2017 News
December 1, 2017 - December Missionary Group Arrives
Eight Elders and four Sisters arrived in Bangkok to begin the in-country portion of their missionary service. They are pictured below with President and Sister Johnson in front of the Church's Bangkok office building.
The group includes: Elder Christian Siu-Ting Cheung, Elder Aaron Charles Torgesen, Elder Arcadia Jeffrey, Elder Benjamin Spangler Jensen, • Elder Jacob Lamont Eskersley, Elder Kaden Danie McBride, Elder Luke Jonathan Rands, Elder Pierce Douglas Walker, • Sister Emma Mae Lahti, • Sister Erica Serene Christensen, Sister Ingram Lara Beck, Sister Sage Amira Smith. Three Thai Sisters (not pictured) also started their missions at about the same time. (Sister Kanchalee Phubualee, Sister Long Mittavong, Sister Phiengsamai Sorphapmixay).
October 25 - 29, 2017 - Royal Cremation Ceremony for His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great passed away October 13, 2016. He was the King of Thailand for more than sixty-seven years. This week many events are scheduled surrounding his cremation. These include:
  • October 25 - A day for presenting flowers in memory of the King.
  • October 26 - Merit making at at Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall in the Grand Palace.
  • October 27 - Procession from Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall in the Grand Palace to the Royal Crematorium at Sanam Luang.
  • October 27 - Royal Cremation Ceremony begins at 5:30 PM (Bangkok Time)
  • October 28 - Collection of the Royal relics and ashes
  • October 29 - A ceremony will be held to enshrine the royal urn containing the royal relics at Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall. The hall houses the relics of all late kings in the Chakri Dynasty
The Bangkok Post has written special articles regarding the late King. These articles can be accessed at Bangkok Post King Rama 9 site.

The Royal Crematorium (Phra Meru Mas) at Sanam Luang. This view is looking to the southwest. Photo taken as the procession was arriving at the Royal Crematorium on October 26. Source: Thai TV Pool. Construction began in the spring of 2017. The procession from the Grand Palace to Sanam Luang (a distance of just over 1 mile) took several hours to complete. The procession is done with very deliberate and small steps. There was also a merit making event around the half way point near Wat Phra Chetuphon.

The largest building on the west side is the official viewing and merit making pavilion for the Royal Family and their guests. There are now two new princesses, both are daughters of His Majesty Maha Vajiralongkorn. Princess Bajrakitiyabha and Princess Sirivannavari Narirarana. Her Majesty Queen Sirikit has not been seen in public for some time due to poor health. During the week members of the Royal Family greeted guests from around the world. There are no "official photos or video" of the actual cremation that took place at 10 pm on October 26. Ashes and relics of the King were distributed to various locations on October 27 - 29.

A view of Sanam Luang with the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in the lower left corner. Source: Thai TV Pool.
October 18, 2017 - October Missionary group arrives
A group of nine Elders arrived in Bangkok.

Back row left to right: Elder Cade Andrew Jorgensen - Arizona, Elder Jaren Leung Abbott - Illinois, Elder Samuel Curtis Smith - Utah, Elder Nopera Tamaiti Watene - New Zealand, Elder Nathan Kevan Morgan - Washington, Front Row left to right: Elder Pavin Bryen David Steele - Utah, Elder Samuel Henry Hafen - Utah, Elder Samuel Curtis Smith - Utah, Elder Hawkeye Nathaniel Siebert - Minnesota. with President and Sister Johnson. Photo from the front steps of the Chuch office building.

Thanks to Brother Wisan Wisanbannawit for providing the photo and names.

October 1, 2017 - A Short History of the LDS Church in Thailand
Brother Wisan Wisanbannawit of the Thailand Presiding Bishopric's Office (PBO) requested an updated "short history" of the LDS Church in Thailand. He hopes to have this new short history translated into Thai. See A Short History of the LDS Church in Thailand. Last update 10/06/2017.
September 9, 2017 - September Missionary group arrives
Twenty-three new missionaries to assimilate all at once is a real challenge. I hope all their senior companions are ready to do a good job. Photo taken at the entry to the Church office building in Bangkok.
July 28, 2017 - July Missionary group arrives
Eight sisters and six elders. The increase in the number of Sister Missionaries serving since the age change to nineteen is truly amazing. So different from 1973 when I arrived and we had no Sister Missionaries, but we did have one terrific Mission Mother in Sister Betty Morris. This photo was taken at the roof top of the hotel adjacent to the Church office building (location identified by President David Senior).
May 27-28, 2017 - Bangnaa Chapel Open House and Re-dedication
After extensive remodeling the Bangnaa Chapel was rededicated on Sunday May 28, by Elder Wisit Khnakham, Area Authority Seventy. The chapel is home to the Bangnaa and Samut Prakhan wards of the Thailand Bangkok Stake. The inside looks much like that of more recent chapels in Indochina.
May 25, 2017 - Elder Cook visits Thailand as part of a trip to review the Asia Area
Announcement of Elder Cook's visit (left); Primary Choir performs during the meeting (right)(SourceDeseret News)
Elder Cook of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles met with members at the Amari Watergate Hotel. He along with Elder Ulisses Soares of the Presidency of the Seventy and Bishop W. Christopher Wadell traveled to Hong Kong for the annual review of the Asia Area. Following the review they each made visits to different places. Elder Soares visited Singapore and Indonesia. Bishop Wadell visited Mongolia and Hyderabad India, home to the first stake created in that country.

The Deseret News reported the following regarding his visit to Thailand. Elder Cook along with Elder Funk, area president, visited with Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but the purpose of that visit was not disclosed. Elder Cook remarked, "Members in Thailand are excited about the future temple in their nation." He encouraged them to prepare their four generation family history in advance of the temple's completion.

In 1949 Elder Matthew Cowley of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles opened the Hong Kong Mission with a prayer from Victoria Peak — the highest point overlooking the city. The Cooks, Soares and Waddells, together with the Asian leaders, had the opportunity to stand on that peak and appreciate the spiritual significance of that historic location. Editor's note: The view from the top of Victoria Peak at night is one of the most breath taking of any in the world."

May 12, 2017 - LDS Church helps provide books to 40 schools in Southern Thailand devastated by flooding
There are very few members of the LDS church (and no missionaries) in Southern Thailand. A small group meets each Sunday in Phuket.
May 4-6, 2017 - Youth Conference - Chiang Mai
May 4, 2017 - New missionaries arrive
The mission received three new elders and six new sister missionaries. Elders McCown, Smart and Ignacio, Sisters: Ballif, Chappell, Powell, Henry, Curtis, Caesar. I wonder how many new missionary groups arriving in Thailand have been composed of more Sisters than Elders?
March 23, 2017 New Missionaries Arrive
Six new Elders and seven new Sisters arrive in the mission. Elders: Duncan, Fillmore, Krey, Parkinson, Theobald, Chin. Sisters: Feldman, Jackson, McWain, Newton,Tukuafu, Rukkhan, Warangrat.
February 8, 2017 First group of missionaries of 2017 arrive in Bangkok