Anthon H. Lund Journals and Papers Now Available
As one of the earliest Church members in Europe, President Anthon H. Lund documents his life and Church service in a collection of papers and journals, now available digitally to research.
The Church History Library has recently made available online the extensive papers and journals of Anthon H. Lund, offering a detailed glimpse into the life and contributions of this significant figure in Latter-day Saint history. The materials, housed in two primary collections—Anthon H. Lund Journals, 1860–1921 (MS 5375) and Anthon H. Lund Papers, 1869–1920 (MS 1256)—are now accessible through the Church History Catalog, providing invaluable resources for scholars and those interested in early Church history.
About Anthon H. Lund
Anthon H. Lund was born on May 15, 1844, in Aalborg, Denmark, to Henrik Jensen Lund and Ane Christine Andersen. Tragically, his mother passed away when he was four years old, so he was raised by his maternal grandmother. In 1856, at the age of 12, Lund was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. At 16, he was ordained an elder and appointed president of the Aalborg Branch, beginning his lifelong commitment to ecclesiastical and missionary service.
In 1862, Lund immigrated to Sanpete County, Utah, and later married Sarah Ann (“Sanie”) Peterson on May 2, 1870. Together, they had nine children. His ministry and leadership within the Church expanded as he served as president of the Scandinavian Mission from 1884 to 1885 and as president of the European Mission from 1893 to 1896. Lund also visited the Ottoman Empire beginning in 1897 to support, encourage, and observe missionary work in the Turkish Mission. In 1889, Lund was called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, where he served until 1901, when he joined the First Presidency as Second Counselor to President Joseph F. Smith. He remained in the First Presidency until his death in 1921. Lund was the first member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the First Presidency whose native language was not English. His collection of papers includes material in Danish, Spanish, French, German, Turkish, and shorthand.
Anthon H. Lund passed away at the age of 76 on March 2, 1921, in Salt Lake City, Utah, from complications related to a long-standing duodenal ulcer.
Anthon H. Lund Journals, 1860–1921 (MS 5375)
The Anthon H. Lund Journals span 41 volumes from 1860 to 1921 and offer a comprehensive account of Lund’s life and Church service. As a missionary in Denmark, he described his challenges and triumphs spreading the gospel in Scandinavia. His journals also detail his leadership as the president of the Scandinavian Mission from 1884 to 1885, his service as president of the European Mission from 1893 to 1896, and his six-month visit to Palestine and the Holy Land beginning in 1897.
Lund documented his interactions with members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and First Presidency as they administered the Church during a pivotal era of growth and change. In addition to his apostolic calling, Lund served as Church Historian from 1900 to 1921 and as president of the Salt Lake Temple from 1911 to 1921. Lund proved an effective diplomat and administrator who could unite divided parties, a skillset that, beyond his ecclesiastical duties, made him popular as a board member or president of various business, education, and political institutions. His journals reveal his thoughts on Utah politics and industry. Even though periods of Lund’s journals heavily center on his ecclesiastical and business activities, Lund wrote privately about his devotion to his wife Sarah and his children, as well as the toll his frequent departures for Church service took on his family (see entries for September 17, October 12, and October 15, 1898, for example).
Anthon H. Lund Papers, 1869–1920 (MS 1256)
In addition to his journals, the Anthon H. Lund Papers contain a rich collection of personal documents, including letterbooks, correspondence, notebooks, and other materials. These papers cover a wide range of topics related to Lund’s life, including his family, business activities, and extensive Church service. The collection includes letters to and from prominent Church leaders such as Wilford Woodruff, Joseph F. Smith, and Heber J. Grant, as well as personal correspondence with family members, friends, and business associates.
The papers provide valuable details about Lund’s involvement in missionary work, temple building, and religious education. They include many talk transcripts and a report of his six-month trip to the Holy Land from 1897 to 1898. Lund sent frequent letters on his trip and corresponded with the Turkish Mission after returning home. Lund’s thoughts on gospel principles and doctrine are documented along with his proposed revisions to the Doctrine and Covenants from his work in the Historian’s Office. Additionally, the papers share his contributions to political and social matters, particularly regarding Scandinavians in Utah, including those in Ephraim and Sanpete County.
One of the few monogamists in Church leadership of his time, Lund reflected on plural marriage and the Manifesto, as well as his involvement with the Amalgamated Sugar Company and other business ventures. His notebooks contain minutes from Church meetings, reports on sermons by Church leaders, and detailed notes from various meetings related to his role in the Historian’s Office, the Scandinavian Mission, and other Church matters.
Discover Church History in Lund’s Journals and Papers
With the digitization of these invaluable records, scholars and individuals interested in early Church history now have easy access to the experiences and perspectives of one of the Church’s influential leaders. Anthon H. Lund’s writing provides a window into the growth of the Church in Scandinavia, Europe, and beyond, as well as the challenges of being a missionary and leader in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries.
The Anthon H. Lund Journals and Anthon H. Lund Papers are available through the Church History Catalog, where they join other important General Authority records. For those interested in learning more about the online release of upcoming General Authority and Officer papers, the Church History Library offers a newsletter to keep followers updated. We invite you to search through President Lund’s papers and journals and learn of his love of the Savior and dedicated service to His Church.