The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Thailand

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) arrived in Thailand as early as the presidency of Brigham Young, but began proselytizing to the local population only after apostle Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the county on November 2, 1966.[1]

Church membership in Thailand is approximately 20,000.[1] There is one mission and 39 congregations.[1] Missionaries departing from Thailand attend the Missionary Training Center in the Philippines.

In 1854, Elam Luddington arrived in Thailand as a missionary of the LDS Church. He tried to learn to speak Thai, but found it difficult and was forced to limit his preaching to Europeans. During his four months in Thailand, Luddington baptized James Trail, the captain of the ship he arrived on, and Trail's wife. Luddington reported that he was stoned twice and poisoned once by his opponents in Thailand. Missionaries did not return to Thailand until 1966.

In 2015, the church announced the planned construction of the Bangkok Thailand Temple.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Thailand", mormonnewsroom.org, accessed 5 July 2016.
  2. ↑ Thomas S. Monson, "Blessings of the Temple", Liahona, May 2015.
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