Your Excellency, Mr. Bendik Rugaas, Honored Guests, Brothers and Sisters, Friends.

Many of us here today are indebted to Norway, the country of our heritage.  As Norway begins its centennial celebration, may we take this opportunity to express our appreciation and share with you what Norway has meant to each of us and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. 

During the second half of the 19^th Century over "30,000"  Scandinavians saints, converts, left the fatherland and heeded the call of a prophet.  They came because of their faith, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and the restoration of the gospel.  They left a beautiful homeland, a land where I have stood in the lush green fields of the farms in the Frederickstad, Halden and traveled through the mountains and the beautiful fjords of the western coastline and wondered how they could leave this beautiful land?  As I pondered this, I believe they felt as I did,

"Ja vi elsker dette landet some det stygger frem fervent vaer blitt over vannet med det tusen hjem"

They left this beautiful land and came to a salt-baked desert.  They went far beyond their countrymen who had homesteaded in Minnesota and Wisconsin.  They set out for a frontier far beyond the borders of the United States into Indian territory and hostile west.  As they pushed west many stayed behind to become the first settlers in town and counties of Iowa and Nebraska.  "Two of the sons of James Borgland from Yetland Norga, Solomon and Gudson who (like Torleif Knaphus) became famous as   sculptures and later carved Mount Rushmore."

Not only from Norway, but Norwegians came from Fox River, Iowa; Sugar Creek, Iowa; Koshkonony, Wisconsin Territory.  There were several of the famous "Sloop folks of 1825".  Many of the noted Norwegians came such as Knut Pedersen of Hardanger, one of the early settlers of Lehi who in 1849 was part of a group of Norwegian saints who left Fox River and joined with apostle Ezra Taft Benson and Captain Dan Jones traveling with a company of Welsh immigrants.  They become known in history as the "Norwegian company that often battled waist deep snow and many hardships reaching the valley on October 25, 1849".

Norwegians were some of the very first to set foot in the Salt Lake valley.  An 18 year old woman from Telemark, "Aagaata Sondra Ystensdatter, or as we know her Ellen Kimball, wife of Heber C. Kimball, one of the three women in the first wagon company of Mormon pioneers to enter the Salt Lake valley in 1847 with Brigham Young."
Converts came from all walks of life, farm laborers, shoe makers, tailors, carpenters, stone masons, each bringing his or her skills to aid the building the kingdom and founding of a nation.  It took more than an invitation it took a special motivation and indoctrination.  It took spiritual conviction and faith. Not only for them to come but to endure in this barren wilderness. They were required to endure untold hardships and sacrifices as did my great grandparents.  My great grandmother pushed a handcart in the 10^th Handcart Company without grumbling because she knew and had firm faith, as did the others, that they were building the kingdom of God and the desert would blossom as a rose.

The strength and support of the Norwegians in settling Utah and the West has been legendary and today it is said that 60 percent of the Wasatch front are of Scandinavian descent.  They brought with them traditions, "the tradition of love, obedience, industry and service are preserved and passed on to future generations."  Scandinavian days are celebrated each year in Sanpete County.  In fact it is said that you can't elected to public office in Sanpete County unless your name is Nielsen, Aagaard,  Jacobsen  or one of  Scandinavian ancestry.  We celebrate the 17^th of May and Christmas would not be Christmas without Norwegian Christmas elves, Yule Nisen, Smultringer, Krumse kake, Pine shjot, Luttefisk or Ribbe.  The ski industry in Utah is founded and carried on today by Norwegians.  The many wonderful customs and traditions have affected all of us and they are a part of our lives.             

I speak for myself, as well as for those here and the thousands of others that we represent, when we express our sincere gratitude and appreciation for what Norway means to us and what the Norwegians have done for us. 
"Ja Vi (I virkliheten)  elsker dette landet."     

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.   

[I would like to present to you a book that has been written by a dear friend, Dr. Allen Christensen.  This book is about the Norwegian and Danish saints that crossed the plains in the Seventh Handcart Company.   It will give you an idea of the hardships and sacrifices that they faced.   It is not a complete history, but, a history, that will help you understand why, they came and the dedication that was necessary for our forefathers to establish Zion.]