SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Oct. 8, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will travel to Asia in mid-November to continue his worldwide ministry.
Nelson — accompanied by his wife, Wendy, Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and Christofferson’s wife, Katherine — will visit four countries in seven days, with trips to Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore and Indonesia, from Nov. 15 to Nov. 22, said a news release from the Church Tuesday morning.
“In the countries to be visited, there are approximately 30,000 Latter-day Saints, four missions and one recently announced temple in Cambodia,” the news release said. “President Nelson and Elder Christofferson will speak at member meetings with Latter-day Saints and friends of the faith. They will also meet with government and religious leaders of these countries.”
This will be the first visit to Vietnam and Cambodia by a Church president in more than 20 years. President Gordon B. Hinckley visited Vietnam and Cambodia in 1996, and Singapore and Indonesia in 2000. No other president of the Church has visited these countries.
Nelson visited Singapore and Indonesia as an apostle in February 2010. His return in November will mark celebrations of the Church’s 50th anniversaries in these countries.
Sunday, Nov. 17 – Monday, Nov. 18
Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Nelson is scheduled to meet with Latter-day Saints in an evening devotional in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, Sunday, Nov. 17, following a VIP reception. On Monday, Nov. 18, a VIP reception and devotional will be held in Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam is a country where presence of the Church is relatively new and growing, the news release said.
Tuesday, Nov. 19
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Nelson will travel to Cambodia to hold an evening devotional. The event will be transmitted for live viewing by all congregations in Cambodia.
In Cambodia, there are about 15,000 Latter-day Saints in 29 congregations and one mission, the news release said. The Phnom Penh Cambodia Temple was announced by Nelson in October 2018 during general conference.
Wednesday, Nov. 20
Singapore
All four will travel to Singapore for a member meeting in the evening. The meeting will be translated and transmitted for live viewing by all congregations in Malaysia. About 14,000 members of the Church, in 43 congregations, reside in Singapore and Malaysia, the news release said. The Church is celebrating 50 years in Singapore this year.
Thursday, Nov. 21
Jakarta, Indonesia
The final stop on the Asia ministry is Jakarta, Indonesia, where the senior Church leaders will host a reception and speak at a devotional that will be transmitted for live viewing by all congregations in the country.
About 7,500 Latter-day Saints, in 24 congregations, live in Indonesia, and there is one mission, the news release said. The Church is celebrating 50 years in Indonesia this year.
