[4] While in Christiana, Christensen taught Danquart Anthon Weggeland, who became another prominent early Utah artist.

[5] During his time as a missionary in Norway, Christensen was twice put in prison due to government officials not approving of the preaching of Mormonism[6] In 1857, at the end of his service in Norway, Christensen set off for Utah Territory, stopping en route in England.

[9] Early in his time in Utah, he could find so little demand for his artistic skills that he worked as a housepainter.

The first major art work that Christensen undertook while in Utah was a commission from Dimick B. Huntington to do a collection of paintings from the Bible and Book of Mormon, in collaboration with Dan Weggeland.

Many years later it was discovered again and brought back to light, partly by the efforts of Boyd K. Packer.

It would gain its fullest recognition almost a century later when it would be shown at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City.

[6] Christensen was an instructor in drawing and Danish at the Sanpete Stake Academy (now Snow College).

In a 1976 speech given at Brigham Young University, LDS Church apostle Boyd K. Packer recounted the rediscovery of Christensen's work:[17] Some years ago I was chairman of a committee of seminary men responsible to produce a filmstrip on Church history.

One of the group, Trevor Christensen, remembered that down in Sanpete County was a large canvas roll of paintings.