December 2013 Missionary Group
Pictured below is the group of new missionaries that arrived in December 2013. This may have been the first time that the number of arriving Sisters greatly outnumbered the Elders in the same group. Photo taken at the Mission Office in Bangkok, Thailand.
Photo: Wisan Wisanbannawit
December 13, 2013 - Christmas Presentation "The First Christmas in Bethlehem - The First Christmas in Zarahemla"
The program was presented on December 13th and 14th, 2013 at the Asoke meetinghouse in Bangkok
December 1, 2013 - The mission recorded more than 100 baptisms in November, 2013
The Saphan Sung Ward, Bangkok Thailand Stake, had almost half of that number.
November 24, 2013 - Branch Conference - Ayuthaya, Thailand
The Ayuthaya Thailand branch of the church is part of the Bangkok North District. Branch Conference was held there on November 24, 2013. Here's a photo of the membership that attended that day.
Photo: Wisan Wisanbannawit
November 7, 2013 - Sister Srilaksana Suntarahut, the mother of the LDS Church in Thailand, passed away in Bangkok Thailand.
Srilaksana Suntarahut (1924-2013)
Srilaksana Suntarahut (1924-2013) was an early convert to the LDS Church in Thailand soon after the first missionaries arrived in 1968. Her testimony came powerfully, after reading just a few verses, from the English Book of Mormon. She and two sisters, were raised by the widowed and childless Queen of King Rama VI, with the support of her parents. She became the principal translator of the LDS Scriptures into the Thai Language (1970-1979), receiving revelation to solve challenging issues. While she could not be their priesthood leader, she was the shepherd to the young flock of early converts, hosting them at her home every Sunday afternoon. She shared her testimony with all who would listen. Her story is one of the most remarkable in all of LDS Church history.
A memorial for Srilaksana Suntarahut was held at the Asoke Ward meeting house in Bangkok on Saturday, November 9, 2013.
Photo and Flowers at the memorial service.
Some of those who attended the memorial service on November 9, 2013, at the Asoke chapel in Bangkok Thailand.
Photos: Wisan Wisanbannawit
October 29, 2013 - Missionary force in Thailand at approximately 175
As with other missions around the world the number of missionaries serving in Thailand has grown; now standing at around 175. This is near a record level for the country, but similar levels have been reached in prior years. A significant number of these missionaries are natives of Thailand. The number of sisters serving in Thailand certainly is at a record high. The first sisters to serve in Thailand were called in 1974, the first Elders in 1968.
October 24, 2013 - Death of the Supreme Patriarch
In Thailand, Buddhism is the state religion, however through the Ministry of Religion in the Thai government many different sects receive monetary support based on the population that belongs to that faith. The Supreme Patriarch of the Buddhist faith in Thailand, Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara Suvaddhana Mahathera, passed away at age 100 on October 24, 2013. The Thailand Bangkok Mission Presidency sent a letter of condolence. For further details see: "Luminous Journey Comes to an End" at the Bangkok Post
Story and Photo from the Bangkok Post
Bangkok's Daily English Language Newspaper
Bangkok's Daily English Language Newspaper
October 16, 2013 - The October 2013 group of missionaries to arrive in Thailand. Eight Sisters and Ten Elders
The Sisters are on the front row with President and Sister Senior
The Elders are on the back row.
Photo Wisan Wisanbannawit
The Elders are on the back row.
Photo Wisan Wisanbannawit
October 6, 2013 - Missionary Reunion - Bangkok Thailand
Not to be outdone by missionary reunions at conference time in the Salt Lake area, a reunion was held in Bangkok Thailand for returned missionaries there. The event was held on Saturday evening October 6, 2013 at the Asoke Meetinghouse. [Note: General Conference in Thailand is presented next weekend via DVD]. I can name about a half dozen of these former Thailand missionaries; how many can you name?
Photo: Wisan Wisanbannawit
July - August 2013 - Missionaries are flooding the earth. Thailand is getting its share.
The new missionary groups arriving in July and August 2013 in Thailand were exceptionally large. Here are the photos taken inside/outside the Church's office building on New Petchaburi Road.
July 2013 Thailand Missionary Group
August 2013 Missionary Group
Photographs: Wisan Wisanbannawit
June 12, 2013 - First Thai Missionary to Serve in Europe
(Source thisiscornwall.co.uk). [Mani Seangsuwan said that recently four Thai missionaries have been assigned outside Thailand, including one to England (see below), one to Korea, one to France and one to the Temple Square mission in Salt Lake City. Thus we see that there will soon be a 2nd Thai serving in Europe.]
THE FIRST Mormon missionary from a church in Thailand to serve in Europe is working in St Austell. Sister Kannasut is the first missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to serve in Europe.
She is learning English as it will also help her with her studies in marketing once she completes her mission. As a child, sister Kannasut was raised as a Buddhist, which is the national religion of Thailand, but once she was taught about the religion by missionaries, she wanted to be baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Becoming a missionary was always my dream and serving in England was such a surprise as no-one from Thailand had served here before," she said. "The Cornish people are so very friendly and fish and chips are very different from Thai food." She is currently serving in the St. Austell area with Sister Barrow from Texas, USA. Adherents are known as Latter-day Saints but also referred to informally as Mormons.
Read more: http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/Europe-s-Mormon-Thai-missionary-Church-Jesus/story-19260314-detail/story.html#ixzz2XGoutfp2
May 17-19, 2013 - General Authorities Visit Thailand
Over the weekend of May 17-19, 2013, Elder Anderson of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, Elder Clayton of Presidency of the Seventy and Elder Wilson of the Asia Area Presidency visited Thailand.
Visiting General Authorities
Priesthood Leadership Session - Saturday May 18, 2013
Chaengwattana Building, Nonthaburi Province
Chaengwattana Building, Nonthaburi Province
Priesthood leaders from around Thailand gathered at the Chaengwattana Building for a leadership session. Among those seated on the front row are:Mani Seangsuwan, Wisit Khanakham, David Senior (Mission Presidency), Elders Anderson, Clayton and Wilson (General Authorities), The Bangkok Thailand Stake Presidency and the Presidency of the Bangkok North District.
May 3-5, 2013 - Thailand Youth Conference
A countrywide youth conference was held i Thailand in early May. The photo below is of the youth and their leaders
Thailand Youth Conference May 2013
March 3, 2013 - Sister Hogan passes away in Bountiful, Utah
Catherine Hogan, who served on the Young Women general board, died March 3, 2013, in Bountiful, Utah. Sister Hogan served with her husband, Floyd Hyer Hogan, as he presided over the Bangkok Thailand Mission from 1982-85 and as matron as her husband served as president of the Manila Philippines Temple from 1987-90. Her husband passed away in September 2012.
February 2-3, 2013 - Bangkok North District Conference
Held at the new Chaengwattana meetinghouse.
Conference goers at Bangkok North District Conference, February 3, 2013.
Photo Wisan Wisanbanawit
Photo Wisan Wisanbanawit