View source for Laestadianism

{{Short description|Pietistic Lutheran revival movement in Sápmi, northern Europe}}
{{more citations needed|date=April 2013}}
{{expand Finnish|date=June 2023}}
{{lutheranism}}

'''Laestadianism''' ({{Langx|sv|læstadianism}}; {{langx|fi|lestadiolaisuus}}; {{Langx|se|lestadianisma}}; [[Meänkieli]] and [[Kven language|Kven]]: ''lestaatiolaisuus''), also known as '''Laestadian Lutheranism''' and '''Apostolic Lutheranism''', is a [[Pietism|pietistic]] [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]] revival movement started in [[Sápmi]] in the middle of the 19th century.<ref name="Granquist2015">{{cite book|last=Granquist|first=Mark A.|title=Scandinavian Pietists: Spiritual Writings from 19th-Century Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland|year=2015|publisher=Paulist Press|language=en|isbn=9781587684982|page=34|quote=Initially, Laestadius exercised his ministry mainly among the indigenous Sámi people, but his influence soon spread into areasa of northern Finland, and the Laestadian (or Apostolic Lutheran) movement became predominantly Finnish. Even though he was a university-trained pastor and scientist (he was a renowned botanist), his powerful preaching and spiritual example ignited a lay-awakening movement in the north, a movement that is known for its distinctive religious practices, including lay confession and absolution.}}</ref> Named after [[Church of Sweden|Swedish Lutheran state church]] pastor, administrator and [[temperance movement]] leader [[Lars Levi Laestadius]]. It is the biggest pietistic [[Christian revival|revivalist movement]] in the [[Nordic countries]].<ref name="Holmquist1981">{{cite book|last=Holmquist|first=June Drenning|title=They Chose Minnesota: A Survey of the State's Ethnic Groups|date=1 January 1981|publisher=Minnesota Historical Society Press|language=en|isbn=9780873511551|page=306|quote=Finnish immigrants to Minnesota in the first two decades after 1864 were largely Laestadians or Apostolic Lutherans, followers of Lars Levi Laestadius, a Lutheran minister who led a pietistic revival that swept the northern regions of the Scandinavia.}}</ref> It has members mainly in [[Finland]], [[Northern America]], [[Norway]], [[Russia]], and [[Sweden]]. There are also smaller congregations in [[Africa]], [[South America]], and [[Central Europe]]. In addition Laestadian Lutherans have missionaries in 23 countries.<ref name=Talonen2012>{{cite web|url=http://www.virtuaalikirkko.fi/kirkot/virtuaalikirkkosali/arkisto/196-prof-jouko-talonen.html)|last=Talonen|first=Jouko|title=Lestadiolaisuuden synty, leviäminen ja hajaannukset. Lestadiolaisuuden tutkija, kirkkohistorian professori Jouko Talosen luento, Laestadiuksen perintö ja perilliset – seminaari Oulussa 4.-5.10.2012|date=October 2012|publisher=Oulun hiippakunta, Pohjoinen kulttuuri-instituutti and Oulun ev.-lut. seurakunnat|access-date=1 January 2016}}{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The number of Laestadians worldwide is estimated to be between 144,000 and 219,000.

== Organization in Finland and North America ==
[[File:Kiviharjunlenkki 7 Oulu 20200411 02.jpg|thumb|The headquarters of the Central Association of Conservative Laestadians in the [[Kontinkangas]] district of [[Oulu]], [[Finland]]]]
Most Laestadians in Finland are part of the [[National church|national]] [[Lutheran]] [[Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland|Church of Finland]] (cf. ''[[Communion of Nordic Lutheran Dioceses]]''); but [[Laestadianism in the Americas|in America]], where there is no official Lutheran church, they founded their own denomination,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mayer |first=F.E. |title=The Religious Bodies of America |last2=Piepkorn |first2=Arthur Carl |date= |publisher=Concordia Publishing House |year=1961 |edition=4th |location=Saint Louis, Missouri |pages=189 |language=en}}</ref> which split into three sub-groups in the mid-20th century. Subsequent splits in the American church later resulted in 19 branches, of which about 15 are active today.

The three large main branches, comprising about 90 percent of Laestadians, are:<ref>{{cite web |last= |date=5 August 2008 |title=Learning to Live Free: Sports, a Good Thing |url=https://extoots.blogspot.com/2008/08/sports-good-thing_05.html |website=extoots.blogspot.com}}</ref>
* [[Conservative Laestadianism]] are known to other Laestadians as the "Heidemans", after 20th-century leader Paul A. Heideman. They are represented in North America by the [[Laestadian Lutheran Church]].
* [[The Firstborn Laestadianism|The Firstborn]] are known to other Laestadians as the "Esikoinens". They are represented in North America by the [[Old Apostolic Lutheran Church]].
* {{Lang|fi|Rauhan Sana}} ("Word of Peace") are known to other Laestadians as the "Mickelsens", after 20th-century leader Andrew Mickelsen. They are represented in North America by the [[Apostolic Lutheran Church of America]] or (Federation).

The other branches are small and some of them inactive.

In Finland, the {{Lang|fi|Elämän Sana}} ("the Word of life") group, as the most "mainline" of the different branches of Laestadianism, has been prominent within the hierarchy of the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland]]: two members have been elected bishops of [[Oulu]], and one has served as [[Military Bishop|Chaplain General]] (head chaplain of the [[Finnish Defence Forces]], the equivalent of a [[Major General]]).

== Distinguishing doctrines and practices ==

=== Emphasis on justification ===
All branches share many essential teachings including a central emphasis on the Lutheran doctrine of justification ([[forgiveness]] and [[Sola gratia|grace]]).

=== ''The true Christians'' doctrine ===
Another core teaching concerns essential differences in lifestyle and beliefs between true believers on one hand, and false Christians and unbelievers, (sometimes distinguished as those having living faith versus dead faith).

====Exclusion and inclusion among Laestadian sub-groups====
The leaders of the two largest Laestadian sub-groups, the [[Conservative Laestadianism|Conservative Laestadians]] and [[The Firstborn Laestadianism|Firstborn Laestadians]], have for decades excluded each other and all other Laestadian sub-groups from the kingdom of Heaven, even though the denominations' core doctrines are nearly indistinguishable.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://examinationofthepearl.org/html/section-0006.html | title=''An Examination of the Pearl'' | page=67 et seq | date=2012 | access-date=November 22, 2014}}</ref> The leadership of the smaller third main sub-group, the [[Apostolic Lutheran Church of America|Federation]], has continued to regard the other sub-groups as of living faith, after having unsuccessfully sought to preserve unity within Laestadianism when its larger counterparts' leaders in the 1930s called for, and later required, dissociation from the Federation and other Laestadian denominations.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://examinationofthepearl.org/html/section-0006.html | title=''An Examination of the Pearl'' | page=73 et seq | date=2012 | access-date=November 22, 2014}}</ref>

=== Declaration of forgiveness (Absolution) ===
The church teaches the Lutheran doctrine of the priesthood of believers. Thus, every believer has the authority to testify that others' sins are forgiven, (absolution) sometimes referred to as the audible declaration of the forgiveness of sins. However, Laestadians usually proclaim the absolution with a unique "in Jesus' name and blood", versus the traditional Lutheran proclamation which is "in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit."

==== In practice ====
Laestadianism holds that when a Christian has committed a sin, whether in thought or deed, they should confess the sin to another believer in order to receive the absolution or forgiveness. Thus, it is a common practice among Laestadians, not just in church, at any time, but especially during the church service prior to the rite of [[holy communion]], to confess their sins to one another, or, to one of the church ministers performing the sacrament. A common declaration is, "Believe your sin(s) forgiven in Jesus' name and (shed) blood." This procedure, ingrained in Laestadianism, differs from [[Absolution#Lutheran Churches|absolution in mainstream Lutheran churches]] in several aspects, including: that the request for forgiveness need not be, and most often is not, to the minister; the confession is often made openly; confession is not by appointment but rather readily available to any believer from any other believer at any time; and the specific wording of the declaration states that the means of [[Atonement in Christianity|atonement]] is [[Crucifixion of Jesus|Christ's shed blood]], the formula being: "Believe your sin(s) forgiven in Jesus's name and (shed) blood." versus the traditional Lutheran formula being: "Believe your sin(s) forgiven in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.".

==== A most solemn rite ====
Because a Laestadian takes very seriously the proposition that grace exists only for one whose known sins have been specifically forgiven, there is scarcely another rite in this movement that would rival the importance of the declaration of forgiveness. This doctrine is a unique extension of the [[Universal priesthood (doctrine)|priesthood of the believer]] doctrine.

=== Identifying greeting and farewell ===
Both in greeting one another and on parting, English-speaking Laestadians say "God's peace", while Finnish-speaking Laestadians greet one another with {{Lang|fi|Jumalan terve}}, meaning {{Gloss|God's greeting}}, and take leave of one another with {{Lang|fi|Jumalan rauhaa(n)}}, meaning {{Gloss|God's peace}}.

=== Emphasis on avoiding sin and "worldliness" ===
"Worldliness" is discouraged, and Laestadians frown on pre-marital sex, and on [[alcohol (drug)|alcohol]] consumption except in the sacrament of holy communion. Conservative Laestadians frown upon worldly vices such as dancing, television, birth control, [[rhythm]]ic [[music]], [[make-up]], earrings, movies, [[tattoo]]s, and cursing. Some conservative elements within the church go even further in rejecting the ways of the world by, for example, forbidding remarriage after divorce, refusing to buy insurance, prohibiting their children's participation in organized school sports, and removing their car radios. Simplicity in the home, including the prohibition of curtains and flowers, is also a common claim especially among [[The Firstborn Laestadianism|Firstborn Laestadians]], but is not a church doctrine.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://svenska.yle.fi/a/7-947869 | title=Gammellaestadianism mer än bara fördomar }}</ref>

=== Birth control ===
Especially large numbers of Firstborn Apostolic Lutherans and many members of the most conservative congregations within the Word of Peace group do not use birth control because they believe that a child is a gift from God; therefore, many Laestadian families are large.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-29 |title=Finland's baby bust extends to historically large Laestadian families |url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20086218 |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=News |language=en}}</ref>

=== Social gatherings ===
The central activities of Laestadians are annual or more frequent church conventions, including the [[Summer Services]] of [[Conservative Laestadianism|Conservative Laestadians]], and the Annual Convention of the Apostolic Lutheran Church of America (Federation). These are attended by members from congregations far and wid. For the youth, ''haps'' (gatherings of teenagers and young adults to sing from ''Songs and Hymns of Zion'' and visit), song services, bonfires, youth discussions, caretaking meetings and [[revival meeting]]s.

Within [[The Firstborn Laestadianism|Firstborn Laestadianism]] in Scandinavia, the most important yearly events are the Christmas services in [[Gällivare]] and the Midsummer services in [[Lahti]], where thousands of Firstborn Laestadians from different countries gather each year.

=== Publications ===
Different branches publish their newspapers and magazines.

=== Chosen Scripture ===
In Finland, the Bible version primarily used by Laestadians is the [[Bible translations (Finnish)|Finnish Bible of 1776]] which, unlike newer translations, is based on the [[Textus Receptus]]. The [[Central Association of the Finnish Associations of Peace]] (SRK) publishes a triple Finnish translation<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kauppa.srk.fi/product/72/raamattu---trio-raamattu |title=Trio Raamattu |access-date=24 April 2016}}</ref> (1776, 1933/1938, and 1992) that is used as both a study and a service Bible by Conservative Laestadian preachers. American and Canadian Laestadianism uses the [[King James Version]], based as well on the Textus Receptus.

== History ==
[[File:Læstardianer.jpg|thumb|upright|Læstadian lay preacher, Finnmark, 1898]]

=== Roots of the movement ===
[[Image:larslevilaestadius.jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[Lars Levi Laestadius]] (1800–1861)]]
The name of the movement stems from [[Lars Levi Laestadius]] (1800–1861), a [[Swedes|Swedish]] [[Sami people|Sámi]] state priest and administrator for the [[Church of Sweden|Swedish state Lutheran church]] in [[Sápmi]] who was also a noted botanist. Laestadius started the movement when working as a pastor for the [[Church of Sweden]] in northern Sweden in the 1840s. Laestadius met a [[Sami people|Sami]] woman named [[Milla Clementsdotter]] from [[Föllinge]] in the municipality of [[Krokom]] in [[Jämtland]] during an 1844 inspection tour of [[Åsele]]. She belonged to a revival movement within the [[Church of Sweden]] led by pastor [[Pehr Brandell]] of the parish of [[Nora, Sweden|Nora]] in the municipality of [[Kramfors]] in [[Ångermanland]] and characterized by [[pietistic]] and [[Moravian Church|Moravian]] influences. She told Laestadius about her spiritual experiences on her journey to a truly living Christianity, and after the meeting Laestadius felt he had come to understand the secret of living faith. He had had a deep experience of having entered a state of grace, of having received God's forgiveness for his sins and of at last truly seeing the path that leads to eternal life. His sermons acquired, in his own words, "a new kind of colour" to which people began to respond. The movement began to spread from [[Sweden]] to [[Finland]] and [[Norway]], particularly among the Sámi and the [[Kven people|Kvens]]. He preferred his followers to be known simply as "Christians", but others started to call them "Laestadians."

=== Initial effect on Laestadius's Sámi parishioners ===
Two great challenges Laestadius had faced since his early days as a church minister were the indifference of his Sámi parishioners, who had been forced by the [[Government of Sweden|Swedish government]] to convert from their [[Sami shamanism|shamanistic religion]] to Lutheranism, and the misery caused them by alcoholism. The spiritual understanding Laestadius acquired and shared in his new sermons "filled with vivid metaphors from the lives of the Sami that they could understand, ... about a God who cared about the lives of the people" had a profound positive effect on both problems. An account from the Sámi cultural perspective recalls a new desire among the Sámi to learn to read and a awakening in the church, with people confessing their sins, crying and praying for forgiveness—within Laestadianism this was known as ''liikutukset'', a kind of [[Religious ecstasy|ecstasy]]. Drunkenness and cattle theft diminished, which had a positive influence on the Samis' relationships, finances and family life.<ref name="Sapmi - Religion - Laestadianism - Nils Gustav Labba, Editor">{{cite web | url=http://www.samer.se/servlet/GetDoc?meta_id=1208 | title=Laestadianismen – Samer.se | date=August 6, 2006 | access-date=Dec 3, 2017}}</ref>

=== Rise of Laestadianism among the Sámi ===
The rapid rise of Laestadianism among the Sámi was due to several factors. Laestadius proudly self-identified as Sámi through his Southern Sámi mother. He spoke and preached in two Sámi dialects. Further he chose uneducated lay preachers from the Sámi [[reindeer herders]] to travel year around with them and preach to the unrepented among them. Additionally, in the early days of the movement, Laestadius, in order to find common ground with his parishioners, borrowed the Sámis' own familiar pagan deities and concepts and adapted them to Christianity. Another factor in the rise of Laestadianism among the Sámi was that the state-mandated boarding schools soon came to be populated by Laestadian personnel. Next, the strict moral code including strict [[Temperance movement|temperance]] of Laestadianism appealed to the Sámi. Whole communities that had been wrecked by alcoholism went sober virtually overnight. This had the added positive effect of improving the Sámis' social standing with the outside world. Finally, Laestadianism was a faith that the Sámi could identify as originating from within inasmuch as Laestadius himself professed to have come to know the true living faith only upon his encounter with the poor abused Sámi woman, [[Milla Clementsdotter]].<ref name="Læstadianism and Its Role in the Loss of the Traditional Sámi Worldview - by Viktor 'Vulle' Cornell ">{{cite web | url=https://www.utexas.edu/courses/sami/diehtu/siida/christian/vulle.htm | title=''Læstadianism and Its Role in the Loss of the Traditional Sámi Worldview'' Section: ''Laestadianism and the Sámi People'' | access-date=October 12, 2014}}</ref>

=== "Unbroken line of living Christianity" ===
A faction within Laestadianism has believed that the movement is a contemporary descendant of an unbroken line of living Christianity via [[Martin Luther|Luther]], the [[Bohemian Brethren]], the [[Lollards]], and the [[Waldensians]] all the way back to the [[Early Christianity|primitive Church]]. [[Martin Luther]], [[Jan Hus]], [[John Wycliffe]], and [[Peter Waldo]] are seen as spiritual ancestors of Laestadianism.

== Demographics ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2024}}

=== Groups in 2024 ===
* '''1. [[Conservative Laestadianism]]''' 115,000 people in Finland ([[Central Association of the Finnish Associations of Peace|SRK]]), the U.S. ([[Laestadian Lutheran Church]]), Sweden ([[Sveriges fridsföreningarnas centralorganisation|SFC]]), Russia, Togo (ELLT), Canada ([[Laestadian Lutheran Church|LLC]]), Kenya (LLOP), Ghana ([[Laestadian Lutheran Church|LLC]]), Gambia ([[Laestadian Lutheran Church|LLC]]), Ecuador, Norway, Estonia ([[Estonian Lutheran Association of Peace|ELR]]), Latvia, London, Germany, Hungary, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, etc.)<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kivinen |first=Sari Tm |date=2012-06 |title=The Presentation has been Shelved, Archived, Forgotten, Dusted, Found, and Renamed! |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/13528165.2012.696876 |journal=Performance Research |volume=17 |issue=3 |pages=127–129 |doi=10.1080/13528165.2012.696876 |issn=1352-8165}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Talonen |first=Harri |last2=Talonen |first2=Antti |last3=Stenvall |first3=Jari |last4=Kinder |first4=Tony |date=2020-08-28 |title=Communicating Customer Ownership in Annual Reports: Perspective of Hedonic Value |url=https://doi.org/10.1177/2319714520945657 |journal=FIIB Business Review |volume=10 |issue=2 |pages=120–132 |doi=10.1177/2319714520945657 |issn=2319-7145}}</ref>
* '''2. [[The Firstborn Laestadianism|Firstborn Laestadianism]]''' unknown membership number (in U.S.A. ([[Old Apostolic Lutheran Church]]), Finland (Esikoislestadiolaiset ry), Sweden, Norway, Russia, Latvia)
* '''3. Little Firstborn Group''' unknown membership number, 21,000 people in Finland (Rauhan Sana), in Sweden (LFF and LYRS), Norway, in the U.S. ([[Apostolic Lutheran Church of America]]), in Canada ([[Apostolic Lutheran Church of America|ALC]]), in Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Guatemala, Nigeria, India, Sri Lanka, Togo (ALC) and Kenya, etc.)
* '''4. Torola Group''' 4,000 people in the U.S. (First Apostolic Lutheran Church), Sweden and Finland (SVR)
* '''5. Reed Group''' (Pollarites) 3,500 people in the U.S. (Independent Apostolic Lutheran Church)
* '''6. Reawakening Group''' 3,000 people (in Finland (LLK) and Norway)
* '''7. Esikoiset ry''' 1,500 people (in Finland)
* '''8. Old Erikians''' (Lyngen group) 1,200 people in Norway
* '''9. Alajokites Group''' 1,000 people (In Minneapolis and Wolf Lake in Minnesota in the U.S.)
* '''10. New Erikians' Group''' 800 people in Norway
* '''11. Aunes Group''' 550 people in the U.S. (The Apostolic Lutheran Church)<ref name=Talonen2012/>
* '''12. Elämän Sana group''' (clericalists) 300 people (in Finland, Sweden (SFK) and Norway)
* '''13. Levi Group''' 200 people (in Finland and Sweden)
* '''14. GALC''' 50 people in the U.S. (Grace Apostolic Lutheran Church)
* '''15. Leskinen group''' 50 people (in Sweden and Norway)
* '''16. Kvaenangen group''' (svärmeri) 50 people in Norway
* '''17. Davidites''' 40 people in the U.S.
* '''18. Gundersen group''' 30 people in Norway
* '''19. Hanka group''' (Melvinites) 20 people in the U.S.
* '''20. Sten group''' 15 people in Finland
* '''21. Kontio group''' 5 people in Finland

<gallery widths="200" heights="160">
File:Family tree of laestadianism in Russia 5.png|Family tree of Laestadianism in Russia and Ingria (less so in Karelia), including defunct groups
File:Laestadianism family tree 2.png|World family tree of Laestadianism, not including defunct groups
File:Family tree of laestadianism in Finland 6.png|Family tree of Laestadianism in Finland and Karelia, including defunct groups
File:20240707 Familytree of laestadianism of America.png|Family tree of Laestadianism in America, including defunct groups
File:Family tree of laestadianism in Sweden 2010.png|Family tree of Laestadianism in Sweden, including defunct groups
File:Family tree of laestadianism in Norway.jpg|Family tree of Laestadianism in Norway, including defunct groups
File:Family tree of laestadianism in Vadso 3.png|Family tree of Laestadianism in Vadsø (in Norway) in 1860–1960, including defunct groups
</gallery>

=== Fertility ===
Members tend to have large families by Western standards. In [[Finland]], their demographic advantage has grown as the national fertility rate has fallen: in the 1940s their [[fertility rate]] was twice the national average, while in the 1980s it was four times the average. "By 1985–7, the Laestadian and Finnish [[Total fertility rate|TFRs]] stood at 5.47 and 1.45 respectively. Even within the Laestadian TFR of 5.47, there is diversity, with a 'moderate' group preferring to stop at four [children] and practise [[birth control]] while a conservative cluster engages in unrestrained reproduction. 

No research has been done on Laestadians' level of [[endogamy]] and membership retention [as of 2010]. However, they are residentially and occupationally integrated, so they lose more members to assimilation. For example, in the small town of [[Larsmo]], despite some losses to out-marriage and emigration, their share of the population doubled over just thirty years to about 40% in 1991 and was predicted to be "a two-thirds majority of the town in a generation."<ref>{{cite book|last = Kaufmann|first =Eric|title=Shall the religious inherit the Earth? : demography and politics in the twenty-first century|date=2010|publisher=Profile Books|location=London|isbn= 978-1-84668-144-8|pages =161 f|edition=2nd print}}</ref>

== In popular culture ==
=== In literature ===
*''A Godly Heritage: Historical View of the Laestadian Revival and the Development of the Apostolic Lutheran Church in America'', by: Miriam Yliniemi (Author), Aila Foltz (Author), Jouko Talonen (Author), Elmer Yliniemi (Author), Rodger Foltz (Author), Nora Bergman (Illustrator) 
*''Shepherd Boy Becomes Spiritual Elder'', by Jorma Aspegren (Author), Miriam Yliniemi (Author)
*''Scriptural Baptism: A Dialog Between John Bapstead and Martin Childfont'', by Uuras Saarnivaara
*''An Examination of the Pearl'', a book written by Edwin A. Suominen. An Examination of the Pearl is a study of the doctrine and history of Conservative Laestadianism. The book also looks at the teachings of Martin Luther, early Christianity, [[Christian fundamentalism]] and sectarianism, and the Bible.
*''To Cook A Bear'' by [[Mikael Niemi]]. A fictional tale set in the far north of Sweden in 1852 following a runaway Sami boy and his mentor, the famous pastor [[Lars Levi Laestadius|Laestadius]].
*''Lars Levi Laestadius and the Revival in Lapland'', by Warren H. Hepokoski
*''The Laestadian Movement: Background Writings and Testimonies'', compiled by Warren H. Hepokoski
*''The Laestadian Movement: Disputes and Divisions 1861 – 2000'', by Warren H. Hepokoski
*''We Sinners'', a novel about Laestadianism by former LLC member Hanna Pylväinen.
*''The End of Drum-Time'', a 2023 novel by Hanna Pylväinen set northern Scandinavia in the 1850's, in which primary characters include [[Lars Levi Laestadius]] (fictionalized) and Sámi reindeer herders ({{ISBN|9781250822901}})

=== In film and television ===
*''[[All the Sins]]'' – a 2019 Finnish television series set in a Laestadian town in northern Finland
*''Laestadianism – USA''  – short documentary
*[[Forbidden Fruit (2009 film)|''Forbidden Fruit'']] – 2009 Finnish film
*''[[The Kautokeino Rebellion]]'' – Norwegian drama film
*''[[The Earth Is a Sinful Song]]'' – 1973 Finnish drama film
*''[[Elina: As If I Wasn't There]]'' – 2002 Swedish–Finnish film
*[[Arctic Circle (TV series)|''Arctic Circle'']] – 2018 Finnish TV series
*''[[Bordertown (Finnish TV series)|Bordertown]]'' – season 3, episodes 7 & 8, features mysterious deaths in a Conservative Laestadian community.

== Famous Laestadians ==
* [[Juha Sipilä]], Finnish [[Parliament of Finland|MP]] and former Finnish prime minister and [[Centre Party (Finland)|Centre Party]] leader, is a life-long Rauhan Sana Laestadian.<ref name=":0">Talonen, J 2020, Three Prime Ministers of Finland with Laestadian bacground, 1919-2019. in A B Amundsen (ed.), Vekkelsens rom. Bibliotheca historico-ecclesiastica Lundensis 66, no. 66, Lunds universitets kyrkohistoriska arkiv, Lund, pp. 253-273.</ref>
* [[Kaarlo Castrén]] (1860–1938) - Prime Minister in 1919.<ref name=":0" />
* [[Leonhard Seppala]], was a Norwegian-[[Kven people|Kven]]-American [[sled dog]] breeder, trainer and musher who with his dogs played a pivotal role in the [[1925 serum run to Nome]], and participated in the [[1932 Winter Olympics]].
* [[Martti Miettunen]] (1907–2002) - Prime Minister in 1961–1962 and 1975–1976.<ref name=":0" />
* [[Sexmane]] (real name Edward Maximilian Sene), platinum-selling Finnish recording artist, was born and raised in a Laestadian family in [[Siilinjärvi]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-12-15 |title=Herkkä ja melankolinen – neljä Emma-ehdokkuutta saanut Sexmane ei ole gangsteri muttei esikuvakaan - Rumba.fi |url=https://www.rumba.fi/uutiset/herkka-ja-melankolinen-nelja-emma-ehdokkuutta-saanut-sexmane-ei-ole-gangsteri-muttei-esikuvakaan/ |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=www.rumba.fi |language=fi}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Christianity}}
*[[Kautokeino rebellion]]
*[[Korpela movement]]
*[[Läsare]], a related Swedish movement
* [[Hans Nielsen Hauge]], a non-Laestadian figure in the Awakening revival in Norway whose writings are studied by some Laestadians today
* [[Ushkovayzet]], Eastern Orthodox Laestadians

==Sources==
* {{cite book|title=Iustitia 14, STI-aikakauskirja, Lestadiolaisuuden monet kasvot. Lestadiolaisuuden hajaannukset|last=Talonen|first=Jouko|publisher=Suomen teologinen instituutti (STI)|year=2001|url=http://www.teolinst.fi/julkaisut/iustitia14/Jouko%20Talonen.pdf|isbn=952-9857-11-X|ref=Talonen 2001|access-date=2012-10-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116074030/http://www.teolinst.fi/julkaisut/iustitia14/Jouko%20Talonen.pdf|archive-date=2014-01-16|url-status=dead}}

==Notes==
{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Laestadianism}}
* [[NPR]], [https://www.npr.org/2012/08/26/159928880/faith-family-and-forgiveness-in-we-sinners Faith, Family And Forgiveness In 'We Sinners', a novel by Hanna Pylvainen]
*Warren H. Hepokoski, [https://web.archive.org/web/20240715055031/http://users.erols.com/ewheaton/struct.htm Laestadian preachers' writings and letters]
*Warren H. Hepokoski, ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20071031034732/http://users.erols.com/ewheaton/lars/lars.pdf Lars Levi Laestadius and the Revival in Lapland]''
*''[https://web.archive.org/web/20240220233958/http://users.erols.com/ewheaton/background/background.pdf The Laestadian Movement: Background Writings and Testimonies]'', compiled by Warren H. Hepokoski
*''[https://web.archive.org/web/20240118233542/http://users.erols.com/ewheaton/disputes/disputes.pdf The Laestadian Movement: Disputes and Divisions 1861 – 2000]'', by Warren H. Hepokoski
*[http://www.walterjonwilliams.net/2008/08/sisu/ Science Fiction author Walter Jon Williams discusses his family history with Laestadianism]
*Lestadiolaisuus.info: [https://archive.today/20070927021924/http://lestadiolaisuus.info/maat/amerikka/lestadiolaisuus_Amerikassa2/kuvamerica/index.htm Pictures about American Laestadianism]
*Lestadiolaisuus.info: [https://archive.today/20070927021510/http://lestadiolaisuus.info/maat/amerikka/lestadiolaisuus_Amerikassa2/lehtiartikkelit_amerikan_lestadi.htm Newspaper articles about Laestadianism in America]

{{Confessional Lutheran Revivals}}
{{Pietism}}
{{Lutheranism topics}}

[[Category:Laestadianism| ]]
[[Category:Lutheranism in Finland]]
[[Category:History of Lutheranism in Sweden]]
[[Category:Lutheran revivals]]
[[Category:Lutheran denominations established in the 19th century]]