“Wendy and I are looking forward to traveling with Elder D. Todd Christofferson and his wife Kathy to Southeast Asia. We will have the privilege of visiting two countries celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Church being organized in their lands—Singapore and Indonesia—and two countries where the Church is much younger—Vietnam and Cambodia,” said President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Nelsons and Christoffersons have left Utah for this ministry visit in Southeast Asia. The global Church leaders will visit nations that are collectively home to some 36,000 Church members. President Nelson, Elder Christofferson and their wives will speak at devotionals and meet with government and religious leaders and media from November 17 through November 21, 2019.
“We have been honored by officials from Vietnam and elsewhere who have visited us in Salt Lake City, and we look forward to becoming better acquainted in their countries,” President Nelson said as he prepared to embark on his ministry. “This is a vibrant corner of the world, one that has seen plenty of strife through the years but also a region filled with valiant, resilient, determined souls. We hope to share a message of hope, peace and love for the Lord Jesus Christ to all who are willing to listen.”
No other Church president except Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008) has visited these countries. President Hinckley visited Vietnam and Cambodia in 1996 and Singapore and Indonesia in 2000. President Nelson visited Singapore and Indonesia as an Apostle in February 2010; this is his first visit to Vietnam and Cambodia as a Church leader.
Sunday, November 17 and Monday, November 18
Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
VIP receptions, small gatherings with youth and devotionals will be held Sunday in Hanoi and Monday in Ho Chi Minh City. In June of this year, the First Presidency met in Salt Lake City with a delegation headed by Vietnam’s Committee for Religious Affairs.
Tuesday, November 19
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
After a VIP reception and a small gathering with Latter-day Saint youth, a devotional will be held in Cambodia Tuesday evening and transmitted to all congregations in Cambodia. The country is home to some 15,000 Latter-day Saints spread throughout 29 congregations. The Phnom Penh Cambodia Temple was announced by President Nelson in October 2018.
Wednesday, November 20
Singapore
President Nelson and Elder Christofferson will greet guests at a VIP reception and then speak at an evening devotional Wednesday evening that will be transmitted to all congregations in Singapore and Malaysia. Some 14,000 members of the Church reside in Singapore and Malaysia, where the Church has 43 congregations.
Thursday, November 21
Jakarta, Indonesia
The final stop on the Asia ministry is Jakarta, Indonesia, where President Nelson and Elder Christofferson will host a reception and speak at a devotional Thursday evening that will be transmitted to all congregations in the country. The Church’s 24 congregations comprise approximately 7,500 members.
Newsroom will provide full coverage of President Nelson’s Asia ministry, including video and photos for the media and the public.