that we had here a half year ago." The priest immediately took up the conversation and said, "That man was no tramp. We were both angry when we left each other, but I would give much now if I could have that man in conversation again." This was his testimony that day, before a large gathering of people. I have now performed the endowment ordinances for him in the temple, and I look upon him as a good man, although he did all he could to work against me and my beloved religion.

When I had been in the mission field something over three years, I was released. I reached my home in Logan late in the year, 1881.

[Image captioned "SIXTH WARD MEETINGHOUSE, LOGAN."]

Upon my return from my third mission, I was called, in 1882, to take charge of a district of the Logan First ward, as Presiding priest. After the Logan temple was dedicated, this district was made a ward, and I was ordained to be bishop of the Logan Sixth ward, on June 6, 1884. The many duties pertaining to this calling occupied my time very completely for several years.

XIII. MY FOURTH MISSION.

On October 11, 1886, I left Logan for another mission to Scandinavia. Upon my arrival in Copenhagen I was assigned to labor in Norway. I acted first as a traveling elder, and in that capacity visited nearly the whole of Norway. Later I presided, again, at Christiania. My mission was filled with active labors, and I believe much good was accomplished.

In the year, 1888, while I presided over the Christiania Conference, many were baptized into the Church. Among them was Brother Koldstad who afterwards became superintendent of the Christiania Sunday school. His wife seemed to be against the gospel, but the Lord, who knows the hearts of the children of men, made manifest to her when she humbled herself in prayer, that "Mormonism" is a saving message sent by God from the heavens. It came about in this manner.

[Image captioned "INTERIOR SIXTH WARD MEETINGHOUSE, LOGAN."]

My mission was nearly ended. I had been away more than three years, and had been released to return home. I spent the last days before leaving Christiania in bidding goodbye to the Saints. One evening I took the train from the little village of Lien, where I had been visiting. That evening there was to be an important council meeting in Christiania, at which I was to transfer the presidency of the conference to Elder O. H. Berg, of Provo, now bishop of the Provo Fourth ward. While the cars were rapidly moving towards Christiania, I sat in one of the compartments thinking of the business of the evening. Suddenly a voice came to me, telling me to go out to Granlund, where Brother Koldstad resided, for a woman there had fasted and prayed to the Lord that Elder Skanchy might visit her, and she desired to accept the gospel in which she had faith. In my simplicity, I believed the voice to be an imagination of my soul, and for about five minutes tried to convince myself that such was the case. I had very little time, because I had to be in Christiania before our council meeting began, in order to get things in order to deliver into new hands, and the place the voice told me to go was in an opposite direction from the meetinghouse. I felt that the Lord knew that my service was in his cause, and that the council meeting was in his service. Soon, however, the message came again, this time in a tremendous voice, that I must go to Koldstad's home, for a woman there had fasted and prayed to the Lord that I might come. The voice was so commanding that I arose to my feet, in the car, and I threw my right arm into the air, and said, "Yes, Lord, I will go." As soon as I reached the Christiania station, I proceeded there. With Brother Koldstad I found Sister Koldstad. I told her that I had received a message to meet there. I felt greatly touched by the Spirit. She told me that she had fasted and prayed that I would come to her home before I went away. She told me further that she believed all that I had taught, and if I thought her worthy, she would like to be baptized before I left Christiania. She was determined that I should baptize her the day following. Thus the Lord dictates in his own way to his children. This revelation from our heavenly Father was a very great testimony to me, and may be pleasing to all who believe in spiritual manifestations. Many years after, when we were all in Zion, I called on Sister Anna C. Widtsoe and her sister Lina Gaarden, and we visited Sister Koldstad in her home, Salt Lake City, during one of the annual conferences. Sister Koldstad, then and there, explained to them the manner of her conversion, and that I had come to her in answer to prayer.

XIV. THE QUIET YEARS OF HOME SERVICE.

From 1889, the time of his return from his fourth mission, to 1901, when he went on his fifth mission. Bishop Skanchy remained in Logan, Utah, in pursuit of his duties as Bishop of the Logan Sixth Ward. Under his direction, the ward prospered; the poor were well cared for; and a good spirit pervaded all the organizations of the ward.

During this period, also, the longest in his life without foreign missionary service, Bishop Skanchy built up his material interests. The lumber business which he had organized, flourished under his care. Though he had sacrificed many years in spiritual service, they were fully made up to him in a material way, during the periods that he could give himself to his business interests. He was always a good provider for his families,--they had comfortable homes, and the comforts of the day. His personal gifts and charities to people in Utah and in the old countries, have not been recorded, but they were large. Bishop Skanchy loved the poor and afflicted, and to their relief he gave unstintingly of his time, means and sympathy.

XV. MY FIFTH MISSION.

In 1901, I was called by Presidents Lorenzo Snow, George Q. Cannon, and Joseph F. Smith to take charge of the Scandinavian Mission, which then included Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. I was set apart in the Salt Lake Temple, April 2, by President C. D. Fjeldsted, and I was especially commissioned to buy and erect for the Church, mission houses in these three Scandinavian countries. I presented to the First Presidency the necessity of having C. D. Fjeldsted accompany me as he was well acquainted with Denmark. This was permitted. We had a pleasant voyage across the ocean.

In Copenhagen we bought the place where our mission house is now erected. President Fjeldsted was called home again and I remained to arrange the matter. I laid the foundation of the Copenhagen mission house and dedicated the place together with the corner stone the 2nd of March, 1901. The house itself was dedicated on the fourth of July, 1901.

The next mission house was built the year afterwards on the same ground that the old mission house had stood on in Christiania. The old house had been built of poor materials and was in a dangerous condition. We therefore took it down and sold the material by auction. I then contracted with architects and builders and the house was erected and finally dedicated the 24th of July, 1902, after a great celebration. The dedicatory prayer was offered by President Francis M. Lyman.

When these two countries had obtained their splendid houses, we turned our attention to Sweden. I went to Stockholm but found great difficulties confronting me there, since the Swedish law does not permit strangers to buy building lots. We were obliged, therefore, to secure agents to act for us. We bought, at last, a building lot in a very public place, in an excellent district. There we built a large four-story building, so arranged as to make it a worthy and most beautiful place for presenting the gospel. Several smaller rooms in the building can be rented out, thus providing a small income. This mission house was dedicated the second of October, 1904, President Heber J. Grant offering the dedicatory prayer. Thus, my mission time was lengthened out so that I could remain until this house had been dedicated.

That I had my hands full on this mission, I suppose everyone will understand. My work appeared to be satisfactory to the Presidency of the Church, and as for myself, I trusted that I could complete this responsible work with satisfaction to my own soul. For the success that was achieved I will continue to give gratitude to my Father in heaven. I owe to him all the praise and honor.

[Image captioned "STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, MISSION HOUSE."]

At the time that we erected our mission houses in these countries, we contracted with a stone cutter, by the name of Peterson, for an assembly room and a room for the elders, in a dwelling house which he was erecting in Frederickshavn, Denmark. We also bought a house in Borups Street, in the city of Aarhus, Denmark, in which we constructed a baptismal font. Elder Adam Peterson, who was on a mission at that time, had great influence among the people of Aarhus, and won many friends, which all helped.

[Image captioned "INTERIOR OF THE STOCKHOLM MISSION HOUSE, LOOKING FROM THE GALLERY."]

While I had charge of the Scandinavian Mission, Sister Anna C. Widtsoe and her sister Lina Gaarden, were called on a mission to Norway and remained there for about four years. These two sisters traveled over Norway, from the extreme north to the extreme south, and spared neither time nor money in order to bring before the people the gospel. They won honor and friends everywhere for the cause of truth. They bore a great testimony to the world, which we hope will in time bear fruit.

[Image captioned "INTERIOR STOCKHOLM MISSION HOUSE, LOOKING TOWARDS THE GALLERY."]

Brother H. J. Christiansen was also called on a mission again, at this time, and was chosen president over the conference in Copenhagen. He was born there, acquainted with the conditions, and had the language of Copenhagen under complete control. He gathered many friends for the gospel cause.

XVI. THE LAST WORD.

I do not care to write more, as most of my friends are acquainted with the work that has been done in the mission field. What I have done here at home has gratified me; and the people here know my whole life. Now I am on the sick list. I have forgotten to take care of myself in my desire to care for others. The Lord be honored and praised from now to eternity and forever. Amen. The Lord be merciful with us all and forgive our weaknesses and imperfections.

XVII. THE SIXTH MISSION.

After Bishop Skanchy had returned from his labors as President of the Scandinavian mission, he entered again upon his duties in the bishopric of the Logan Sixth Ward. He rallied the people to his support, and he laid the cornerstone of a new ward chapel, one of the handsomest in the Church. This house is now completed.

On January 23, 1910, after twenty-five years of service, Bishop Skanchy was honorably released from his position as bishop of the Logan Sixth ward. A little later he closed out such of his business interests as required his daily active supervision.

On July 11, 1910, he went again to Norway, with his wife and younger children, to spend some time in gathering genealogical information for his temple work. This may be called his sixth mission, for he went with the authority of a missionary, and did much good while away.

True to his love for the city of his birth, Trondhjem, he took with him a large and expensive copy of Munkacsy's painting of Christ before Pilate, executed by Dan Weggeland, of Salt Lake City, which he presented to the branch, and which now adorns the meeting hall in Trondhjem.

He returned to Zion, June 22, 1911; never again to leave it in the flesh.

XVIII. THE END OF THE JOURNEY.

Soon after Bishop Skanchy returned from his last trip to Norway, he was seized with his last illness. The evil preyed steadily upon him, but his strong body and iron constitution could not be broken at once. It took years for the disease to undermine his strength and reach the vital processes of his system.

During his long illness, he composed the sketch now presented. From page to page it bears the marks of the physical sufferings which he endured. Had he been in good health, he would have told more of the marvelous experiences of his long missionary life. Perhaps, however, in good health, he would not have undertaken the work at all.

While withdrawn from active life by this lingering illness, he also reviewed his own poems, his favorite songs, and the word of God that he loved.

Bishop Skanchy, like all who live in close communion with spiritual things, was much of a poet; a lover of the fine arts, painting and sculpture, and an ardent worshiper of all natural beauty. In his last days, though filled with physical pain, he found the leisure for the contemplation of the things of the spirit he loved so well, which he had been denied in his active life.

Ever did his thoughts go back to the land of the midnight sun, in which he was born; where the gospel message found him, and where, in the full strength of his youth, he fought valiantly for the cause of truth, and won hundreds, yea, thousands, to the cause of eternal truth.

On Sunday, April 19, 1914, in his 75th year, his spirit returned to the God he had served so well. On the following Wednesday he was buried from the beautiful chapel he had built. Many wept at his grave, especially those who were poor in spirit or worldly goods, and whom this noble man had loved and helped and raised up, and brought into the glorious light of truth.

(THE END)

Transcriber's Note

This edition was based off scans available at Archive.org (see https://archive.org/details/anthonlskanchybr00skan). The Harold B. Lee Library at Brigham Young University supplied the scans to Archive.org; the original book was donated to the library by Sidney Sperry; and it contained a dedication from John A. Widtsoe, reproduced above. Any minor typographical errors in the original have been silently corrected.