Description
Whipped For The Gospel’s Sake: Christian Hans Monson
The year was 1852 and the place was Fredrikstad, Norway. Christian Hans Monson was 14 years old and preparing for confirmation into the Lutheran Church. Christian’s father, Hans, was a jailkeeper, and part of Christian’s responsibility was to help his father as a night watchman. Locked in that prison were two Latter-day Saint missionaries, Edward Hansen of Logan, Utah and Christian Nelson of Richmond, Utah.
Christian was tasked with carrying food to the prisoners, and also instructed by the warden to abuse and torment them. One night while carrying out his responsibilities, Elder Hansen asked him why he tormented them so and reminded him that “so persecuted they the Savior and His disciples”. Somehow this must have started the boy thinking and they began teaching him the restored Gospel.
Night after night, Christian got out his bible and the catechism and studiously compared the two. When he came up for examination and confirmation before the priest, Christian deliberately failed to pass and his confirmation was delayed six months.
Finally, Christian became convinced that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was true. Secretly, he went to the jail and let the elders out. Together they went down to the fjord and in the winter of 1852, 15-year-old Christian Monson was baptized.
He told no one, especially his family. When he came up again for Lutheran confirmation, Christian’s daughter describes what happened:
“When the class marched up onto the rostrum Christian placed himself at the end of the row where he would be the last one to be questioned. When his turn came, the Priest asked question 1) do you believe in God?
“Yes,” answered Christian.
Question 2: Can you describe God?
This Christian answered proudly, defiantly, “God is not a being without body, parts, of passions. He does not sit on the top of a topless throne. God is a good, kind, Heavenly Father, who sees, hears, and answers prayers, and man is made in the image of God.”
At this the Priest rubbed his chin and said “u-m-m”. Then proceeded with the questions all of which Christian answered according to the L.D.S. belief. Christian glanced occasionally at his father from the corner of his eye. His face was growing red and redder with anger. Finally, the Priest drawled, “You answer as if you belonged to that sect, the Mormons.”
“And if I do, I am proud of it,” answered Christian, loud enough for all to hear. At this his father, mad with rage, rushed from the room, striking his cane hard on the floor at every step. His mother, too, was filled with chagrin and embarrassment.”
As expected, that night Christian went home and received a severe whipping from his ill-tempered father. Family records describe the following events according to eye-witnesses,
“For several days after that his mother succeeded in keeping Christian and his father apart, then one evening Christian had just brought in the last armful of wood for the night. As he was piling it with the other wood near the fireplace his father came into the room. At sight of the boy, he struck at him with his cane. Christian was spry enough to dodge most of the blows as round and round the table they ran.
At last, his father stopped, panting for breath. Christian, pale and disheveled, drew himself up to his full height beside the table and said meekly, his lips and voice quivering, “Oh, father, it feels so good to be whipped for the gospel’s sake.” At that, his father became furious. He picked up stick after stick of the wood and hurled them one after another at him. When the wood was gone, he opened the door and drove Christian from the place, bidding him never to return again.”
Christian took lodging that night on the hay in the barn. The following morning, to the tears of his mother, the boy bade farewell to his home and family—never to return again.
Truly, this was a lad worthy of the Savior! I will tell you more about Christian later.
Sources:
Devan Jensen
