Janne Mattson Sjödahl (29 November 1853 – 23 June 1939) was a
Swedish
Swedish or ' may refer to:
Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically:
* Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland
** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...
convert to
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Christianity, Christian church that considers itself to be the Restorationism, restoration of the ...
(LDS Church) and was the author of influential commentaries on
LDS Church scriptures. Sjödahl was among the first commentators to advance a "
limited geography model" for the theorized
geography
Geography (from Greek: , ''geographia''. Combination of Greek words ‘Geo’ (The Earth) and ‘Graphien’ (to describe), literally "earth description") is a field of science devoted to the study of the lands, features, inhabitants, and ...
of the
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a religious text of the Latter Day Saint movement, which, according to Latter Day Saint theology, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from 600 BC to AD 421 and during an interlude date ...
.
Early life and Baptist minister
Sjödahl was born in
Karlshamn,
Blekinge
Blekinge (, old da, Bleking) is one of the traditional Swedish provinces (), situated in the southern coast of the geographic region of Götaland, in southern Sweden. It borders Småland, Scania and the Baltic Sea. It is the country's second ...
,
Sweden
Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...
. Sjödahl and his parents were members of the
Lutheran
Lutheranism is one of the largest branches of Protestantism, identifying primarily with the theology of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk and reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Catholic Church launched th ...
Church of Sweden
The Church of Sweden ( sv, Svenska kyrkan) is an Evangelical Lutheran national church in Sweden. A former state church, headquartered in Uppsala, with around 5.6 million members at year end 2021, it is the largest Christian denomination in Sw ...
, but on 11 August 1869 he was
baptized
Baptism (from grc-x-koine, βάπτισμα, váptisma) is a form of ritual purification—a characteristic of many religions throughout time and geography. In Christianity, it is a Christian sacrament of initiation and adoption, almost ...
into the
Baptist Church
Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only (believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul compete ...
in Karlshamn. In 1870, Sjödahl entered the Baptist
Bethel Seminary in
Stockholm
Stockholm () is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, largest city of Sweden as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in Scandinavia. Approximately 980,000 people liv ...
. He completed his studies in June 1872 and became the Baptist minister in
Eskilstuna. In 1873, he became the Baptist minister in
Västervik
Västervik is a city status in Sweden, city and the seat of Västervik Municipality, Kalmar County, Sweden, with 36,747 inhabitants in 2021. Västervik is one of three coastal towns with a notable population size in the province of Småland.
Cl ...
.
In 1874, Sjödahl moved to
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
and enrolled in
Spurgeon's College in
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
, where he graduated with a degree in
divinity
Divinity or the divine are things that are either related to, devoted to, or proceeding from a deity.[divine ...](_blank)
in 1876. While in England, Sjödahl mastered English and also specialized in Greek and Hebrew. In addition to knowing Swedish and Norwegian from his childhood, Sjödahl would also master the German, Icelandic, and Arabic languages.
From 1876 to 1886, Sjödahl was the Baptist preacher in
Trondheim
Trondheim ( , , ; sma, Tråante), historically Kaupangen, Nidaros and Trondhjem (), is a city and municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. As of 2020, it had a population of 205,332, was the third most populous municipality in Norway, and ...
,
Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and t ...
. In 1879, he was elected as the inaugural general secretary of the
Norwegian Baptist Union.
On 28 August 1879, Sjödahl married Ane Marie Johnson. His wife died on 16 August 1883 a few weeks after giving birth to their second child, who also died around the same time.
Excommunication and conversion to Mormonism
On 8 June 1886, Sjödahl was
excommunicated
Excommunication is an institutional act of religious censure used to end or at least regulate the communion of a member of a congregation with other members of the religious institution who are in normal communion with each other. The purpose ...
from the Baptist Church, possibly on charges of
adultery
Adultery (from Latin ''adulterium'') is extramarital sex that is considered objectionable on social, religious, moral, or legal grounds. Although the sexual activities that constitute adultery vary, as well as the social, religious, and legal ...
. Around the same time, Sjödahl became associated with Ferdinand Friis Hintze, a
Danish
Danish may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark
People
* A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark
* Culture of Denmark
* Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish ance ...
missionary
A missionary is a member of a Religious denomination, religious group which is sent into an area in order to promote its faith or provide services to people, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.Tho ...
from the LDS Church. Following his excommunication, Sjödahl travelled to
Utah Territory to further investigate
Mormonism
Mormonism is the religious tradition and theology of the Latter Day Saint movement of Restorationist Christianity started by Joseph Smith in Western New York in the 1820s and 1830s. As a label, Mormonism has been applied to various aspects of t ...
. On the sea journey, his son Janne Jr. died.
After arriving in Utah Territory, Sjödahl settled in
Sanpete County
Sanpete County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of Utah. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 27,822. Its county seat is Manti, and its largest city is Ephraim. The county was created in 1850.
History
The Sanpete Valley ma ...
, where a large number of
Scandinavia
Scandinavia; Sámi languages: /. ( ) is a subregion#Europe, subregion in Northern Europe, with strong historical, cultural, and linguistic ties between its constituent peoples. In English usage, ''Scandinavia'' most commonly refers to Denmark, ...
n
Latter-day Saint
Mormons are a religious and cultural group related to Mormonism, the principal branch of the Latter Day Saint movement started by Joseph Smith in upstate New York during the 1820s. After Smith's death in 1844, the movement split into several ...
s had settled. On 7 October 1886, Sjödahl was baptized into the LDS Church in
Manti.
Life in Manti
Upon settling in Manti, Sjödahl became the editor of the ''Manti Sentinel'' newspaper.
When the LDS Church's
Manti Utah Temple
The Manti Utah Temple (formerly the Manti Temple) is the fifth constructed temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located in the city of Manti, Utah, it was the third Latter-day Saint temple built west of the Mississippi Riv ...
was completed in May 1888, Sjödahl became the first individual to receive his
Endowment
Endowment most often refers to:
*A term for human penis size
It may also refer to: Finance
*Financial endowment, pertaining to funds or property donated to institutions or individuals (e.g., college endowment)
*Endowment mortgage, a mortgage to b ...
in the new
temple
A temple (from the Latin ) is a building reserved for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. Religions which erect temples include Christianity (whose temples are typically called churches), Hinduism (whose temples ...
.
[Lundgren, p. 24, citing Manti Temple records on ordinances for the living.] On 30 May 1888, Sjödahl and Christina Christofferson were married in the Manti Temple by
Apostle Francis M. Lyman
Francis Marion Lyman (January 12, 1840 – November 18, 1916) was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He was the President of the Quorum of the Twelve from 1903 until his ...
; they were the first couple married in the new temple.
[ His second wife died in 1910.
]
Church translator and missionary
In 1888, Sjödahl completed a church-approved translation of the LDS Church's Doctrine and Covenants
The Doctrine and Covenants (sometimes abbreviated and cited as D&C or D. and C.) is a part of the open scriptural canon of several denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement. Originally published in 1835 as Doctrine and Covenants of the Chur ...
into Swedish
Swedish or ' may refer to:
Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically:
* Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland
** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...
. In 1927, Sjödahl translated the Pearl of Great Price into Swedish, and in 1935 he completed the third revised translation of the Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a religious text of the Latter Day Saint movement, which, according to Latter Day Saint theology, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from 600 BC to AD 421 and during an interlude date ...
into Swedish.
Upon the completion of the translation, Sjödahl was asked by church president Wilford Woodruff to go on a mission to Palestine
__NOTOC__
Palestine may refer to:
* State of Palestine, a state in Western Asia
* Palestine (region), a geographic region in Western Asia
* Palestinian territories, territories occupied by Israel since 1967, namely the West Bank (including East ...
. In January 1889. Sjödahl arrived in Jaffa
Jaffa, in Hebrew Yafo ( he, יָפוֹ, ) and in Arabic Yafa ( ar, يَافَا) and also called Japho or Joppa, the southern and oldest part of Tel Aviv-Yafo, is an ancient port city in Israel. Jaffa is known for its association with the b ...
. He learned to speak Arabic
Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic languages, Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C ...
and preached in Palestine for one year, organizing a branch
A branch, sometimes called a ramus in botany, is a woody structural member connected to the central trunk (botany), trunk of a tree (or sometimes a shrub). Large branches are known as boughs and small branches are known as twigs. The term '' ...
of the church in Jaffa.[ Jenson, Andrew. ''Encyclopedia History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints'', (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1941) p. 629] In January 1890, Sjödahl was asked to go to Bern
german: Berner(in)french: Bernois(e) it, bernese
, neighboring_municipalities = Bremgarten bei Bern, Frauenkappelen, Ittigen, Kirchlindach, Köniz, Mühleberg, Muri bei Bern, Neuenegg, Ostermundigen, Wohlen bei Bern, Zollikofen
, website ...
, Switzerland
). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
to complete his mission. He arrived back in Utah Territory in July 1890.
Newspaper editor and publications
Upon returning to Utah, Sjödahl became employed by the ''Deseret News
The ''Deseret News'' () is the oldest continuously operating publication in the American west. Its multi-platform products feature journalism and commentary across the fields of politics, culture, family life, faith, sports, and entertainment. Th ...
'' newspaper in Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City (often shortened to Salt Lake and abbreviated as SLC) is the Capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Utah, most populous city of Utah, United States. It is the county seat, seat of Salt Lake County, Utah, Sal ...
. From 1906 to 1914, Sjödahl was the chief editor of the newspaper. In 1914, Sjödahl returned to England and became an editor of the LDS Church's ''Millennial Star
''The Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star'' (usually shortened to ''Millennial Star'') was the longest continuously published periodical of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), and was printed in England from 1840 unti ...
'' in Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a popul ...
.
In 1917, Sjödahl and LDS Church Apsotle Hyrum M. Smith
Hyrum Mack Smith (March 21, 1872 – January 23, 1918) was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
Smith was born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, the eldest son of church ...
, who was the president
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
*President (education), a leader of a college or university
*President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Automobiles
* Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...
of the church's Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...
an Mission, together worked on ''A Commentary on the Doctrine and Covenants''. While Sjödahl wrote most of the text, it was reviewed and approved by Smith. When ''Doctrine and Covenants Commentary'' was first published in 1919 in Liverpool, it was a church-approved publication and only Smith was listed as an author. However, subsequent publication of ''Doctrine and Covenants Commentary'' have acknowledged Sjödahl as its coauthor. ''Doctrine and Covenants Commentary'' is still cited frequently by Latter-day Saint authors and commentators.
Upon returning to Utah in 1919, Sjödahl became an editor for the church's '' Improvement Era'' magazine, in which he published more than 50 of his own articles. In 1920, Sjödahl worked with George F. Richards
George Franklin Richards (February 23, 1861 – August 8, 1950) was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from April 9, 1906, until his death. He also served as Acting ...
and James E. Talmage
James Edward Talmage (21 September 1862 – 27 July 1933) was an English chemist, geologist, and religious leader who served as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) fro ...
in revising the footnotes in the Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a religious text of the Latter Day Saint movement, which, according to Latter Day Saint theology, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from 600 BC to AD 421 and during an interlude date ...
; Sjödahl's work was incorporated into the LDS Church's 1920 English edition of that publication. In 1923 and 1924, he assisted Talmage in revising his church-approved book ''Articles of Faith
A creed, also known as a confession of faith, a symbol, or a statement of faith, is a statement of the shared beliefs of a community (often a religious community) in a form which is structured by subjects which summarize its core tenets.
The ea ...
''.
In 1927, Sjödahl published ''An Introduction to the Study of the Book of Mormon'', an apologetic work and one of the founding works in the area of Book of Mormon studies. In this work, Sjödahl advanced an early version of the " limited geography model" of the Book of Mormon, one of the first authors to do so.
Sjödahl was also the editor of the LDS Church's German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ger ...
, Danish
Danish may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark
People
* A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark
* Culture of Denmark
* Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish ance ...
– Norwegian, Dutch, and Swedish
Swedish or ' may refer to:
Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically:
* Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland
** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...
newspapers in Salt Lake City from 1919 until they ceased publication in 1935.
When Sjödahl died in 1939, he had partially completed an extensive commentary on the Book of Mormon. In 1955, Sjödahl's material was taken by his son-in-law, Philip C. Reynolds, and combined with some materials by church general authority George Reynolds and published under their names the seven-volume ''Commentary on the Book of Mormon''. In 1965, Philip Reynolds published under the same names ''Commentary on the Pearl of Great Price''.
Publications
* George Reynolds and Janne M. Sjödahl (1955) (Philip C. Reynolds, ed.). ''Commentary on the Book of Mormon'' (7 vols.) (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret News Press)
* —— and —— (1965) (Philip C. Reynolds, ed.). ''Commentary on the Pearl of Great Price'' (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret News Press)
*Janne M. Sjödahl (1927). ''An Introduction to the Study of the Book of Mormon'' (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret News Press)
*—— (1913).
The Reign of Antichrist, or, The Great Falling Away: A Study in Ecclesiastical History
' (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret News Press)
*Hyrum M. Smith
Hyrum Mack Smith (March 21, 1872 – January 23, 1918) was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
Smith was born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, the eldest son of church ...
and Janne M. Sjödahl (1955, 2d ed.). ''The Doctrine and Covenants Containing Revelations Given to Joseph Smith Jr., the Prophet, with an Introduction and Historical and Exegetical Notes'' (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret News Press) riginally published in 1919 as ''A Commentary on the Doctrine and Covenants''
See also
*David S. King
David Sjodahl King (June 20, 1917 – May 5, 2009) was a United States House of Representatives, representative from Utah. He was a member of the United States Democratic Party, Democratic Party.
Early life and education
King was born in S ...
: grandson
*Jody Olsen
Josephine King Olsen (born 1942) served as the 20th Director of the Peace Corps from 2018 to 2021. She was appointed by President Donald Trump, and sworn in on March 30, 2018, after being confirmed by the Senate.
Early life and education
Olsen ...
: great-granddaughter
Notes
References
*Andrew Jenson
Andrew Jenson, born Anders Jensen, (December 11, 1850 – November 18, 1941) was a Danish immigrant to the United States who acted as an Assistant Church Historian of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) for much of the ea ...
. '' Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia'', vol. 3, s.v. "Sjodahl, Janne Mattson"
*
*Brent G. Lundgren
"Janne Mattson Sjodahl – Baptist Minister, Convert to Mormonism, Editor, Author and Missionary"
MA Thesis, Brigham Young University, 1971
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sjodahl, Janne M.
1853 births
1939 deaths
19th-century Baptist ministers
19th-century Mormon missionaries
American newspaper editors
Book of Mormon studies
Converts to Mormonism from Baptist denominations
Deseret News people
Editors of Latter Day Saint publications
English newspaper editors
English male journalists
English–Swedish translators
Latter Day Saint writers
Mormon missionaries in Palestine (region)
Mormon missionaries in Switzerland
People excommunicated by Baptist churches
People from Karlshamn
People from Manti, Utah
Writers from Salt Lake City
Swedish emigrants to the United States
Swedish Mormon missionaries
Swedish Latter Day Saints
Translators of the Book of Mormon
Mormon missionaries in the Ottoman Empire
Book of Mormon scholars
Missionary linguists