2012 News
December 14-15, 2012 - Invitation to Celebrate Christmas
The Bangkok Thailand Stake (President Sarawut) and the Bangkok North District (President Sathid) invite their members to Celebrate Christmas. Here is the invitation (English version).
Elder Patterson, a missionary serving in the Bangkok area commented: It was by far the biggest event I have seen the church put on; bigger than in America even. [I was surprised] how many members would miss church but go to rehearsals for the show or help prepare stuff...  It became a very spiritual experience for me and for many others. I got to see almost everyone that I have taught in Bangkok, and some of them brought friends or family that I was able to meet and talk to about the Gospel.
September 14, 2012 - President Floyd Hogan Passes Away
President Floyd Hogan who served as a humanitarian missionary in Thailand with his wife and later as President of the Thailand Bangkok  Mission (1982-1985), passed away Thursday September 14, 2012, in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Brother Hogan spent his career as an officer in the United States Air Force and was proud of his service to his country. Here is his biography as it will appear in "The Light Breaks on Southeast Asia". Funeral Services will be Monday September 24, 2012. Read his obituary.
June 30, 2012 - President and Sister Smith Welcome President and Sister Senior
The photo appears to have been taken at Suwanaphumi Airport, Bangkok
June 1, 2012 - Thailand Bangkok Mission Office and Mission Home Moving back to Bangkok
President Smith announced that the mission office (and PBO office) will be moving from Nonthaburi back to Bangkok.  In Nonthaburi, the present office was near the old airport (Don Muang), but since Suwanaphumi Airport opened in 2006 the airport has been a great distance from there. The new location will be the Church's office building on New Petchaburi Road that was purchased in 2008.  This site may one day be redeveloped as a stake center, mission office, PBO office and temple (similar to what exists in Hong Kong).  Bangkok's City Airline Terminal (high speed rail connection to the new airport) is located directly behind this office building. Deseret Industries Charities has been using the site for some time as their office location. The mission home is moving to a condo on Soi 23 purchased by the church to serve as the mission president's residence. The move is expected some time this summer.

Interestingly the new mission office is just a mile down New Petchaburi Road from the first mission office established by President Morris in 1973.

The Home of the Mission Office on New Petchburi Road
Not far from the Asoke Chapel
May 31, 2012 - The Church in Vientiane, Laos.
The Home in the background is where the Saints meet in Laos. Pictured (L-R) Brother Khamphee (former Branch President), Elder/Sister Nielsen (Country Directors). Sister/Elder Treasure from Hong Kong Area Office, Elder/Sister Luangrath (born in Laos, joined the Church in the US)
May 20, 2012 - Elder Russel M. Nelson dedicates an expanded Missionary Training Center (MTC) in the Philippines
While the Missionary Training Center in Manila Philippines has been in operation for a couple of decades, it was recently expanded to accommodate more missionaries including those from nations in the Asia Area including Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Laos. The Philippines Missionary Training Center consists of two buildings that provide state-of-the-art training facilities; it can house up to 144 missionaries.  While 144 sounds like a lot, the MTC in Provo regularly receives 100+ missionaries every Wednesday.
April 27, 2012 - Eleven New Thai Missionaries prepare to depart for the Missionary Training Center in Manila Philippines.
Elders (L-R): Suriya, Darwin, Narongrit, Bomm, <TBD>, Schad
Sisters (L-R) Lompee, Pheap, Ginggaw, Pannida, Minnie
Apparently all eleven will be serving in Thailand. Elder Suriya is the son of President Somchai (Chiang Mai), Elder Darwin is the son of President Wisan Wisanbannawit (Don Muang), Bomm is the son of President Wirawut (Buriram, Srisaket), Schad is the son of Brother Jongsathid (Bangkok Service Center), Minnie is the daughter of Sister Ut (Mahasarakham)
April 14, 2012 - New Mission President Assigned to Thailand.
Sister Bernhisel recently experienced some significant health problems after surgery; therefore the Church has switched mission assignments. Upon consultation with Elder Evans, Executive Director of the LDS Church Missionary Department and an acquaitents of President Bernhisel it was decided to make a switch in assignments.

From the Church News - April 14, 2012: Marc A. and Julee K. Bernhisel, previously assigned to the Thailand Bangkok Mission, have been reassigned to the North Carolina Raleigh Mission. David M. and Shelly A. Senior, previously assigned to the North Carolina Raleigh Mission, have been reassigned to the Thailand Bangkok Mission.

From the Church News - March 17, 2012 - David Mark Senior, 51, and Shelly Marie Allen Senior, four children, Northpoint Ward, Mesa Arizona Citrus Heights Stake. Brother Senior serves as high priest group instructor and secretary. He is a former high councilor, bishop, counselor in a bishopric, Young Men president and missionary in the Japan Nagoya Mission. CEO, Concentus Global. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Rowland Clement and Lois Jeanne Vincent Senior.

Sister Senior serves as a counselor in a Young Women presidency and is a former Primary president, Young Women president, Young Women adviser, Relief Society teacher and seminary teacher. Born in Rome, N. Y., to Mabel Jean Watkins and Owen Woodruff Allen, Jr.

April 1, 2012 - Chiang Mai Branch Split -
The largest branch in northern Thailand, the Chiang Mai Branch, was split into two branches. Branches in the Chiang Mai district now include Pitsanuloke, Lumphang, Chaing Mai 1 & 2 and Chaing Rai.
March 30, 2012 - Real Progress on Visas and Work Permits
For the first time ever foreign LDS Missionaries serving in Thailand will be given work permits and one year visas.Previously missionaries had only tourist visas. In the early years they had to leave country every 10 weeks and return on a new tourists visa. At times when a new visa status was in process, the need to leave was suspended. Since 1992 missionaries have not had to leave country to receive new visas, but only report to immigration in Bangkok to be issued a new visa, sometimes any missionary could stand in for another at immigration and at other times the actual missionary whose visa was to be renewed had to appear in person. Missionaries now will only have to appear once at immigration during their two years of service.
March 17, 2012 - Former Thailand Missionary to Serve as Mission President in Cambodia
David C. Moon a former executive at Word Perfect Corporation has been called to serve as the next mission president in Cambodia. The biography that appeared in the Church News says he was a former missionary in Thailand (by age that would put him late Brown, early Lowe time frame).  He is not registered at the Thailand Bangkok Mission Alumni site. He will succeed Scott B. Smedley as President of the Cambodia Phnom Penh Mission. Information from the LDS Church News on Saturday March 17, 2012 follows:

David Carlton Moon, 53, and Kathryn Thomas Moon, seven children, Cambodia Phnom Penh Mission; Alpine 9th Ward, Alpine Utah Stake. Brother Moon serves as a counselor in a stake presidency and is a former stake clerk, bishop, Young Men president, elders quorum president and missionary in the Thailand Mission. General partner, EsNet, Ltd. Born in Fairbanks, Alaska, to David Milton and Karen Carlton Moon

Sister Moon serves as a stake sports specialist and Primary teacher. She is a former Young Women president, Primary president and counselor in a Relief Society presidency. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Gordon Monson and Bonnie Thomas

February 18, 2012 - New Mission President called for Thailand - Dr. Marc A. Bernhisel
There will be a doctor back in the House (Mission Home in Thailand). Dr. Marc A. Bernhisel whose specialty is "Reproductive Medicine" will be the next president of the Bangkok Thailand Mission, succeeding Michael S. Smith.

While he grew up in Utah, his professional practice was in Tampa Bay, Florida. His specialty is in the area of infertility or reproductive medicine. President Bernhisel served as a missionary in the Southeast Asia Mission from 1970-1972 assigned to Thailand. He is listed as missionary #38 on the list of the first missionaries to serve there.  Among those he taught the gospel in Thailand was Mongkol Tungmala (who later became the 4th native Thai to serve a mission). The Bernhisel family sponsored Mongkol to come to the United States where he eventually received a PhD from Brigham Young University in Teaching English as a Second Language.

From the Church News - Saturday February 18, 2012:

Marc Alan Bernhisel, 61, and Julee Kirkham Bernhisel, five children, Riverview Ward, Brandon Florida Stake. Brother Bernhisel serves in a Young Men presidency and is a former counselor in a stake presidency, high councilor, stake mission president, bishop, high priest group leader and missionary in the Southeast Asia Mission. Self-employed physician. Born in Minneapolis, Minn., to Harris Glenn and Bethine Sax Bernhisel.

Sister Bernhisel serves as a Young Women adviser and is a former stake Young Women president, counselor in a stake Young Women presidency, ward Young Women president, Relief Society president and seminary teacher. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Emerson Dale and Virginia Koch Kirkham.

Feebruary 5, 2012 - LDS Helping hands deliver flood relief supplies to the hard hit area of Ayuthaya, Thailand