John E. Forsgren, a Swede who had joined the Church in Boston in 1843, returned as the first missionary to his homeland in 1850. Despite intense early opposition, the restored gospel spread quickly, and by 1860 there were branches of the Church spread around the country. Many early converts immigrated to Utah to help build up new Latter-day Saint settlements there, but they and their children maintained ties to Sweden and often returned as missionaries.
In the early 1900s, emigration from Sweden declined, and Latter-day Saint congregations gained new strength. In 1905, the Swedish Mission was organized, with Peter Matson, a Swedish convert, as president. As the Church grew, however, so too did opposition. Persistent false accusations of plural marriage prompted the Riksdag (parliament) to consider funding a public awareness campaign opposing the Church and, in 1920, to temporarily discontinue visas for Latter-day Saint missionaries. Despite this, members persisted in sharing the gospel, meeting together often, and strengthening one another (see Moroni 6:5–6). By the mid-20th century, branches had been reestablished throughout Sweden. In 1975, the first stake in Sweden was organized in Stockholm.
Throughout their history, Swedish Saints have provided strength and support for members throughout Europe. In 1966, Festinord, an annual conference attended by young adult members from Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland, was first held in Stockholm. Since the dedication of the Stockholm Sweden Temple, the first in Scandinavia, in July 1985, Saints from throughout northern and eastern Europe have traveled to Stockholm to participate in temple ordinances.
