Thailand Bangkok Mission

A Brief History of the LDS Church in Thailand

First Missionary to serve in Thailand (April 1854)
Elam Luddington arrived in Thailand in 1854. This was roughly the same time that Anna Leonowens arrived in Bangkok to teach the children of King Mongkut. Three other missionaries were called at the same time, however, none of them were able to make their way to Bangkok. Elder Luddington was the first missionary to ever serve in Thailand (Siam at that time). He stayed a few months and then finding the culture and language too difficult, he returned home. It would be more than 100 years before the next missionaries arrived.

Dedication (November 1966)
Elder Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated Thailand for the preaching of the Gospel on November 2, 1966 in Lumpini park in Bangkok. This event occurred at the height of the war in nearby Vietnam. It was the war in Vietnam that brought thousands of LDS servicemen to Southeast Asia and with them the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Beginnings (1968)
Six missionaries were transferred to Thailand from Taiwan (5) and Hong Kong (1) in 1968. From left to right Alan H. Hess, Robert W. Winegar, L. Carl Hanson, Peter W. Basker, Larry R. White and Craig G. Christensen. President Keith E. Garner of the Hong Kong Mission took these six Elders to Bangkok on February 2, 1968. They established a home on Soi 49 (Soi Klang) which was the mission headquarters in Thailand until the Asoke Chapel was completed in May 1972.

For the next 5 years Thailand would be a zone of the Southern Far East mission (February 1968 - November 1969) and then the Southeast Asia (Singapore) mission (November 1969 - August 1973).

Thailand Bangkok Mission Established (1973)
The Thailand Bangkok Mission was formed from the Southeast Asia Singapore Mission on August 1, 1973; with Paul D. Morris as the first mission president. President Morris and his family had been living in Bangkok for several years. He was the district president in Thailand prior to his call as mission president.

Book of Mormon Published (1976)
The Thai Book of Mormon was published in 1976. Amazingly Thai was the 24th language in which the complete Book of Mormon was published (excluding languages for which there is no version still in print). Srilaksana Suntarahut and her daughters were baptized on July 4, 1968. She became the primary translator of the Book of Mormon into the Thai language, assisted by missionaries. She was also the principal translator for the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price. These books of scripture were published in 1979.

The Thai Book of Mormon was published in 1976. Amazingly Thai was the 24th language in which the complete Book of Mormon was published (excluding languages for which there is no version still in print). Srilaksana Suntarahut and her daughters were baptized on July 4, 1968. She became the primary translator of the Book of Mormon into the Thai language, assisted by missionaries. She was also the principal translator for the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price. These books of scripture were published in 1979.

Sister Srilaksana had great command of the Thai and English languages because she was raised for 14 years (starting at age 6) by the queen Indrasakdi Sachi (wife of King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) who was the son of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V)). Sister Srilaksana developed a close relationship with the Queen. The complete story of this translation of the Book of Mormon can be found in a book "Translating Scripture: The Thai Book of Mormon."

The Thai Book of Mormon was published in 1976. Amazingly Thai was the 24th language in which the complete Book of Mormon was published (excluding languages for which there is no version still in print). Srilaksana Suntarahut and her daughters were baptized on July 4, 1968. She became the primary translator of the Book of Mormon into the Thai language, assisted by missionaries. She was also the principal translator for the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price. These books of scripture were published in 1979.

Sister Srilaksana had great command of the Thai and English languages because she was raised for 14 years (starting at age 6) by the queen Indrasakdi Sachi (wife of King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) who was the son of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V)). Sister Srilaksana developed a close relationship with the Queen. The complete story of this translation of the Book of Mormon can be found in a book "Translating Scripture: The Thai Book of Mormon."

Bangkok Thailand Stake Organized (1995)
The first stake in Thailand was organized on June 18, 1995, by Elder Neal Ash Maxwell. Thipparad Kitsaward was called as the first stake president. His counselors were Suchat Chaichanaa and Seksan Siriphan. A blind man Ponchai Junthrapit was called as Stake Patriarch.

President Hinkley Visits (2000)
Gordon B. Hinkley visited Thailand on June 13-14, 2000. This was the first visit to Thailand by the president of the Church. While in Thailand an "early birthday celebration" was held on June 13, President Hinckley spoke to about 2,000 members and investigators on June 14, and also paid a visit to the prime minister.

Temple Announced for Thailand (2015)
On April 5, 2015, at the Sunday morning session of general conference, President Thomas S. Monson announced that a temple would be built in Bangkok Thailand. From groundbreaking to dedication it usually takes 3 years to complete construction. Thus should ground be broken in 2017, the probable completion date is 2020. The probable location of the new temple is ground the church purchased in 2008 on New Petchaburi road not far from Soi Asoke and closeby to the Bangkok City Airline terminal at Makasan.

	Elder Baker Brooksby www.mymission.com/elderbakerbrooksby	2024
	Elder Cameron Chao www.mymission.com/eldercameronchao	2024
	Elder Ruel Dansie www.mymission.com/elderrueldansie	2024
	Sister Sheena Diaz www.mymission.com/sistersheenadiaz	2024
	Elder Bret and Sister Andrea Ellis www.mymission.com/elderbretandsisterandreaellis	2024
	Elder Isaac Woolford www.mymission.com/elderisaacwoolford	2024
	Elder Jayden Young www.mymission.com/elderjaydenyoung	2024
	Elder Kerst Meibos www.mymission.com/elderkerstmeibos	2023
	Sister Gillian Anderton www.mymission.com/sistergilliananderton	2022
	Elder Jade Anunciado www.mymission.com/elderjadeanunciado	2022
	Elder Liam Miller www.mymission.com/elderliammiller	2022
	Elder Angelo Pangilinan www.mymission.com/elderangelopangilinan	2022
	Sister Annie Scoresby www.mymission.com/sisteranniescoresby	2022
	Elder Nicholas Chung www.mymission.com/eldernicholaschung1	2021
	Elder Nicholas Chung www.mymission.com/eldernicholaschung2	2021
	Elder Kyle Cullimore www.mymission.com/elderkylecullimore	2021
	Elder Justin Wyatt Hollowell www.mymission.com/elderjustinwyatthollowell	2021
	Elder Gavrie Manivanh www.mymission.com/eldergavriemanivanh	2021
	Elder Gabriel Maxfield www.mymission.com/eldergabrielmaxfield	2021
	Elder Jayson Sun www.mymission.com/elderjaysonsun	2021
	Elder Nathaniel Walker www.mymission.com/eldernathanielwalker	2021
	Elder Zachary Anderson www.mymission.com/elderzacharyanderson1	2020
	Elder Zachary Anderson www.mymission.com/elderzacharyanderson2	2020
	Elder Shawn Benteti www.mymission.com/eldershawnbenteti	2020
	Elder Christopher Clinker www.mymission.com/elderchristopherclinker	2020
	Elder Spencer Fox www.mymission.com/elderspencerfox	2020
	Sister Ana Jenkins www.mymission.com/sisteranajenkins	2020
	Elder Christian Luangrath www.mymission.com/elderchristianluangrath	2020
	Elder Jaedon Hyun McQuivey www.mymission.com/elderjaedonhyunmcquivey	2020
	Elder Garrett Parsons www.mymission.com/eldergarrettparsons	2020
	Elder Ethan Sumsion www.mymission.com/elderethansumsion	2020
	Elder Andrew Thaxton www.mymission.com/elderandrewthaxton	2020
	Elder Jacob Triplett www.mymission.com/elderjacobtriplett	2020
	Elder Jacob W Triplett www.mymission.com/elderjacobwtriplett	2020
	Elder Tyler Ward www.mymission.com/eldertylerward	2020
	Elder Nathan Duncan www.mymission.com/eldernathanduncan	2019
	Elder Nathan Duncan www.mymission.com/eldernathanduncan1	2019
	Elder Ethan Ellsworth www.mymission.com/elderethanellsworth	2019
	Elder ARCADIA JEFFREY LANCE IULI www.mymission.com/elderarcadiajeffreylanceiuli	2019
	Elder Corban Killian www.mymission.com/eldercorbankillian	2019
	Elder Eric Kim www.mymission.com/eldererickim	2019
	Elder Scott Theobald www.mymission.com/elderscotttheobald	2019
	Elder Christopher Bunker www.mymission.com/elderchristopherbunkrt	2018
	Elder Jared Butler www.mymission.com/elderjaredbutler	2018
	Elder John Higginson www.mymission.com/elderjohnkhigginson	2018
	Elder Christopher Larson www.mymission.com/elderchristopherlarson	2018
	Elder Nolan and Sister MICHELE Larson www.mymission.com/eldernolanandsistermichelelarson	2018
	Elder Christian Morris www.mymission.com/elderchristianmorris	2018
	Elder Abraham Smith-Driggs elderabrahamsmith-driggs.blogspot.com	2017
	Elder Christian Miyagi eldermiyagi.blogspot.com	2017
	Elder Collin Decker eldercollindecker.blogspot.com	2017
	Elder Gabriel Santeco eldersanteco.blogspot.com	2017
	Elder John Higginson johnkimball.blogspot.com	2017
	Elder Kameron Ho Ching missionsite.net/elderkameronhoching	2017
	Elder Logan Ellis elderellisinthailand.blogspot.com	2017
	Elder Porter Rawlinson elderporterrawlinson.blogspot.com	2017
	Elder Kade Nielsen www.mymission.com/elderkadenielsen	2017
	Sister Heidi Parker www.mymission.com/sisterheidiparker	2017
	Elder Porter Rawlinson www.mymission.com/elderporterrawlinson	2017
	Sister Carolyn Hammon sistercarolynhammon.blogspot.com	2017
	Sister Minhee Kwak gehmlichgirls.blogspot.com	2017
	Sister Lauren Woon www.mymission.com/sisterlaurenwoon	2017
	Elder Davis Ridings elderridings.wordpress.com	2016
	Elder Elliot Mayo elliotmayo.com	2016
	Elder Jesse Bundy elderjessebundy.blogspot.com	2016
	Elder Joseph Chanthakhoun chanthakhounonamission.weebly.com	2016
	Elder Joseph Latimer elderjoelatimer.blogspot.com	2016
	Elder Keller Brown elderkellerbrown.blogspot.com	2016
	Elder Keyen Neal elderkeyenneal.blogspot.com	2016
	Elder Reed Haslam lds-thailand.org	2016
	Elder Robert Thompson elderrobertcadethompson.blogspot.com	2016
	Elder Samuel Chamberlin eldersamchamberlin.blogspot.com	2016
	Elder Karsten Hinckley www.mymission.com/elderkarstenhinckley	2016
	Mission Alumni mission.net/thailand/bangkok	2016
	President & Sister Johnson johnsonsinthailand.blogspot.com	2016
	Sister Auburn Remington sisterauburnremington.blogspot.com	2016
	Sister Bethany Coates sistersawatdee.blogspot.com	2016
	Sister Ellen Watters sisterwatters.wixsite.com/thailand-bangkok	2016
	Sister Katie Burbank sisterkatieburbank.blogspot.com	2016
	Sister Maisie Carrillo sistermaisiecarrillo.blogspot.com	2016
	Sister Sarah Morgan sistersarahmorgan.blogspot.com	2016
	Sister Hannah Jo Smith www.mymission.com/sisterhannahjosmith	2016
	Elder & Sister Meeker meekersinthailand.blogspot.com	2015
	Elder & Sister Moleff moleffinbangkokthailand.blogspot.com	2015
	Elder Aaron Proctor elderaaronproctor.blogspot.com	2015
	Elder Benjamin Black elderbenblack.blogspot.com	2015
	Elder Christopher Osborn elderchristopherosborn.blogspot.com	2015
	Elder Conor Mitchell eldermitchell.weebly.com	2015
	Elder Josh Keller elderjoshkeller.blogspot.com	2015
	Elder Kendall Vance missionsite.net/ElderKendallVance	2015
	Elder Lindsey Takeuchi elderlindseytakeuchi.blogspot.com	2015
	Elder Mark Wager eldermarkwager.blogspot.com	2015
	Sister Alley nikkimomalley.wix.com/tongue-thai-ed	2015
	Sister Brecklyn Nethercott thaidupfor18months.blogspot.com	2015
	Sister Terri Zoller terriinthailand.blogspot.com	2015
	Sister Tessa Herrmann tessainthailand.blogspot.com	2015
	Elder Dennis and Sister Joan Sowards www.mymission.com/elderdennisandsisterjoansowards	2015
	Elder & Sister Soward thesowardsinthailand.blogspot.com	2014
	Elder Brandon Savage missionsite.net/elderbrandonsavage	2014
	Elder Braxton Johnson facebook.com/ElderBraxtonJohnson	2014
	Elder Jackson Harley jacksoninthailand.wordpress.com	2014
	Elder John Slaughter elderslaughter.tumblr.com	2014
	Sister Abbie Slaugh smilingsisterslaugh.blogspot.com	2014
	Sister Brooke Embley missionsite.net/sisterbrookeembley	2014
	Sister Elizabeth Stevenson sisterlizstevenson.blogspot.com	2014
	Sister Emily Steele sisteremilysteele.blogspot.com	2014
	Sister Mckenna Barber sisterbarberinthailand.weebly.com	2014
	Sister Monica Painter sistermonicapainter.blogspot.com	2014
	Sister Morgan Carter sistermorgancarter.blogspot.com	2014
	Sister Sydney Hughes sistersydneyhughes.blogspot.com	2014
	Elder Bryan Todd budtodd.blogspot.com	2013
	Elder Cameron Segura missionsite.net/eldercameronsegura	2013
	Elder Dillon Haughton tigersinthailand.wordpress.com	2013
	Elder Ethan Bennett missionsite.net/elderethanbennett	2013
	Elder Garrett Harris missionsite.net/eldergarrettharris	2013
	Elder Joshua Zitting elderzitting.blogspot.com	2013
	Elder Landon Simonsen elderlandonsimonsen.blogspot.com	2013
	Elder Robert Buss lettersfromr.blogspot.com	2013
	Sister Summer Crockett missionsite.net/sistersummercrockett	2013
	Sister Traci Yeo sistertraciyeo.blogspot.com	2013
	Elder & Sister Seangsuwan elderandsisterseangsuwan.blogspot.com	2012
	Elder Andrew Jensen dcjensen.org/elder-andrew-jensen	2012
	Elder David Stott missionsite.net/davidhyrumstott	2012
	Elder Narongrit Williams missionsite.net/eldernarongritwilamas	2012
	President & Sister Smith smithhere.com	2012
	Sister Breanne Roper smilinginthelandofsmiles.blogspot.com	2012
	Sister Jennifer Knutson jennknutson.blogspot.com	2012
	Elder Brandon Holt elderholtinthailand.blogspot.com	2011
	Elder Daniel Brown elderdanielbrown.blogspot.com	2011
	Elder Jacob Newman eldernewmanthailand.blogspot.com	2011
	Elder Tyrel Parkinson tyrelparkinson.blogspot.com	2011
	Sister Emily Henderson emilysmission.blogspot.com	2011
	Sister Katrina Amero katrinaamerosmission.blogspot.com	2011
	Sister Sara Webb sistersarawebb.blogspot.com	2011
	Sister Stacie Chambers missionsite.net/sisterstaciechambers	2011
	Sister Stacie Chambers heart2heartspirit2spirit.blogspot.com	2011
	Elder William Schulte wcschultemissionspot.blogspot.com	2010
	Elder Nathan Rosenvall www.mymission.com/eldernathanrosenvall	2001

1.	Thailand Bangkok Mission 2000-2003 Group
2.	2014 Thailand Bangkok Mission Reunion Group
3.	Thailand Bangkok Mission Reunion 2014 Group
4.	Bangkok Mission 1997-00 President Goodman Group
5.	Bangkok Mission 1991-94 President White Group
6.	Thailand Bangkok Mission Alumni Group

Thailand Bangkok Mission