Latter-day Saints in Norway Honour Pioneer Legacy and Mark 200 Years of Norwegian Emigration

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Celebrations have taken place in Norway to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the first organised Norwegian emigration to the United States. For The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the anniversary is particularly significant, as many early Norwegian emigrants played a key role in the Church’s history.

Members of the Church helped mark the occasion by sponsoring local genealogical events and attending national celebrations. The ‘Crossings 200’ initiative honours the historic departure of the sloop 'Restauration' from Stavanger, Norway, on July 4, 1825.

A year-long series of events commemorating the historic voyage culminated in a national celebration in Stavanger on July 4, 2025. Their Majesties King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway attended the event and bid farewell to a replica of the sloop 'Restauration,' which is now retracing the original journey to New York, where it is expected to arrive in October.

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Latter-day Saint Ties to Norwegian Emigration

Several of the passengers on the original voyage eventually settled in Fox River, Illinois, where, in 1842, they helped establish the first non-English-speaking congregation in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The small Norwegian-speaking branch was the beginning of a legacy of faith among Norwegian immigrants. Many Latter-day Saints in North America today trace their ancestry to those early pioneers who left Norway to help establish the Church in the United States in the mid-19th century.

Church Participation in Commemorative Events

On 3 July, members of the Church in Stavanger hosted a gathering at the local meetinghouse, organised with FamilySearch. The event brought together local members and descendants of early Norwegian emigrants from the United States to honour the resilience of the early pioneers.

Vidar Top, chair of the Church’s committee for the 200th anniversary, reflected on the event:

“Gathering with descendants of those early emigrants was really special. Hearing their stories and knowing how much faith and courage it took to leave everything behind reminded me why family history is so important. It’s about honouring those who came before us and keeping their legacy alive in our own lives.”

On 4 July, Joanna Bjerga, chair of the local interfaith council, represented the Church at a service in Stavanger Cathedral attended by Their Majesties. Later that day, Church members joined thousands in the town square to witness the symbolic departure of the 'Restauration' replica.

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Joanna Bjerga shared her thoughts on the anniversary:

“It was an honour to represent the Church at the cathedral service with the King and Queen, members of the Royal Family, and so many from the community. This anniversary means a lot to us; it’s a chance to remember the bravery and faith of our ancestors, who faced so much to build a new life. Their journey helped shape the Church here in Norway and across the world, and it’s inspiring to reflect on that.”

The Church also took part in exhibitions at the Stavanger Concert Hall, sharing its historical connection to Norwegian emigration through displays and personal stories of faith. The celebration concluded with a concert featuring music from both Norwegian and American traditions.

James Perry, the Europe North Church History Manager, said:

“The voyage of the 'Restauration' marks a defining moment in both Norwegian emigration and Church history. Some of those early passengers went on to establish one of the first Latter-day Saint non-English-speaking congregations, paving the way for future Norwegian Latter-day Saints. It’s a pleasure to be here in Stavanger, marking this 200th anniversary and remembering this remarkable heritage.”

Today, the Church in Norway has more than 4,500 members. In April 2021, President Russell M. Nelson, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, announced plans to build a new temple of the Church in Oslo, the first of its kind in Norway.

FamilySearch Launches Norwegian Ancestry Platform

As part of the Crossings 200 initiative, FamilySearch, the world’s largest free genealogy platform, has launched a new interactive website inviting people to explore the lives of the original 1825 emigrants known as the “Sloopers.” The site allows users to discover whether they are connected to passengers from the 'Restauration' and offers access to Norwegian parish records, census data, and research guides. It’s a dynamic way for people of Norwegian descent, or anyone with a love of family history, to connect with their heritage and become part of this bicentennial story. The new platform can be found here.

Read this related article from the Church News Why this replica ship is crossing the Atlantic in honor of Norwegian immigrants