Baptism and Spiritual Witness of Russian Converts

A man and his wife in St. Petersburg, Russia, sought baptism by proper authority. They sent to Copenhagen for an Elder, were baptized by immersion, and upon emerging from the water, they received a powerful witness of the Spirit confirming they were accepted by the Lord.

Fuller account of this event (the complete account as preserved in The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, Vol. 57, No. 27 (4 July 1895), p. 427):

A gentleman and his wife in St. Petersburg, Russia, who had been seeking for baptism by proper authority, sent to Copenhagen for an Elder, and were baptized by immersion. Upon emerging from the water they received a powerful witness of the Spirit that they were accepted of the Lord.

The couple baptized were Johan and Alma Lindlöf, who were of Finnish descent living in St. Petersburg. They had corresponded with the Scandinavian Mission and specifically requested a missionary. Elder August Höglund met with Johan for two days of discussion before the couple requested baptism. On June 11, 1895, Elder Höglund accompanied them to the banks of the Neva River; after kneeling in prayer to request privacy from passersby and boats, the ordinance was performed. Upon emerging from the water, Sister Lindlöf testified, “I feel so happy! I know that the Lord has forgiven me.”