Free resources about the Norway Oslo Mission:
- Mission address and phone number
- Mission map
- Video interviews with returned missionaries
- Missionary blogs
- Facebook groups
- LDS Mission t-shirts and gifts
- List of past mission presidents
- Cultural articles written by returned missionaries
- Survey with RMs
Norway Oslo Mission Address
Here’s a recent address for the Norway Oslo Mission. We try to keep this information up to date, but it’s a good idea to check the address with several sources, including your mission packet or the mission office.
Norway Oslo Mission
Postboks 894
1306 Sandvika
Norge
Check with your missionary before sending packages and letters to them personally. They will need to be sent to their specific address. Forwarding mail to the missionaries requires extra postage from us, or delaying the arrival of their mail until they come to Oslo, or someone travels to their area to deliver it personally.
Phone Number: 47-67-52-12-70
Mission President: President Tracy A. Hill
Norway Oslo Mission Map
Here’s a link to the mission map for the Oslo Mission (LDS). To access the official, up-to-date LDS.org map for the Oslo Mission:
Videos with Norway RMs
Here are in-depth YouTube video interviews with returned missionaries from the Oslo Mission. We interview hundreds of returned missionaries each year, so check back regularly to see new RM interviews.
Videos about Norway
Here are LDS-friendly educational videos about Norway. We scoured YouTube to find the best quality videos about Norway, that are free from inappropriate music, immodesty and profanity.
Norway Oslo Missionary Blogs
Here’s a list of LDS missionary blogs for the Norway Oslo Mission. This list includes the missionary’s name, URL and when their blog was updated.
Norway Oslo Mission Groups
Here are Norway Oslo Mission Groups- for LDS missionary moms, returned missionaries, mission presidents and other alumni of the Oslo Mission.
- I served in Bergen, Oslo Norway Mission Group (135 members)
- Norway Oslo Mission Memories Group (54 members)
- Oslo Norway Mission Facebook Group (31 members)
- Oslo Norway Mission (Leaving 2013) Group (18 members)
- Norway Oslo Mission Moms (LDS) Group (7 members)
Norway Oslo Mission T-Shirts
Here are T-shirts for the Norway Oslo Mission!
Shirt designs include Norway Oslo Mission logo/emblem shirts and Called to Serve shirts. The shirts make great gifts for pre-missionaries, returned missionaries and missionaries currently serving. LDS Mission shirts come in all sizes: Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large, up to 4XL. The mission designs are printed on white shirts and are shipped to you.
*Simply click on a shirt design to view the details and submit an order. The designs on mission t-shirts may also be printed on other LDS mission gifts, including: Norway Oslo missionary aprons, Christmas stockings, ties, pillow cases, teddy bears and Christmas ornaments.
*Click here to browse Oslo Mission gifts
Norway Oslo Mission Presidents
Here’s a list of current and past Mission Presidents of the Oslo Mission.
- 2015-2018, Tracy A. Hill
- 2012-2015, Don Alan Evans
- 2009-2012, Armand D. Johansen
- 2006-2009, Lynn J. Poulsen (Listen to an interview with the Poulsens)
- 2003-2006, Per G. Malm
- 2003-2003, Gary C. Williamson
- 2002-2003, Steven W. Bergstedt
- 1999-2002, Jan T. Tveten
- 1996-1999, Bernt C. Lundgren
- 1993-1996, R. Dean Olson
- 1990-1993, Ronald T. Halverson
- 1987-1990, Erlend Dean Peterson
- 1986-1987, Jay R. Hyer
- 1983-1986, Richard P. Broberg
- 1980-1983, Arthur, Wilford
- 1978-1980, Per Haugen
- 1975-1978, John Langeland
- 1972-1975, Gosta Berling
- 1969-1972, Ray C. Johnson
- 1966-1969, Leo M. Jacobsen
- 1963-1966, Dean A. Peterson
- 1960-1963, Joseph A. Gundersen
- 1955-1960, Ray E. Engebretsen
Norway LDS Statistics (2015)
- Church Membership: 4,696
- Missions: 1
- Temples: 0
- Congregations: 22
- Family History Centers: 15
Helpful Articles about Norway
Norway Oslo Missionary Survey
Here are survey responses from Norway Oslo RMs, to give you a snapshot into what it’s like to live in the mission.
When did you serve?
- 2013-2015 (Lamar)
- 2011-2013 (Alex)
- 2011 (Kimberly)
- April 2013-April 2015 (Chris)
- 2013-2015 (Dan)
- 2013-2014 (Nicole)
- 2010-2012 (Logan)
- 2007-2009 (Brett)
- 2007-2009 (Robert)
- 1997-1999 (Line)
- 1996-1998 (Daniel)
- 1992-1994 (Matt)
- 1992-1994 (Kimberly)
- 1985-1987 (James)
- 2010-2011 (Rachel)
- 2014-2015 (Aimee)
- 2009-2011 (Josiah)
- 1985-1987 (James)
- 1983-1985 (Paul)
Which areas did you serve in?
- Stavanger, Bergen, Fredrikstad, Trondheim, and Romerike (Logan)
- Bergen (both areas), Drammen, Sarpsborg, Fredrikstad, Tønsberg/Sandefjord. (Brett)
- Stavanger 9 months. (Line)
- Trondheim, Bergen, Stavanger. (Daniel)
- Oslo, Tonsberg, Hokksund, Stavanger, Bergen, Haugesund. (Matt)
- Oslo, Stavanger, Kristiansand, Bergen, Moss, Fredrikstad. (Kimberly)
- Oslo, Jessheim, Eidsvoll, Klufta, Namsaas, Stavanger, Trondheim. (James)
- Trondhiem and Bergen. (Rachel)
- Stavanger, Bergen, Sarpsborg, Skin, Bodø. (Aimee)
- Stavanger, Oslo, Arendal, Tromsø, Haugesund, Bergen. (Josiah)
- Oslo, Jessheim, Klofta, Namsaas, Stavanger. (James)
- Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, Trondheim, Tromso. (Paul)
What were some favorite Norwegian foods?
- Everything! Especially Finnbiff! (Lamar)
- Far I Kal (lamb in cabbage) (Alex)
- Brown cheese with strawberry jam and sour cream on waffles, “meatcakes” with “brown sauce” and lingonberry jam, Norwegian chocolate, and kebabs. (Chris)
- Waffles, hot dogs, kebabs. (Dan)
- Salmon, oatmeal milk, chocolate. (Nicole)
- Kjøttboller, rislunsj, fiskesuppe, boller Bergbys sennep. Meat balls with sauce, fish soup, all jams and all deserts, reindeer, potatoes with sauce. (Kimberly)
- Fårikål was something I really liked, when made well. It’s a lamb and cabbage stew, kind of. (Logan)
- Kebabs!! (The debate about which is the best- will continue into the Millennium) Freia chocolate!! Sørlands chips, vaffler with jam or brown cheese, Riscrem, meat and potatoes, good ice cream (creamier than the States), Sprøstek løk (roasted onion flakes) and Bergby’s sauce on pølser (hot dogs), Cinnamon boller, Pasta formaggio “First Price” (cheap brand). (Brett)
- Meatballs. (Robert)
- Raspeballer og kjøttkaker (But not together). Skoleboller, rosin boller. (Line)
- Kjøttkaker med poteter og tyttebær — meatballs with potatoes and red current jam Raspeballer (aka: Klubb) — potato dumplings iskrem med vanilja saus og rips — ice cream with vanilla sauce and berries melkeskjokolade — milk chocolate… especially with hazelnuts. (Daniel)
- Kjøttkaker (meatballs), skolebrød (think donut with custard and coconut, but not overly sweet), fresh shrimp on any of the docks in the major coastal towns. (Matt)
- Meatballs, boiled potatoes. Veggies and sauce on it. All of the deserts: chocolate , ice cream, Blotkake cakes and cookies, pastries. Vaffles, skolebrød. (Kimberly)
- Fish, chocolate pudding with vanilla sauce, weinerbrod, fiskecake, risgrut, most norsk mate uten lutefisk! Set kommer jeg aldri to as spise!!! Rekesalat, smobrod, glug. (James)
- K-babs Såft Spiced feta in jar with veggies Friea chocolate lemon and ginger bar Pepe’s pizza Kjøt-kaker og potets Skolebrød og boller Norvega og brun ost Pølse og mustard sauce in orange bottle with potato salad on top Onieda crackers and milk. (Rachel)
- Lefse, pine kjott, fiske pudding, ice cream. (Aimee)
- Kebab and pinnekjøtt. (Josiah)
- Wienerbrod, fiskekaker, rekesalat, osv. (James)
- Everything. (Paul)
What was a funny experience?
- Once I accidentally told our hostess the food was dårlig (horrible) instead of deilig (delicious). (Lamar)
- Getting stranded at airports. Mix-ups during splits. (Alex)
- We went to a police auction to try and purchase a new bike, offered 300 Norwegian crowns for it on impulse, only to find out it was a tween-sized bike! (Chris)
- Being sung to by elderly Norwegian women at any celebration. (Nicole)
- Norwegians are very quiet. Especially on buses. It was dark outside because we were in winter months and without being able to see landmarks my companion and I had no idea where to get off for our appointment. She tried to ask the bus driver, while I asked the man I was sitting next to. Everyone on the bus could hear but no one agreed as to where the best stop was for us. My the time we got off, all these reserved Norwegians were yelling at each other to prove their stop was the best idea. Hanging out on preparation days. There was always something, slipping and falling on ice, catching the wrong bus. (Kimberly)
- A new missionary didn’t realize that a drink we had was concentrated, and, being pretty thirsty, took a big swig of the drink that was 10 times as strong as it should be. Pretty great! (Logan)
- Crazy drunks and weird people who shared their beliefs (one guy literally believed in trolls and worshiped Thor…he was sober and completely serious). (Brett)
- Slipping on ice. (Robert)
- It Norway they seldom shovel the snow cleanly off the sidewalks or roads. Normally it just gets packed down hard. Once it was so cold on the hard packed snow that it became really slippery. My companion and I were walking uphill and my fancy Dr. Martins shoes with those jelly-like soles couldn’t get any grip. I would try to step and fall right down and slide back down the hill. Eventually I just ended up crawling up the hill. (Daniel)
- One morning while tracting in Tønsberg, I noticed a large Burmese Mountain Dog lounging in the sun just behind a fence. Norwegians love their large dog breeds. I didn’t mention this to my companion as he opened the gate for us to approach the front door. The dog immediately jumped up and “tackled” my companion. It wasn’t attacking him, but rather was just playing. But it was a very large dog and my companion, in spite of him being well over six feet tall, couldn’t get the dog off him. I sat and laughed for what seemed a few minutes while they wrestled. When the dog finally let my companion up, he was covered in grass stains and we decided to take an early lunch to go get him a change of clothes. (Matt)
- Dogs chasing us, dress got stuck in the bicycle chain. (Kimberly)
- Watching the sister missionaries pummel a poor bystander with snowballs that were aimed at us!! One of the Sisters was named Sister Robinson. I don’t recall the name of the other sister. (James)
- My companion and I were having lunch one day and she shook the ketchup bottle and it squirted onto her shoulder. Ha! (Rachel)
- My companion and I were contacting in ‘sentrum’. We saw the elders walking in our direction on the other side of the street. I followed my companion into the crosswalk so we could cross and go talk to the elders. I was paying attention to the cars, making sure that they would stop and didn’t see that the elders were crossing to our side of the street just as we were crossing to there’s. My companion did notice. I, still paying attention to the cars, didn’t notice her turn around. BAM! We slammed right into each other. We would have bounced off each other and fallen backward but her automatic reaction was to fling her arms out and grab me. I apparently “squealed like a little bunny” as we collided. She just held me for a little bit and we were cracking up! We seriously didn’t stop laughing for about 5 minutes. I wonder what the people in the cars and walking around us thought of these 2 crazy Americans. Too bad the elders missed the whole scene. (Aimee)
- We found a goose egg that was a dud. We made an entire movie on P day about bandits that were trying to steal it and the villagers that fought them off. It was legendary. (Josiah)
- I remember serving in Stavanger. Sister Robinson and her companion were trying to hide behind some bushes to sneak up on us to plow us with snowballs. They actually ended up throwing snowballs at a little old lady who just so happened to walk right between us and them. Oh boy, was that little old lady was MAD! (James)
- Prank robbery at mission home. (Paul)
What was a crazy experience?
- A drug dealer in downtown Oslo didn’t like us teaching his girlfriend. (Alex)
- Hiking the Pulpit Rock (2000 meter cliff over a fjord) in Stavanger in the early spring, when there was still snow and ice everywhere! (Chris)
- Being followed by drug addicts. (Nicole)
- We had moved to a wealthier part of town. I couldn’t sleep one night and I heard someone climbing up to our bedroom window. A man opened our window and climbed inside. I was totally paralyzed with fear! He saw me staring at him, growled, jumped out the window and ran. My companion slept through the whole thing. I was in shock the entire next day. I didn’t do anything crazy or dangerous. (Kimberly)
- Knocking on doors, I slipped and fell on some ice on a steep driveway. My Book of Mormon flew into the air, and I slid around 20 feet to the bottom of the driveway. We kept going, but at the next door, the lady gave me a very strange look, so I asked afterward if there was something wrong, and found out my forehead was bleeding from two different splits! (Logan)
- Driving in snow. (Brett)
- Teaching cognitively disabled people. (Robert)
- The sister missionaries knocked on the door of a gentleman who said he’d be interested in having the missionaries over. They sent us his way and when we arrived we found out he was a hoarder of antiques. While we were there we—sitting on his bed surrounded by junk of all sorts—we noticed a “sieg heil” poster of Hitler on the wall with some WWII German military jackets. A few minutes later he popped some “horse tranquilizers” (as he called them) and within a couple minutes he was was completely hammered! Oddly enough, he showed us some Church pamphlets and an old Book of Mormon that he’d been given over 20 years earlier that he’d held onto. While he rummaged through the rest of his junk, my companion noticed a gun on the bed next to us and (without thinking) picked it up and pulled back the hammer. “Careful! That could be loaded!” I said. His reply… “it IS loaded!” as he jammed his finger between the hammer and the bullet. Carefully he lowered the hammer down and hid the gun under a pile of clothes. When he came back we let him know we needed to catch the bus and high-tailed it out of there! Good times! (Daniel)
- While tracting one evening in Vestfossen (south of Hokksund), an inebriated man started to follow us from door to door heckling us. He kept calling us beggars and to get out of town. At one point I had enough and went to confront him. He started shoving me and was getting ready to start throwing punches when I told him I was going to call the police. He yelled, “I am the police!” and produced his police badge and identification. My junior companion stepped in between us and tried to calm the situation, as I was full of anger from weeks upon weeks of unfruitful tracting. I was about to call down fire and brimstone (or at least say some very blunt and unhelpful things) but seeing my junior companion speak so clearly and with such genuine intentions softened my heart. So we just turned and ran a couple of blocks to our car and didn’t return to that area for the remainder of my time there. (Matt)
- Drunk Norwegians are scary. They tried to approach us but we got away. (Kimberly)
- I can’t remember any. (James)
- One of my converts fell in love with me about a month after he was baptized. Well I found out about a month after. He didn’t get baptized because of me though. It was real with him—We went down to the Muslim part of town with the Albanian we had baptized to find that young man we taught the powerful first lesson to, we found him but we learned that it was too dangerous for him to continue to learn with us as he could be killed for it. (Rachel)
- My companion and I were sitting on the bus on the way back to ‘sentrum’. Where we were sitting there are 2 seats on each side of the bus facing forward and 2 facing back. I was facing forward on one side of the bus and my companion was facing backward on the other side. At one of the stops, a man with a guitar stepped onto the bus and sat across from me. He smelled like alcohol and/or drugs. I never was good at telling the difference. I smiled at him and then looked out the window wondering if I should talk to him or not and wonder what I should say. After a couple minutes he started strumming his guitar and then belting out a song for the whole bus to hear. (this does not happen in Norway) He was actually pretty good. When he was finished, the girl sitting in the seat behind me started clapping and cheering a bit. She leaned forward and told him how good he was and started flirting. Oh boy…. I was sitting awkwardly between two people beginning a romance. Then, what do you know, he pulls out some alcohol and shows her. Yep, he must be a little buzzed. She said, “oh, looky there!” , in Norwegian and told him to be careful not to get caught. They started talking about drugs and about where each other was headed. While all of this was going on the girl sitting across from my companion started lighting up some kind of drug. I had lots of other crazy experiences but that was one of the craziest. (Aimee)
- There we were looking death in the eye, death blinks my friend because we’re still here! Seriously though I beat up a guy that attacked my companion and I. This is basically unheard of to have a confrontation like this but we brought the thunder! (Josiah)
- I can’t remember any. (James)
- Car rolled off cliff into river, both Elders survived. (Paul)
What was a spiritual experience?
- We once visited a new investigator and found out his wife was a less active member and his neighbor was a long lost investigator. (Lamar)
- Teaching people from the Middle East. (Alex)
- In my last area, while trudging through the rain and cold with my companion who had been out for 8 weeks, we felt to pray and ask for guidance on where to go. So we prayed, and changed direction. Soon we found a Filipino YSA woman, whom we began teaching. 6 weeks later, a week before I went home, she was baptized. A great going away gift from Heavenly Father 🙂 (Chris)
- It was wonderful to read The Book of Mormon with members and investigators. (Dan)
- Seeing the light enter people’s eyes as they learned that God is their loving Father. (Nicole)
- We were running way late to everything one day! (Big no no in Norway.) I wasn’t stressed about it for some reason because I felt like we were doing all we could to be there for the people around us. My companion was super stressed and we were running to catch the tram but I saw this old man walking across the street. It was like time stopped. He couldn’t lift his walker up onto the curb to get out of the street fully and he spoke so quietly no one was noticing him. Instead of going over to the tram I went over to him and helped him up. I knew so strong at that moment that that was what the Savior had wanted me to be there to do that day. The elderly man started crying and saying thank you over and over. We missed the tram but it was okay. It was such a simple thing, but huge testimony that those little things we often walk by in life are the things that matter most, and that he hears our prayers over the tiniest of things. Zone conference, when Jeffrey R Holland came and spoke many times . He also dedicated the Stavanger chapel. Pretty great experiences. (Kimberly)
- Teaching the elect who had clearly been prepared or finding one person after contacting all day in the city in the cold. (Brett)
- Listening to music. (Robert)
- We started teaching a very large man who’s son had recently joined the church. He wanted to learn more about this ‘cult’ his son had gotten into and wanted to be sure his son wasn’t in any danger. This man smoked and drank… a self-described part-time alcoholic. After meeting with him for about a month and challenging him to pray about what we’d been teaching, we returned to have an appointment with him one afternoon. There was a Distinctly visual difference to his appearance… to his countenance. He looked “brighter” in some way. He eagerly sat us down and described how he had been praying to know if what we’d been teaching him was true. He described how a feeling of warmth and heat enveloped his body and went out to his fingertips. He had received an answer to his prayer that it was true. His son (a VERY tall and large young man) baptized his father and then sobbed and he hugged him after he’d baptized him. It was a very powerful experience. (Daniel)
- During my third week in Tønsberg, a young lady approached us on the gågate. She spoke to us in perfect English and said she’d been watching us for a couple of weeks and decided we were the ones she’d been waiting for. She told us she had been baptized a couple of years before, but had gone inactive and had been watching the Elders ever since to try to feel the Spirit. That day the Spirit told her that we were the ones, and she tearfully asked us to come to dinner. Over the course of a few months of meeting and working with her, she became active again and even went on to serve a mission in England. I have multiple stories like this and feel so strongly that I was called to Norway to help reignite the flame in less active and inactive members. I found so much success and peace in helping my brothers and sisters rekindle their testimonies. The most powerful experience stemming from my mission came a few years after I was home. A young lady I taught in Bergen, who eventually served a mission after being baptized, was able to attend my temple wedding in Utah. While my bride and I were walking out of the sealing room, my dear Norwegian sister hugged me and whispered in my ear, “Do you think we talked about this day, with me being here for your temple wedding, in the preexistence? Because I know we did. Thank you, brother.” Needless to say, it brought some very happy tears. (Matt)
- Praying really does work. Finding people to teach. Seeing new converts pray and share their testimonies. Missionary conferences. (Kimberly)
- Teaching a mother and daughter who I’ve kept in contact with for 25 years. (James)
- My companion and I were white washing Oslo when I first got there. We started with nothing and we found a total of 5 people there between October 2010 and April 2011 to be baptized. One of which didn’t speak any English or Norwegian. We had to translate everything to him in either Albanian or with our Italian speaking member,as this man spoke Italian and lived there for many years. Anyway, we taught this man about the word of wisdom and we got to smoking, we gestured to smoking, the universal sign of it and said this is not OK with Heavenly Father, he quit THAT SAME DAY! His English and Norwegian got better add the time went on. We actually learned some Albanian. Good times. We found a Muslim who wanted to learn about Jesus. So we taught him the first lesson. Oh my word this was the most powerful lesson I’ve ever been in hands down. The Spirit was so strong when we taught about Joseph Smith and his vision. The young man knew it was truth but being muslin it was impossible for him to join safely. (Rachel)
- It had been a rough couple of weeks. It seemed that we didn’t have many investigators and we were discouraged that we hadn’t gotten very many new ones. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the area! It was one of my favorites! It was just a difficult time and mostly because one of our most positive investigators had gotten into some anti-Mormon material which had resulted in some drama. We had a busy day ahead of us which was wonderful! But I felt overwhelmed by everything. I didn’t want to deal with it anymore so during personal study I went into my room and prayed that I would know how to apply the Atonement and that I would feel lighter. A moment after I ended my prayer, the weight on my shoulders and that pressure on my heart was lifted. My testimony of prayer and of the Atonement was strengthened so much. (Aimee)
- I had been struggling with the language and had been pleading with The Lord to help me. We were sitting teaching a discussion to an elderly woman, then I got all excited by saying out loud that I understood everything see had just said. It was the weirdest and most special feeling all at once that my mind cleared and my thoughts put into place and was given understanding of the language. I was and am still grateful to my Heavenly Father for that gift. I was able to increase my use of the language to spread the words of the Gospel to his children in Norway. (James)
- Being a missionary there is spiritual experience enough to give the motivation to forth every day among such a chosen people. (Josiah)
- Many… (Paul)
What are some interesting facts about the Norway Oslo Mission?
- I watched it grow from about 50 missionaries- when I first got there- to almost 100, when I left! (Lamar)
- Vikings! (Alex)
- We are smaller, around 100 missionaries total. It covers the whole country, yes, even up to a 2-3 hr flight above the Arctic Circle! We fly a lot for zone conferences, transfers, and such. There are fewer cars than most other missions. The Midnight sun is visible in the summer, and the Northern Lights in the winter! (Chris)
- There are a little under 100 missionaries with 6 or 7 senior couples. It has some of the northern most areas in the world. (Dan)
- Most missionaries in Norway travel by airplane from area to area, to zone conferences, etc! (Nicole)
- Because of all the mountains we have to fly to most zone conferences and splits. Our transfers were 9 months instead of 6 and, because the Norwegian people are very logical and want to be really sure of big decisions, it was not at all abnormal to teach people over a few months before they were baptized. The History is what made these people the way they are. Strong and loyal. The different dialects in almost every area was different. Flying in to a new area was common or train.(Kimberly)
- Missionaries in the northernmost area of the mission were farther away from the mission home, in Oslo, than missionaries in Rome, Italy. I knew missionaries that took over 100 flights over the course of their mission, for things like transfers, splits, conferences, and zone leader councils. While I was serving, the mission consisted of only 50 missionaries for the whole country, with a population of 5,000,000, of which 5,000 were members. (There were almost twice as many Jehovah’s Witnesses) (Logan)
- We more than doubled our baptism rate from the year before I entered to the year after I left. (Brett)
- It’s small. (Robert)
- At the time it was one of the most expensive missions in the Church. It also has the farthest north city in the Church… in Alta, Norway. At the time I left, there were less than 80 missionaries in the entire mission. On average, one missionary baptized one person or less for their entire mission service. (Daniel)
- The missionaries in Italy are closer to the mission president than the northernmost missionaries in the Oslo, Norway mission. Stick a pin in Oslo, and swing the country down over Europe, and you’ll get a feel for the length of the country. (Matt)
- Traditions. Trolls, Laplanders and reindeer. The war when Germany came through and took over. Fish industry and oil business. A lot of Norwegians speak England English. (Kimberly)
- Everything. I love Norge with all my heart!! Kong Olav “Lafen” was on the throne. We used to play football on the palace grounds. Frogner Parken was another place we played except that at certain times of the year it was off limits. (James)
- Only one mission in the whole country. Several different dialects of the Norwegian language depending on region. Best one in the WHOLE WORLD! (Rachel)
- Norway has the most underwater tunnels in the world, I think the most tunnels in general, and the most fjords. Alta is the northern most city in the world with missionaries. (Aimee)
- It’s rich in a bloodline of people that literally pioneered themselves to Salt Lake. (Josiah)
- I was blessed with some pretty amazing companions that taught me much of the world and how to deal with many things. (James)
- Called for 18 months, option to serve 24. (Paul)
What was the weather like in Norway?
- I’m from a more extreme part of Utah as far as weather goes (cold winters and hot summers) and it didn’t seem much different than that to me. (Lamar)
- Snowy and rainy, but fairly pleasant. (Alex)
- Rainy, wet, and chilly in the spring/late fall. Humid and warm during the summer, with lots of rain in July. And winter…was dark, cold, and snowy. (Chris)
- It was nice. It was very, very dark in the winter. (Dan)
- Very cold and dark half the year, and very mild and sunny the other half. (Nicole)
- I was in Bergen all summer so it was super rainy most days. Umbrellas wouldn’t keep you dry, just less wet. We did have a month that was sunny the whole time in the summer. It was beautiful and warm. In the winter, I was in Oslo so it was really bitter cold, but as long as you layered up it was bearable. Cold, bitter, knee high snow in the winter, also dark… maybe 2-3 hours of sunlight. The summers were amazing… sun was up longer or all the time. Spring was major rain.(Kimberly)
- Actually pretty temperate, because most people live near the coast. Inland more, it can get really cold during the winter, as much as -40° which is where Fahrenheit and Celsius meet, though I never experienced that. (Logan)
- Surprisingly warm in Bergen the summer I was there (80’s). Colder in the center of the country or near the border of Sweden, as was not warmed by the Gulf Stream on the West Coast. I just had a nice rain jacket and went through a lot of umbrellas, but I didn’t need rain pants as the packet suggested (heavy and more stuff to pack). (Brett)
- Cold. (Robert)
- Since Norway sits on the arctic circle, parts of the country don’t get any sun for months at a time during the winter; conversely, in the summertime, the sun doesn’t go down at all for a few months. Even in places where the sun does set, it stays very light most of the night. We had to sleep with blinders on the windows in order to sleep. Norway is a coastal country, so there’s a lot of wind and rain and snow (in wintertime). However, when the sun comes out everything is green and beautiful. Some spring days I felt like I was in a fairy tale with all the pink and purple flowers growing through the rolling hills of short grass. Obviously it gets kind of cold in the winter (though the gulf stream warm water current moderates things a little), the summers actually got up into the 80s and even the low 90s at times, and it was mostly pleasant. (Daniel)
- It depends on where you are. On the west coast (Vestlandet), it’s wet and moderately warm in the summer and wet and moderately cold in the winter. In the Olso area, it’s beautifully warm in the summer and cold in the winter (no coastal weather influence). Inland it can be very, very cold in the winter. I never got up north, but instead served primarily on the west coast. I will say it was not as cold as I had anticipated, but it was wetter than I had anticipated. (Matt)
- Winter only had a few hours of light. Summer was amazing…the sun never went down. Northern lights were amazing. Snow was up to my knees. (Kimberly)
- Cold in the winter and warm in summer, plus the sun did not set in the summer. That used to drive me crazy! The weather was beautiful. I loved it when it rained on the coast. I loved Oslo, especially with all the pine trees. In the winter it was so beautiful with the snow. (James)
- Cold, super cold, freezing, below freezing. Warm, pleasant, hot, cool. Every season about. (Rachel)
- It was pretty cold during the winter and warm during the summer. Not too different from most places in the United States. There was one day that I remember that was almost unbearably cold. My feet were so cold that it hurt to walk. I wasn’t sure I could keep going. (Aimee)
- I myself loved it. I liked the cold. I currently live in Las Vegas, Nevada, and to anyone who has been here knows that being in the Mojave desert during the summer months is no picnic by any stretch of the imagination. (James)
- Not as cold as you think. I’m a native of Hawaii and survived just fine. Summers are the world’s best hands down. (Josiah)
- Always beautiful… sometimes too cold though. (Paul)
Any things you really like about Norway/Norwegians?
- Everything! I love the food there, and the culture! The church there isn’t very big, but it is strong. Members are always willing to help anyway they can! Norwegians are generally closed off to strangers, but once you crack their “shell” they’re amazing friends. (Lamar)
- I loved the language. I love the winter sports and the vacation culture. (Alex)
- Extremely friendly people. Norwegians have a lot of pride in their country (especially on May 14, Norway’s Independence Day), but also love to learn about others. A very cultural experience, one you can’t find anywhere in else in the world! (Chris)
- I love how kind Norwegians are and how dedicated the members are even though the church is small and spread out. The nature is absolutely beautiful in Norway. (Dan)
- Norwegians have a deep respect for family and nature. (Nicole)
- Most beautiful place I’ve ever seen and the most beautiful people I’ve ever been around. They are quieter, polite and kind. They are very stubborn and traditional to their customs. Norway is beautiful with green everywhere. Fjords and rocky coasts are common but still valued for their beauty and there are little cottages everywhere!! People were a sincere and honest, down to earth and simple. They enjoyed the basics of Life and very much the nature. (Kimberly)
- Norwegians are very friendly and generous people, once you get to know them. A Norwegian friend is a friend for life. (Logan)
- There are a few members who are very loyal and completely converted to living the Gospel. Norwegians are very wary when they meet someone, but once you become friends, it is life-long. Member middags (dinner appointments were highlights and the food was always delicious!) – better than a lot of the food I was used to in the States so you don’t have to worry about eating nasty stuff unless you want to try lutefisk. Maybe the most beautiful country in the world. Christmas season with lots of snow reflecting white as it is dark most of the day in the Winter and delicious member dinners were definitely a highlight. (Brett)
- It was beautiful and the people were loving. (Robert)
- They were honest and blunt. As an American it seemed rude at first, but I learned to appreciate it and actually feel like it’s an admirable trait. They were also very interested in helping you out…even if they weren’t interested in hearing about the Gospel. The culture of Norway is also wonderful. Beautiful history and a lot of really neat traditions. It’s something that they treasure. (Daniel)
- The members are incredible and there is so much strength there. Without the members as anchors, the missionary work would be so difficult. The Norwegian people are incredibly friendly once you disarm them. My continued closest friendships are with people I met in Norway, both members and non-members alike. Norway is the gem of Europe. You won’t find forests, mountains, fjords, coastline, waterfalls, or forests like it anywhere in the world. (Matt)
- People were beautiful inside and out. Once they let you into their home, you were their friend and they would do anything for you. Others on the street, they didn’t want to talk, even on buses/transportation. (Kimberly)
- They are a good-hearted, independent people. I have a great deal of respect for them.I love the people of Norway. Thy can be the most frustrating, stubborn, and misguided people you have ever met. They also can be the kindest most generous people you have ever met in your entire life. (James)
- You just develop a love for the people you serve. I love them for being them. I love how they all seem to be so tall and fit. I love how they speak. The language is beautiful to the ear. The scenery is gorgeous. The land is so diverse. (Rachel)
- They are more than willing to help you out, give you directions, etc. Once you get to know the people, they can be your closest and truest friends. (Aimee)
- You’ve been chosen to serve here now go out and love that choice holding nothing back. (Josiah)
- I loved and still do love the people. The truly are an amazing group of people. May the Lord bless and keep the people of Norway. (James)
- Wonderful people. Most beautiful country on the planet. (Paul)
Any packing/clothing advice?
- Boots and coats. Cleats to slip on your shoes aren’t a bad idea either. I personally wish I would’ve known a little more about the European fashions before I went, but really that’s not a big deal. (Lamar)
- I wish I had more money for souvenirs. I didn’t need to bring my alarm clock, my American winter jacket, and my wrist watch. It’s difficult to find certain kinds of cereal and snacks. (Alex)
- Layers for winter, and not thick ones. Several jackets. I bought a parka for $300 when I got there, as it was made for Norway bitter-coldness, and it helped in the winter. The summers are pretty humid, so go light on clothing then! (Chris)
- Bring lots of socks! (Dan)
- Sisters, less is more–bring easy to pack dresses rather than a variety of skirts and tops. (Nicole)
- Your biggest key to staying warm in winter is layers. Don’t be afraid to bring a couple outfits for warmer weather (like 70-75 degrees) sisters-wool tights!!! Oh and boots- but save your money and buy those there. Leggings under your dress for cold temperatures and bike riding. Dry fit socks. (Kimberly)
- My carry-on was always my heaviest bag, because it didn’t get weighed like the checked bags did, so I could actually pack it over the weight limit. That’s where all my books and things went. (Logan)
- Hand warmers in the winter are a must! Get good gloves and socks. I even put them in my shoes for the long hours we were outside contacting. They also make great package stuffers for people sending you packages. Like anything else in Norway, mailing packages and letters are expensive. Boots were helpful contacting in snow. Have a heavy and a lighter jacket (that I wore over my suit coat)- I went with the Missionary Mall 3-in-1 combo. It did great and lasted me my entire mission. Pack as little as possible!! If you are transferred to an area up north, you’ll have to send packages as only a limited amount of luggage was allowed…unless you wanted to pay the difference. (Brett)
- Bring lots of white shirts. (Robert)
- A warm parka, a scarf, and good sturdy boots. I probably should have worn thermals under my suit, but as a naive 20-year old, I guess I didn’t notice the cold on my legs as much. In the summer, the coastal weather can be humid, so breathable, wrinkle-free shirts, etc., are good to have. (Daniel)
- Weatherproof boots, a weatherproof jacket, a good set of gloves, a scarf, and a warm hat are a must. Summertime can be beautiful, and at times outright hot, so don’t forget to pack a couple of short sleeve shirts (speaking to Elders) for the summer during the time when suit coats aren’t mandatory. (Matt)
- Wool and layers, boots to your knees for the winter. Leggings under dresses for bikes. Ear protectors for the cold. (Kimberly)
- Pack warm for the winter: lots of sweaters. (James)
- Bring warm and cool clothing. Both very cold, like frigid and super nice clear skies weather. And super warm boots, I’d buy there. Water proof clothes too for the rainy areas. (Rachel)
- Pack as light as practical and possible. Not too light like to the point that you’ll be wearing the same clothes every few days (you get sick of them) but don’t take too many. You’ll get charged for overweight luggage on planes (just like anywhere else). And transfers are often by plane. Also, I would suggest waiting to get your winter attire until you get to Norway. It’s like buying rain gear in desert Nevada for a trip to rainy Seattle. You’ll be able to find warm clothing here but it might not be warm enough. Or maybe it will! It’s just easier there, I think. But don’t buy too much of your clothing in Norway. It’s expensive. (Aimee)
- What you don’t have now you’ll find there. It will likely be nicer but a little more expensive. Don’t bring a lot of dress pants…they sell those there and they are much better. (Josiah)
- Pack wisely. That means pack only what you NEED, not what you think you need. The church gives guidelines on what’s necessary and what is not. (James)
- Pack light, but take some peanut butter. (Paul)
What blessings did you receive from serving a mission?
- A stronger testimony of the gathering of Israel and the blessing of knowing Norwegian. (Alex)
- It helped me see just how necessary the Gospel is in life. I saw people who once had the Church in their life and their current state, and did not want that. I learned a lot about being on my own, and just how to learn to love everyone, no matter their background. (Chris)
- I grew a much greater appreciation for the scriptures. I also learned a ton about revelation and how to exercise faith. (Dan)
- My family grew closer together, especially one brother who returned to activity while I was gone. (Nicole)
- I’m able to be more tactful with/around people. I’m more sure of myself. I was able to come closer to God and really feel how strong he cares about all his children! Also, I have a very different situation than most. My husband is an elder I served with and we are able to carry those Norwegian and missionary traditions down within our family. A strong rooted testimony, a better understanding of the Gospel. Of course great friendships still to this day. (Kimberly)
- More blessings recognized post-mission than during it. Building a stronger testimony and working for the Savior is the best blessing I could have considering the gift of His Atonement for me and my family- yet He continues to bless me for my service. (Brett)
- I can’t count them all. Knowledge and understanding of the vision of the Lord and of His Church are at the top of the list. A love for culture and new types of people. A testimony of the divinity of Jesus Christ and the power of the gospel and the atonement to change lives. (Daniel)
- I found myself. I didn’t know who I was until I lost myself in service and stripped away every worldly thing to see who I really was. (Matt)
- I received an unbreakable testimony. Determination. Relying on God and Jesus Christ. Learning to communicate with your companion was sometimes difficult. (Kimberly)
- A stronger understanding of the Gospel and myself. Or at least the beginnings of an understanding. A greater love of the Gospel and an appreciation of the people of Norge! (James)
- Oh loads. Lasting friendships. Great memories. Found my companion for all eternity. (Rachel)
- I met wonderful people, made wonderful memories, and I grew so much. It really prepared me for the rest of my life, for marriage, and for family. (Aimee)
- Coming out if my inner shell, and being able, eventually open up to others. (James)
- Resiliency and equilibrium when facing the philosophies of the world. (Josiah)
- List is still growing. (Paul)
What skills did you gain as a missionary?
- I learned how to face my fears and how to talk with strangers. (Dan)
- The ability to see people for who they can become, patience, respect for people of different backgrounds, confidence to be bold. (Nicole)
- Before my mission I was blessed to be tactful. I was kind of offended, but when I got out there I saw with Norwegians, it’s all about tact. What a great blessing! I would say that is a huge skill I gained that wasn’t as strong before. I also learned to live in the moment, and be happy and content once I had truly given my all. Speaking in front and spontaneous talks or discussions. (Kimberly)
- I’m able to talk to groups and strangers much more easily, and have more confidence. (Logan)
- Increased communication skills, leadership, humility, learning to get along with people I would never associate with, learning to drive a stick shift, increased spiritual knowledge, lots of practice improving my prayers. (Brett)
- Work ethic. (Robert)
- Norwegian speaking. Public speaking and confidence. Scripture study and understanding of how to research the scriptures. At one point an elderly woman taught me how to knit, but that skill has since been forgotten. (Daniel)
- I learned how to talk to people and build a quick and meaningful rapport. I learned conflict resolution skills I never would have in any other context. And I learned how to laugh. (Matt)
- Rely on the church, determination and the Norwegian language. Go to the scriptures for help. (Kimberly)
- Norwegian, and the ability to learn other languages. People skills that can be used in the service of others. Organization skills. (James)
- I learned how to control my emotions, Especially crying while I felt the Spirit. How to really study. How to talk to people about anything. Especially how to start conversations. How to receive revelation for myself and my companion and our investigators. (Rachel)
- Organization, Planning, Patience, Endurance, Long-suffering. (Aimee)
- Calm seas don’t make skilled sailors, only rough seas do. You’ll become a skilled sailor here if you navigate through your trials and don’t avoid them. (Josiah)
- Learning other languages, people skills. (James)
- Speak Norwegian. Trust the Lord. (Paul)
Anything you wish you knew/did at the beginning of your mission?
- To relax and make decisions with confidence! (Alex)
- Have a deeper testimony of the Gospel, and a better understanding of what a missionary actually is. (Chris)
- I wish I remembered more that all that matters is that I do my best to serve the Lord and others. (Dan)
- That you can never be too bold in declaring truth! (Nicole)
- I wish I had known that it wouldn’t last as long as I thought. I wish I had known that yes people, myself included, would be entirely different after. But I don’t really wish I had done things different at first because those mistakes taught me and made me into the missionary/person I needed to be out there. I wish my testimony was stronger than it was. I wish I comprehended the purpose and the strength God had for me. It all worked out. (Kimberly)
- Talk to everyone, and be more willing to leave my comfort zone. I struggled with talking to strangers on the street or on buses at first, and would often walk past people without offering anything, but you never know who is ready, or if you’re interaction my have an effect in the future. (Logan)
- That it would be more difficult than I even anticipated despite my lifelong participation, and that success isn’t measured in baptisms, but in obedience, diligence, and spreading the Gospel to as many people as possible (whether they accept it or not). Study contact/approach techniques and questions for atheists and agnostics as that is the majority of people we came into contact with. (Brett)
- Been more outspoken and outgoing. Be less concerned about what strangers would think of me for talking to them about the Gospel. I wish I’d studied the scriptures and Church History better before I began serving. (Daniel)
- That it’s OK to make mistakes with the language and the culture, as those endear you to people and demonstrate you’re trying. That it’s not all about the daily numbers; daily numbers just demonstrate you’ve been out and working. That every encounter is a missionary moment, even if you don’t bring up the gospel; if you just have casual banter with someone on the bus, or on the street, or in the store, those individuals remember that and how it felt. That when things are hard, do more service for your companion and for people. That being a successful missionary isn’t a mathematical equation; you can obey all the rules and do all the work and be the best you can be and you still might not see immediate success. (Matt)
- No…everything was great and perfect. (Kimberly)
- I wish I knew the language better, most definitely. (James)
- Everyone speaks English over there. Speak only Norwegian. It is hard to do so but force yourself. You’ll learn and retain the language better. Use this time to overcome overeating or excess weight if that is a problem. You walk a lot in the big cities. (Rachel)
- I wish I understood the importance of the Gospel and of spreading it better. A lot of times I wouldn’t talk to people because I felt uncomfortable or awkward or I was worried about making them feel that way or upsetting them. Spreading the Gospel and helping others find the joy that comes from faith in Christ is so much more important than being comfortable. (Aimee)
- Go for broke. (Josiah)
- What I know now. It’s too much to be able to write it all down in just a few words. (James)
- How fast time will fly. (Paul)
Any advice/testimony for pre-missionaries going to Norway?
- I wish I had split with the missionaries at home. Teach with the missionaries and be a missionary now. Study the language, and then study it some more!!! (Alex)
- Norway is definitely a hard mission. Missions are hard, but Norway is unique. The darkness (lack of sun) can hit you and cause major depression, so take vitamin D starting mid Fall! And while we talk about optimism of baptizing the world, facts are facts: this isn’t Mexico. It’s northern Europe, so expect disappointment, but don’t let that get you down. Norwegians are stubborn, but when you find those who will accept you…it’s worth it 🙂 (Chris)
- Love the members and the people. Never give up. Know that the Lord will consecrate your sincere efforts. It is His work not ours. (Dan)
- The lord does not open missions that cannot baptize. There really are people waiting to receive the truth! (Nicole)
- Love the people! It sounds cliche, but it’s the most important. Follow the rules of course but if you focus so much on the rules that they become at the forefront of your mind constantly it means to some extent you are forgetting to love the people first, and our purpose out there is to bring people to Christ- including ourselves and our companions. Pray a lot make…sure you want this more than anything, make sure it’s not for your parents or anyone else…it’s for our Heavenly Father. Save money and earn your mission. I think it’s real and your less likely to be passive about your calling. (Kimberly)
- Be obedient. The more exactly you’re trying to be obedient, the more blessings and miracles you’ll see. I was blessed with several baptisms within a couple months at a time when I was really trying to be as obedient as possible, and Norway isn’t a really high baptizing mission. (Logan)
- Keep a journal to write down small Hand of the Lord events (at least one every day) because it is difficult to remember those and more obvious miracles are more difficult to come by. Also, keep a list of all the countries where different people you meet are from as there are an enormous amount of foreigners! At the end of my mission I met at least one person from 63 different countries! Teaching English class is a great way to contact, serve, and break up the monotony of knocking or contacting in the city; plus they come to the church so it’s easier for them to ask questions and they know where to come to church if they decide! (Brett)
- Study church history including the LDS essays on LDS.org to be well aware of church history as to not be caught off guard after you are already in the field. (Robert)
- Learn everything you can about the language before entering the MTC. When you leave the MTC, don’t be surprised when you find you can’t understand a thing people are saying. That’s normal. Norway has dozens of different dialects that can be vastly different from “proper” Norwegian. It will take time for your ears to adjust and keep up with what people are saying. Give it time… train yourself to THINK in the language you’re trying to learn… and sooner than you realize, it will start clicking. Trust in the Lord to give you the gift of tongues. Above all, remember that you’re working for the LORD… not your parents, not your friends, not the members back home or even those to whom you were sent. Do HIS work and LIVE IT! Have fun… but do it in a respectful, dignified way that would make the Lord happy to call you His disciple. You’ll find more than a few other missionaries who haven’t grasped that vision yet. That’s okay. Be their example and press forward. Don’t frown on them or create discord with them… just love them and push them along. Regardless, don’t compromise. (Daniel)
- Patience, obedience, and a good sense of humor are so essential to success in Norway. Learn whatever you can about the country and the culture before you go and keep learning while you’re there. Knowing the history can open so many incredible doors because when you show someone you care about their country and culture, it shows them you’re invested in their country and culture and not just “serving time.” Find any way to get people talking, meaning, if they reject your invitation to chat about the Gospel, ask them quickly for a language tip or for a joke to help you with your Norwegian. It’s disarming and can lead to great things. (Matt)
- Gain a testimony, read the Book of Mormon. Know you are a child of God. (Kimberly)
- Be humble. Don’t just pretend to be, but actually BE humble. Trust in the Lord and remember to LOVE the people you are serving. Read the scriptures and pray daily in Norsk. Keep on doing this for the rest of your life, even when you return home. (James)
- Share the gospel at every opportunity, you’ll regret it if you don’t. (Rachel)
- Endure to the end and always do your best. At times you’ll feel discouraged or frustrated. Or you’ll feel like staying home for a few more minutes after eating lunch or dinner. Always do your best and use time wisely. Time is short and it goes fast. When you’re on your mission you’re on the Lord’s time. Don’t waste it. Also, remember that Heavenly Father doesn’t ask you to be perfect right away and to do everything perfectly. All he asks is that you do your best. He called you in your imperfections and He called you to your mission for a reason. Don’t belittle yourself. (Aimee)
- Go for broke. (Josiah)
- Read the scriptures, pray, and serve others. (James)
- Be humble, work hard, have fun, keep it real, Norwegian people understand English, many speak it. (Paul)
What was a funny language mistake?
- ‘Bussmann’ means boogers, not bus driver. 🙂 (Alex)
- Nothing too dramatic, but a few times in conversation I was discussing how a member and I were “together”, and of course everyone laughed. Obviously I was meaning a different sense of the English word, but hey… (Chris)
- I was confused drawing å tegne with to write down å nedtegne. (Dan)
- The difference between “duck” and “ghost” is very similar– many missionaries speak of the “holy duck.” (Nicole)
- While learning in the MTC I accidentally mixed up the words elske (vert seriously in love) And eldste (elder). I called one of the elders in my group elske instead. None of us could stop laughing. (Kimberly)
- In the MTC, thankfully, I accidentally testified that we have a lying prophet instead of a living prophet. (Lyvende instead of levende) I also heard of a Swedish missionary telling someone in the MTC that Jesus killed for us, instead of died for us. (Logan)
- In Sacrament meeting his first week while bearing his testimony, a Greenie said he had a good sexual experience on the way over instead of a good flight. (Brett)
- Sometimes, Norwegians will understand what you’re saying if you “Norwegianize” an English word (speak the English word with a Norwegian accent). I once tried to tell a joke… but tried to translate it from English to Norwegian. However, there’s a word in English which, when pronounced with a Norwegian accent, is actually a very serious swear word in Norwegian. As it just so happens, this is the word I used as the punchline of the joke. I got some pretty wary looks from the family I was telling it to, until one of their kids fortunately translated the word for the rest of the family. Joke. Fail. (Daniel)
- I can’t remember. I know I had a few blunders. (Kimberly)
- Trying to Americanize Norwegian words. That could be a bad thing. They usually end up becoming swear words! I can’t really repeat what the word was, but when something you are wearing does not fit well, don’t Americanize Norsk words. (James)
- Tons, I don’t remember any special ones right now, But tons!! (Rachel)
- I was a greenie on splits with a sister training leader. We had just knocked on a door where a lady turned us away after telling us that she was putting her kids to bed. As we walked away, the sister I was with looked at her watch and said, “wow, it’s leggings tid already?” (Leggings tid literally means laying time. It’s when parents put their kids to bed.) I thought, “well, people wear leggings all the time…” I was confused why there would be a set time to wear leggings. Then it clicked. I explained it to the Sister Training Leader and we had a good laugh. (Aimee)
- Jesus han gjore tings. (Josiah)
- Learning to say meatballs. Kjottkaker. (Paul)