postlaestadianrevival

The legend was that Laestadius was in a state of burdened conscience, that he couldn't believe that he was truly a child of God, although he was a pastor in the Swedish Lutheran Church. When he met with Lap Mary she testified his sins forgiven and he became a living (true) Christian. Some say that an earthquake occurred at this exact time--and that it corresponded with the opening of the seventh seal in the Book of Revelation.

When I researched this, I found that "Lap Mary" was not named Mary at all but Milla Clemetsdotter. She was a lap girl who belonged to a readers group
(Believers who read the bible) and she apparently told Laestadius that he had to believe as a sinner--he could not hope to improve himself and then receive God's grace.

The custom of asking for and testifying sins forgiven occurred later, originating with Johnai Raatama after Laestadius' death.

I found this info at:

www.apostolic-lutheran.org/history/introduction.html

and at:
http://users.erols.com/ewheaton/laest1.htm

These are both sites I found in 2003. There is newer one that covers the history of the Laestadian movement very well and can be found at:

http://northwestanglican.blogspot.com/2 ... th-of.html

Happy Reading!

I wanted to clarify something about a post in another thread on this forum. Faithful Remnant said that he was told that Lap Mary was Milla Clemetsdotter's nickname. I have a thought about that.I Believe she was nicknamed "Lap Mary" by Laestadian's who credited her with being the mother of their faith and likened her to Mary the mother of Jesus. I understand that the Laestadians in the Upper Peninsula in Michigan called their area the "Birthplace of American Christianity" because that is where the first Laestadians settled.

When I first found out that Lap Mary's real name wasn't actually Mary I was disillusioned. How hard would it be God to have made her name to Mary? It was only the most common women's name in use at the time....It just pointed me to the thought that she wasn't what they claimed she was at all...