Gudmund Gudmundson facts for kids
Gudmund Gudmundson (in Icelandic: Guðmundur Guðmundsson) was an important early member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often called the LDS Church). He was one of the first people from Iceland to join this church and also one of the first missionaries to teach about it in his home country.
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Early Life and Joining the Church
Gudmund was born in Artun, Rangárvallasýsla, Iceland, on March 10, 1825. He was christened as a Lutheran when he was young.
In 1845, when he was 20, Gudmund moved to Denmark to learn how to be a goldsmith. This is someone who makes things out of gold.
While living in Copenhagen in 1851, Gudmund heard missionaries from the LDS Church, Peter O. Hansen and Erastus Snow, teaching about their beliefs. He decided to join the church and was baptized on February 15, 1851. A few months later, he was given a special role as a teacher in the church.
Missionary Work in Iceland
On May 21, 1851, Gudmundson traveled back to Iceland, specifically to Vestmannaeyjar, to share his new faith. He also tried to preach in his hometown of Artun, but people there were not interested in listening.
Gudmundson continued to preach in Iceland until July 1854. During this time, he was given another important role in the church by a fellow missionary. He then baptized nine people into the LDS Church.
On June 19, 1853, the very first small group, called a "branch," of the LDS Church was started in Iceland on Vestmannaeyjar. Gudmundson was chosen to be the leader of this new branch.
Return to Denmark and Journey to America
In July 1854, Gudmundson returned to Denmark to continue his missionary work. He spent most of his time on the island of Zealand. While preaching in Kalundborg, he was put in prison for seven weeks because of his religious beliefs.
After he was released, he was immediately made to join the Danish army. However, after just over a year, he was released from the army because he became ill.
On April 18, 1857, Gudmundson left Copenhagen on a ship heading to America. He arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in Utah Territory on September 13, 1857. This area is now part of the state of Utah.
During his journey to Utah, one of the people he had converted in Denmark, Niels Garff, became very sick and passed away. Before he died, Niels asked Gudmundson if he would marry his wife, Marie, after he was gone. Gudmundson agreed, and on October 4, 1857, he and Marie Garff were married in Salt Lake City. They had three sons together. After arriving in Utah, Gudmundson started using the English version of his name.
Later Life and Rejoining the Church
In the early 1860s, Gudmundson and his wife became involved with a different religious group called the Church of the Firstborn. This group had separated from the main LDS Church. Because of this, Gudmundson and his wife were no longer members of the LDS Church for a time. Gudmundson became a leader in this new group.
He was involved in a conflict related to this group and faced some legal trouble, including having to pay a fine. However, the governor of the territory later pardoned him, meaning his punishment was officially forgiven.
After this, the Gudmundsons decided to leave the Church of the Firstborn. They lived in Utah County, Utah, and Sacramento, California. In 1869, they moved to Draper, Utah Territory, and rejoined the LDS Church. In 1871, they moved to Lehi, Utah Territory.
Gudmundson passed away in Logan, Utah Territory, while he was staying there temporarily with one of his stepsons. He was buried in Draper.