Living near the top of the world, Norwegian Latter-day Saints inside the Arctic Circle may justifiably feel they dwell at the perimeter of Zion's tent.

The Tromso District, headquartered in the largest city in the part of Norway above the Arctic Circle, includes four small branches: Tromso, Alta/Hammerfest, Bodo and Harstad/Narvik.Twentieth century gospel pioneers in a sense, many of the Church members in Norway's Arctic region must cope with vast distances and sparse membership as they strive to maintain a viable Church organization.

"The northern Norwegians are a hearty people," commented Elder Kjell Winger, a Norwegian-born American now serving in the Norway Oslo Mission with his wife, Solfrid.

"They are used to extremes in the weather and climate, many earning their bread from the sea. They are open, friendly and hospitable.

"Our experience with the members has been both humbling and educational. They are few, but oh, so strong!"

Harstad/Narvik Branch is the largest in northern Norway, with 43 members.

"Unfortunately, it is not so often that we are able to see each other," said Steinar Lorentzen, former branch president. "For the most part, this is the fault of the terrain and that we are spread out between narrow fjords, tall mountains and countless islands.

"These geographical characteristics are attractive to tourists but often lead to despair for us Latter-day Saints when we try to hold conferences or other activities together."

Because the distances are so formidable, Sunday meetings are not only held in the branch's center, Narvik, but also in the homes of members living in Harstad, on Grytoy (island), and in Finnsnes, Brother Lorentzen explained.

In Narvik, a city of 18,498 people, Sunday meetings are conducted in the Grand Royal Hotel.

"Narvik has the complete three-hour block of meetings," Elder Winger said, "whereas Harstad's three faithful sisters meet regularly on Sundays for Sunday School and Relief Society."

Brother Lorentzen expressed gratitude that full-time missionaries in the past year have been assigned to the branch.

"Here in this part of the country at this time of the year (March), the field is literally white. And though the workers are few, we will do our best."

Another branch where distance is an obstacle is the Alta/Hammerfest Branch. Total membership is 29, spread widely over the county of Finnmark. Average attendance is seven to 11 members who gather weekly at the farm of Kristian and Linea S. Kristensen in Alta.

The farm is a picturesque, textbook example of rural life in the Arctic, with an assortment of sheep, deer, ducks, ptarmigan (a variety of grouse) and hens. The Kristensens also raise a traditional livestock - reindeer.

Standing about 3 1/2 feet high, with antlers borne by both males and females, reindeer are raised in the Arctic for meat, hides and milk. (Yes, they are sometimes used to draw sleds over the snow, at speeds reaching 12-15 mph.)

Meeting in the Kristensen farmhouse, the tiny Alta/Hammerfest Branch demonstrates that surroundings need not make much difference when Latter-day Saints gather to worship the Lord.

Regarding a recent meeting, Kjell Pedersen, second counselor in the mission presidency, reported, "The spirit of God was present, and we were all uplifted and edified."