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Conservative laestadianism is lutheran revival movement and biggest branch in laestadianism. It has spread to its full extent to 18 countryes, mostly in Nordic country. There is about 90 000- 110 000 conservative laestadian in the world. Movement is conservative and it stays in teachings of Bible.

History

Laestadianism get its name from pastor Lars Levi Laestadius. Movement was born in Swedish Lapland. Laestadius met an lappish woman, who told biblical teachings to Laestadius. This was important meeting to Laestadius, because he understands secret of living faith. He got his sins forgiven and he see the path of life. He begins to preach with new preaching and movement begins to spread from Sweden to Finland and Norway. Laestadius based his preachings to Biblia. At beginning of 1900th century laestadianism breaks up to three branch: The Firstborn laestadianism, reawakening and conservative laestadianism. After this big break up some other groups have also departed from conservative laestadianism. However it it biggest branch of laestadianism.

Doctrine

Most important teaching is forgiveness of sins. It proclaims to "your sins are forgiven with Jesus name and blood". Words are not so important and the most important thing is that Holy spirit enter to human and he is rebirthed. This power of forgiveness of sins is also called "power of keys". It is Jesus teaching. Conservative laestadians believe that those keys come from Jesus. Purpose of those keys is that human can give all sins forgiven on behalf of God. God forget all sins, when it has being forgiven. This is biblical teaching.

Faith is gift of God. God has given gift of faith to every child who has birth to this world.

Baptism is agreement of good conscience with God and there God strengthen the faith of child and raise him to care of congregation. A human who has fallen from grace of baptism can get his gift of faith back via repentance.

Repentance is change of mind. In to it includeds repentance and pain of sin, but at the same time believing to the gospel that is absolution of sins according to Luther.

Communion is remembrance meal which is set up by Jesus. It is meant to strengthen believers faith.

Kingdom of God can be discovered from earth according to Jesus teachings. It is kingdom of grace on the earth and kingdom of glory in the heaven. Kingdom of God is unanimous in faith, doctrine and love.

(Free translation from SRK:s homepage, We believe like this)
(You can read more about doctorine from LLC homepage, How we believe)

Conservative laestadians have often large families, because they teach that contraception is sin. They teach that God is the lord of birth and death. They have not television at home, because its programs includes so much sin. They do not drink alcohol and listen pop-music.

Distribution

Conservative laestadianism is located mainly in Northern Europe and Northern America. Small congregations can be found from Africa, South Europe and South America. There is about 90 000- 110 000 conservative laestadians worlwide. Most of all in Finland, about 80 000- 100 000. Conservative laestadians organize big summer services every year. It is biggest religional event in Nordic countries. About 70 000 service guests come from all over the world. Conservative laestadianism do mission work in 18 countries.

Those countries are: Austria, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Iceland, Kanada, Kenya, Latvia, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Togo and United States.

Congregations in America are located in following states:

Kanada: British Columbia, Ontario and Saskatchewan.

USA: Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oregon and Washington.

Associations and church

Laestadian Lutheran Church (North America)
SRK (Finland)
SFC (Sweden and Norway)
Eesti luterlik rahuühendus (Estonia)

Publications

Conservative laestadians have five newspapers, three in Finland and two in America. Those newspapers has translated to eight languages. LLC publiced The Voice of Zions and The Shepherd´s Voice. (languages: english, finnish, french and spanish). SRK in Finland publiced three newspapers: Päivämies, Siionin lähetyslehti and Siionin kevät. (languages: estonian, finnish, english, germany, russia and swedish). They have song book, which is translated to seven languages. It is called Hymns and Songs of Zion. There is a book, whitch explains broadly conservative laestadians doctorine. Name of the book is The Treasure hidden in a field and it can be order from LLC webstore. Biblia is the most important book however.

Literature

Treasure hidden in a field, ISBN: 1-887034-04-8
From Victory to Victory, SRK
In the Footsteps of the Sheep, ISBN: 1-887034-03-X
By Faith, LLC
God is Love, ISBN: 1-887034-01-3
The Storms Will Cease, ISBN: 0-8087-0038-3

External links

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 [[Image:Seurat suviseuroissa.jpg|thumb|300px|Speaker preachs in services held in [[Summer Services]] in [[Perho]] [[2005]]]]
 '''Conservative laestadianism''' is [[lutheran]] [[revival movement]] and biggest branch in [[laestadianism]]. It has spread to its full extent to 18 countryes, mostly in [[Nordic country]]. There is about 90 000- 110 000 conservative laestadian in the world. Movement is conservative and it stays in teachings of [[Bible]].