Deep in Mormon folklore is the conviction that when things don’t go our way, it is because we are being persecuted for our faith. That has certainly been the case at least sometimes, although at other times opposition to individual Latter-day Saints is certainly due in part to unwise behavior or undiplomatic speech on our part. Opposition by “them” means that “we” are doing something right – and I deeply believe, although not to the point of insisting that you agree with me, that sometimes certain Mormon organizations and individuals actively court “persecution” as a confirmation that hell is raging against us, proving that we are on the side of right.

I see elements of that in the following letter, written by missionary Ernst Emil Wilhelm Kristian Fredrik Suhrke (1829-1892), a German-born convert who served missions in Germany and Scandinavia in the 1880s and 1890s. I do not mean to pick on him in particular – he served fearlessly and successfully, and the following letter tells of some of his adventures as a missionary.

As you read it, though, be aware that he is incorrect in several of his basic assumptions: There was no religious freedom in most of Europe at this time. State churches were seen as reflections of the majesty of the state itself, and dissenting from that church, or persuading others to do so, was a form of opposition to the state that was not taken lightly. The various German states (there was as yet no unified nation of Germany) absolutely had the right to banish “troublemakers” like Mormon missionaries simply for disrupting the peace and unity, as officials saw it, of the various German states. For Suhrke to return to a place from which he had been lawfully banished was a violation of law, despite his claims otherwise. His appeal to the American consul to defend his rights as an American – an appeal made by many, many missionaries over the years – really had no basis (Suhrke had no right as an American to violate German law, so at most all that a consul could do was to be sure he was not being treated worse than any other lawbreaker, and, perhaps, if he felt so inclined, to make a personal but unenforceable appeal to the German state to be lenient on Suhrke). Suhrke had no justification for assuming a consul was failing his duties or persecuting Suhrke simply because the consul was unable to aid him.

Also, note the two places where Suhrke reports his curses on his opponents as coming true. This is a common trope in Mormon history, from the overwhelmingly false reports of the “fate of the persecutors of Joseph Smith,” to the fate of the mobsters in Tennessee who killed two missionaries and two members in 1884, to the rumors during my own mission that a laundromat had burned to the ground “somewhere” in our mission on the evening after its proprietors had hung missionary temple garments in their windows for the mockery of passersby. It’s folklore, and folklore only. While I can’t tell what, if anything, really happened in Suhrke’s case, consider how unlikely it would be for a missionary to be reliably informed of the personal history of an individual policeman. But Suhrke’s confidence in the destruction of the policeman’s family fits very well with his worldview that God will punish those who oppose his servants, even when those servants are breaking the law. It is a testimony to Suhrke that he is favored of God despite – or because of – those very violations.

In any case, please enjoy the following report of a missionary’s adventures. Just leave some room somewhere for evaluating his claims beyond merely taking his word at face value.

Liverpool, Jan. 4, 1882.

President Albert Carrington,

Dear Brother, – Thinking you would like to learn how the work is progressing in the land where it has been my privilege to labor, I will endeavor to give you a short account thereof.

After a short visit to relatives in Norway, I went to a village called Glesin, in Mecklenburg Schwerin, where, after holding a few meetings I baptized one person; (this man and his family have since emigrated.) The news of this getting abroad, indignation was aroused against me, and I was forced to leave; from there I went to Schwerin, where I was arrested and confined for forty-eight hours, when I was released, and learning that it was intended to arrest me again should I continue my labors there, I left and went to Kiel in Schleiswig-Holstein, near which place, two families belonging to the Church (one of them having been a member for twenty-five years) reside; with their assistance I was enabled to rent a small room in Kiel, where I could sleep, and then set about to proclaim the “glad tidings of great joy.” I succeeded in making the acquaintance of quite a number of persons, some of whom seemed interested in what I told them, and invited me to their homes, where some of their neighbors would come in, giving me the opportunity of talking with quite a number of people; meeting with a family or two one night in one part of the town, the next night with others in another part, and conversing quietly upon the principles of truth wherever opportunity presented, I succeeded in baptizing about twenty-five persons. This fact getting to the ears of the police authorities, they sent me a notice to quit the town; four days later, I not having gone, was visited by an officer who announced his wish that I should go with him, which I declined doing; he left me, when I ensconced myself in the cornice (which is a very large one) of the house where I was staying; shortly after doing so, the policemen returned accompanied by three others. They searched the house from roof to cellar, even putting their swords through the cracks in the floor, and wherever they could not get their bodies. By this time the street below was filled with people, and every place of exit in the neighborhood was guarded by police. Their conversation was easily heard by me; they said they thought I must have power to make myself invisible. At this juncture the alarm of “fire” was sounded in another part of the town, and the police followed by the crowd, left for where the conflagration was going on. Next morning the house was again visited by police, when I concluded to go with them; I was taken to prison, kept two days, and then escorted by a policeman, across the line of Schleswig-Holstein to Hamburg, a free town.

Realizing that I had committed no offense, nor broken any law, and thinking more good could be done in Keil, I returned there. Four days after, happening to pass a police-station, I was seized and dragged in. I told the man who did it, that his house should sink to the ground (shortly after he and his wife died and his child is now in a lunatic asylum). After being confined for eight days, I was brought before the judge charged with disobeying an order of banishment, and sentenced to nine days imprisonment; at the expiration of the time, I was again escorted out of Schleswig-Holstein into Hamburg. Spent six weeks in that place using every endeavor to spread the Gospel; baptized four and warned many others. A Conference being appointed in Copenhagen, which I was desirous of attending, I started for that place, taking rail to Keil, intending to take vessel from there for Copenhagen. On my way from the station to the point of embarkation I was again arrested and confined for 38 days. They then saw me safely on board a vessel bound for Copenhagen.

I spent a week there to recuperate and returned to Hamburg via Lubeck. Spent between three and four months visiting houses, conversing on the street corners, in the parks, and wherever I could get listeners, and baptized eleven persons. Three priests, learning this, used their endeavors to get me sent away. I was summoned to appear before the Chief of Police and given 24 hours to leave the town. I called upon the American Consul representing to him that I had done no wrong, and broken no law, that would bring upon me the penalty of expulsion, but he could, or would not do anything about it. The day I left my place was filled by Elder P.E.B. Hammer. I then went to the free town of Lubeck. The authorities there, having read of my expulsion from Hamburg, summoned me to appear before them, which I did. They wished me to leave the town. I appealed to the American Consul, who came to my assistance, and they did not put their desire into effect. Here I spent about three months, baptized four persons, and made the acquaintance of several others who were favorably inclined to the truth. These four are the only Saints now in Lubeck. Let me here state that I had written both from Keil and Hamburg, to the Emperor of Germany representing my case. In Lubeck I received an answer from the Governor of Prussia stating that nothing could be done in my case. Also received a letter from president Alder stating that brother Gothe (who had taken my place in Keil) had been arrested and imprisoned, and requesting me to learn the particulars about it. Wrote a letter to the Saints in Keil, calling a meeting in the woods near Keil; the meeting was held and was a very enjoyable one.

Brother Gothe being in prison, I wished to appoint someone to fill his place in taking charge of the Saints, and for this purpose went into Keil the next day.

Appointed brother Schoeder and that evening, while meeting with his family, the police came in and arrested me. Was imprisoned for sixty days, and again sent to Copenhagen. Returned to Lubeck to continue my labors, where I received my release to return home with the company sailing from Liverpool Oct. 22, 1881. To reach Liverpool it was necessary to pass through Hamburg. At that point, in company with Elder Hammer, I went on board the vessel. Learning that one of the Saints who intended going at same time, had been arrested, Elder Hammer left the ship to see about it. Shortly after the police came on board (having heard that we were there), but fortunately brother Hammer had gone, and they only got me.

After eight days I was brought before the judge, who sentenced me to six weeks imprisonment. I appealed to the highest council in Hamburg, but they totally refused to remit the sentence. At the expiration of the time allowed for an answer, the six weeks term commenced, at the expiration of which I was again released, having been in prison sixty days.

All the money I had, with the exception of five shillings, was taken from me, and I told them that as I had been plundered by the Government of Hamburg so should Hamburg be plundered. Fear and trembling would come upon the inhabitants, and it should be destroyed.

Soon after I was released, I was met by Elder A.H. Cannon at the police-station; it was indeed a pleasant meeting for me. From there I went to Bremen (a free town), Elder Cannon going on to Keil. In Bremen, where I was joined by Elder Cannon, we were received well. The police gave us the privilege of holding meetings, and my stay of two weeks in that place was a very pleasant one. Elder Cannon having received a letter from you to the effect that it wold be advisable for me to come to Liverpool, I left Bremen on Dec. 27th and arrived here on the 30th.

The branch in Keil numbers 72 adults, and is in a flourishing condition; holding one meeting during the week, with one meeting and a Sunday school on the Sabbath, the meetings being advertised in the daily papers, and considerable inquiry is manifested. In Hamburg we number about 20.

Much inquiry is manifested in Bremen, and I feel that many will yet be brought into the truth at that place.

In regard to my prediction concerning Hamburg, I understand that measures are now being taken by Bismarck to take away the freedom of the City, and lay her under tribute to Prussia, and the people are in great fear in regard to this, dreading the proposed tax which will be oppressive upon all classes.

May the blessings of the Lord rest upon those who have come into the light, and also enable those desirous of doing right to learn the way, that they, with us, may rejoice in the blessings of the Gospel.

I remain your brother,

LUDWIG SUHRKE.