[1] Smith completed six years of military training, graduating at the top of his class and attaining the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer.

[1] After attending a Methodist church service, Smith experienced a conversion on May 17, 1898, while he was on watch duty on board the monitor Thor.

[2] Smith began attending Methodist services regularly, later holding his own meetings with small groups of young people.

[3] Smith soon left the Methodists, having decided that none of the believers he knew understood his seriousness in pursuing sanctification, as this was not generally the focus of mainstream Christian teaching.

During World War I, Smith and Aslaksen were deployed to patrol Norway's west coast on HNoMS Sleipner.

Not educated in theology, he took a practical and literal view of Scripture, and preached about living in obedience to it and "walking in the light that God gives".

His key themes were complete victory over sin, transformation through sanctification and the building up of "Christ's body" (the Church) on earth.

Smith's funeral was by far the biggest seen in Horten, despite stringent travel restrictions that were in place due to the German occupation of Norway.