First missionary in Sweden - Gävle, Sweden - LDS Church History Sites on Waymarking.com

John Erik Forsgren, member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the first missionary in Sweden was born here in Gamla Gefle and it was here until he returned home from USA as the first missionary in Sweden. Here he baptized his brother in July 1850 and the first congregation in Sweden was formed.

A year after church members in Sweden celebrated the 150th anniversary of the first baptism in the country, a monument to John Erik Forsgren is being erected. In fact, it is his descendants from the USA who are artists who have sculpted the bust.

It is located in the area where he was born and where he, as the first missionary, baptized his brother when he returned home to Sweden.


The following is written on the monument in Swedish (translated):
"John Erik Forsgren was born Nov. 7, 1816, on Ovre Bergsgatan 6 in Gavle. In 1825 he left Gavle as a ship's boy. In Boston, USA, in 1843 he came in contact with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter -day Saints. Forsgren joined the Church. As the first missionary in Sweden he returned to Gavle in July 1850, where he baptized his brother Peter Adolph. He became the first member of the Church in Scandinavia. Many more were converted and baptized, among them his sister Kristina Erika. In Gavle John organized the first branch in Sweden. John Forsgren died in 1890 in Utah, USA. Today there are thousands of descendants of the Forsgren family active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This monument is a gift from them to the City of Gavle. Gavle, 26 July 2001."



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