Church in Asia Turns Milestones into Building Blocks

In the 22 countries or territories that comprise the Asia Area of the Church, the last two years have been rich with important milestones. 

In 2014, the Church in Hong Kong celebrated 65 years of missionary work and the Taipei Taiwan Temple celebrated 30 years since its dedication. This year, Hong Kong marks 20 years since the Hong Kong China Temple was dedicated, both Vietnam and Thailand recognize 50 years since the dedication of their lands, and Taiwan celebrates 60 years since the first missionaries arrived from Hong Kong.

Latter-day Saints in Asia have worked to ensure that these milestones are not just anniversaries. In a special conference on June 5, 2016, Hong Kong increased the number of stakes from four to six. As of June 26, 2016, Taiwan has 17 stakes, as the last district in Taiwan becomes the Chiayi Taiwan Stake. In the Asia Area, there are now 35 stakes, an increase of 14 stakes in just the last two years.

In addition, members from Mongolia, India, Pakistan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and many other nations consistently participate in the ordinances of the temple in Hong Kong to strengthen their families, thereby strengthening the Church in their home countries. Members from Thailand are especially faithful in attending the temple in Hong Kong as they prepare for the building of the Bangkok Thailand Temple announced by President Thomas S. Monson in the April 2015 general conference.

The Vietnam Hanoi Mission was opened on March 1 of this year, and the government of Vietnam officially recognized the Church on May 31. Both of these significant events occurred 50 years after Elder Gordon B. Hinckley stood in Saigon in 1966 and dedicated South Vietnam for missionary work, and 30 years after President Hinckley returned to a then-unified Vietnam in 1996 to offer an additional prayer. In his prayer, he pled that in “the due time of the Lord, this land will be opened, and many wonderful people will become the beneficiaries of the gospel.”

The work and heartfelt prayers of thousands of faithful Asian pioneers in previous decades are resulting in the availability of the fruits of the gospel to Heavenly Father's children in this vast area that is home to half of world's population.