Norwegian Saints in the United States

Canute Peterson, a native of the Hardanger region, joined the Church in Fox River, Illinois. In 1849, Peterson and his family moved to Salt Lake City and then to Lehi. Peterson returned to Norway as a missionary (1853–55) and again as president of the mission (1871–73). Peterson also served as bishop and later as stake president in Ephraim, Utah. In 1888, as president of the stake in Ephraim, Peterson created the Sanpete Stake Academy, which later became Snow College in honor of Church leaders Erastus and Lorenzo Snow.

While in Norway, Peterson met a young artist name Danquart “Dan” Weggeland. A native of Christiania (Oslo) and graduate from the Danish Royal Academy of Art, Weggeland eventually immigrated to Utah, where he founded the Deseret Academy of Art. Known as the Father of Utah Art, he painted scenery for the Salt Lake Theater, created portraits of Church leaders, illustrated stories from the Bible and the Book of Mormon, and oversaw the painting and installation of the original murals in the St. George, Manti, Logan, and Salt Lake Temples. Weggeland’s portrait of Church founder Joseph Smith was chosen for the cover of the print volumes of The Joseph Smith Papers.

Joseph Smith the Prophet, Dan Weggeland (undated)