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<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=125 BGCOLOR="#339999" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>                       LDS-</B><B>Thailand.org</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>     </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>  </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><IMG SRC="04c44320.gif" border=0 width="68" height="50" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>   </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>                 History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Thailand</B></div> <div> <B>This site is not supported nor approved by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Reed B. Haslam is solely responsible for its' content.</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=190 BGCOLOR="#339999" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Latest News"><U><B>Latest News</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="newly_added.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Whats New"><U><B>What's New</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="brief_history.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LDS Church in Thailand"><U><B>A Brief History</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id48.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Year by Year"><U><B>Year by  Year</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="historical_documents.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Index to Historical Documents"><U><B>Historical Documents</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="ensign_articles.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ensign Articles"><U><B>Ensign Articles</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="church_news_articles.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LDS Church News Articles"><U><B>Church News Articles</B></U></A><B>     </B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id68.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Other Publications"><U><B>Other Publications</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="church_leaders.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church Leaders in Thailand"><U><B>Church Leaders in Thailand</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id69.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Stake Presidents"><U><B>Stake Presidents</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="chapels.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LDS Chapels in Thailand"><U><B>Church Buildings in Thailand</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="mission_presidents.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Thailand Bangkok Mission Presidents"><U><B>Mission Presidents</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="first_lds_missionaries_in_thailand.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="First LDS Missionaries to Serve in THAIL"><U><B>First </B></U></A><A HREF="first_lds_missionaries_in_thailand.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="First LDS Missionaries to Serve in THAIL"><U><B>364 Missionaries to Serve in Thailand</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="40th_anniversary.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="40th Anniversary Celebration"><U><B>40th  Anniversary of the Dedication of Thailand</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.mission.net/thailand/bangkok" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.mission.net/thailand/bangkok"><U><B>Official Thailand Bangkok Mission Alumni Web Site</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.TranslatingScripture.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.TranslatingScripture.com"><U><B>Mission History captured in a New Book - Translating Scripture the Thai </B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.TranslatingScripture.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.TranslatingScripture.com"><U><B>Book of Mormon</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="contribute.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contribute"><U><B>Contribute to  </B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="contribute.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contribute"><U><B>LDS-Thailand.</B></U></A><A HREF="contribute.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contribute"><U><B>org</B></U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=355 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <div> <B>Latest News</B></div> <div> <B>July 1, 2009 - New leadership for the Thailand Bangkok Mission</B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="0ffa3a30.jpg" border=0 width="163" height="163" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="3" VSPACE="3"></div> <div> Michael S. Smith took charge as the new president of the Thailand Bangkok mission succeeding Karl L. Dodge who completed three years of service..President Smith served as a missionary in Thailand from 1969-1971. He is #16 on the list of missionaries who servied in Thailand. </div> <div> .</div> <div> <B>Information on President Smith: </B>Michael Sherrod Smith, 58, and Janis Johnson Smith, five children, Mesa 46th Ward, Mesa Arizona East Stake. Brother Smith is a former missionary in the Asia Area Office, high councilor, bishop, elders quorum president, temple ordinance worker and missionary in the Southeast Asia Mission. Retired territory sales manager, Bristol-Myers Squibb Virology. Born in Nampa, Idaho, to Sherrod Smith Jr. and Marian James Smith. Sister Smith served with her husband in the Asia Area Office and is a former stake and ward Young Women president, counselor in a stake Primary presidency, ward Relief Society president and gospel doctrine teacher. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to James Leroy and Belva Johnson. <B>[LDS Church News - January 24, 2009]</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>July 1, 2009</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Verdana" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Former Thailand Missionary takes charge as mission president in Cambodia</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="103a7a70.jpg" border=0 width="167" height="167" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="3" VSPACE="3">Scott B. Smedley took charge in Cambodia as president of the Cambodia Phnom Penh mission succeeding Robert W. Winegar who completed three years of service. President Smedley who served as a missionary in Singapore was  transferred to Thailand in 1970 when Singapore expelled the all the missionaries who were serving there at that time.  President Smedley replaced President Robert W. Winegar who completed three years of service. President Winegar was among the first six missionaries to server in Thailand.</div> <bR> <div> <B>I</B><B>nfo</B><B>rmation on President Smedley:</B> Scott Brunson Smedley, 58, and Juliet Chlarson Smedley, six children, Park Ward, Layton Utah Creekside Stake. Brother Smedley is a Scoutmaster and a former bishop and counselor, counselor in a stake presidency, high councilor, Varsity Scout coach and missionary in the Southeast Asia Mission. Insurance agent, Beneficial Life. Born in Ogden, Utah, to Dale Thurgood and Helen Delell Brunson Smedley. Sister Smedley is the ward activity committee chairman and is a former stake and ward Relief Society president, counselor in a ward Young Women presidency, ward Primary president and missionary in the Uruguay/Paraguay Mission. Born in Brigham City, Utah, to Varsel Lyman and Ruth Hunsaker Chlarson. <B>[LDS Church News - February 27, 2009]</B></div> <bR> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="751" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 182 ><NOBR><div> <B><IMG SRC="11cfba70.jpg" border=0 width="251" height="167" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="480"><div> <B>June 13-14 - Bangkok Stake Conference. </B>Meetings on June 14th were held at the Landmark Hotel in Bangkok. President Grant Anderson (who is returning home) was released as 2nd counselor. Craig Mackley was called as the new counselor in the Bangkok Stake Presidency. Pictured (L-R) Wisan Wisanbannawit, Wisit Khanakham, Craig Mackley.</div> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> <B>May 14, 2009 - The name of the church in the Thai Language is Changing. </B>The name since 1970 has been </div> <div> <IMG SRC="11d70200.gif" border=0 width="624" height="32" ALT="Microsoft Office Word Document" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> The new name is</div> <div> <IMG SRC="10c70200.gif" border=0 width="624" height="32" ALT="Microsoft Office Word Document" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> .</div> <bR> <div> <B>January 18, 2009 - Mongkol Tungmala passes</B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="0fd616f0.gif" border=0 width="97" height="111" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="3" VSPACE="3">Mongkol Tungmala passed away on January 18, 2009 at his home in Mountain Green, Utah. He was the 4th native Thai to serve a full time mission (1973-1975). He taught many Thai missionaries the Thai language at the Language Training Mission in Laie, Hawaii, before becoming a missionary himself. For a career he selected teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) and Educational Administration. He worked in the Jordan and Granite School districts in the Salt Lake Valley. He developed programs for ESL and also taught others these skills at Weber State University (Ogden, Utah) and for a brief period at Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff, Arizona).</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>December 13, 2008 - Bangkok Stake Celebrates the Christmas Season.</B> "Joy to the World" was the theme of the Bangkok stake's Christmas celebration for 2008.  The event was held on the grounds of the new church building on New Petchaburi road not far from the Asoke building.  The photographs were provided by Wisan Wisanbannawit, 1st counselor in the stake presidency. Additional photographs can be found on <A HREF="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=50025&id=572457042" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=50"><U>facebook </U></A></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="685" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 359 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0cffa610.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="353" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0d1ea5e0.jpg" border=0 width="234" height="350" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="326"><div> The Invitation</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Sisters share their talents on the flute</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 227 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0d348db0.jpg" border=0 width="328" height="219" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0d54bdd0.jpg" border=0 width="331" height="221" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="669"><div> Choirs Share Christmas Music</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 250 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0d745f40.jpg" border=0 width="325" height="244" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0d96df40.jpg" border=0 width="365" height="244" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="326"><div> Entry - Trees Lit with Lights</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Where do you find a Santa outfit in Bangkok?</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>August 14, 2008 - [ Source: LDS Church News - September 13, 2008]</B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Church donates 980 Wheelchairs </B></div> <div> <B>in honor of His Majesty the King's 80th Birthday</B></div> <div>  </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><IMG SRC="0cd2cc80.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>Elder Halstrom with </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" ><B>Kamthon Sindhvanand</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" ><B>a</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>and a few beneficiaries</B></div> <bR> <div> BANGKOK, <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" ><B>THAILAND</B></FONT> — Nearly 1,000 Thai citizens with physical disabilities will receive wheelchairs thanks to a major donation through Latter-day Saint Charities, to His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej in honor of his 80th birthday.</div> <bR> <div> Read the <A HREF="Church Publications/Gift for Thailand.pdf" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church Publications/Gift for Thailand.pd"><U>complete story</U></A> from the church news.</div> <bR> <div> <B>June 15, 2008 - </B><B>The first chruch services</B> were held in the building on the new church property on New Petchaburi Road in Bangkok (see below).  The Asoke ward and the Dindaeng branch are meeting at the new location. After remodeling of the Asoke building, the International Ward (English speaking) may return to that location.</div> <div> <B>June 7-8, 2008 - </B>The Bangkok Thailand stake held stake conference at the Amari Watergate Hotel. Among the speakers were Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the presidency of the Quorums of the Seventy. </div> <div> <B>April 2008 - New Building Purchased in Bangkok - </B>President Wisit reported that "The Church has <B>purchased</B> a new building near the intersection of Soi Asoke and New Petchaburi road". President Wisit described the new building as being located "next to the new speed train station which will connect the new airport with Bangkok".  It is just west of the intersection of New Petchaburi Road and Soi Asoke. Click on the images below for an enlarged view. The property is about 4.5 Rai or nearly two acers.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="572" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 235 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="Chapels/New Stake Building.jpg" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapels/New Stake Building.jpg"><U><IMG SRC="0c423da0.jpg" border=0 width="291" height="218" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="Chapels/New Bangkok Property.jpg" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapels/New Bangkok Property.jpg"><U><IMG SRC="0c604e50.jpg" border=0 width="260" height="229" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 57 ><NOBR><div> Building on the New Stake Property</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="267"><div> Map showing the location of the Asoke Meetinghouse and the new Bangkok Stake property</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> This building will become the home to the Asoke Ward and Dindaeng Branch of the Bangkok Thailand stake starting on Sunday June 15th.</div> <div> While President Wisit made no commitments at this time, it appears that perhaps the new building will be replaced (or perhaps remodeled) so as to become the long hoped for multi-use building for the church in Bangkok. If that is the case, then the long term future of the historic Asoke chapel may be in doubt.</div> <div> The English speaking ward in Bangkok is moving to the beautiful new Srinakarin building on On Nut road (<A HREF="http://www.lds-thailand.com/Chapels/Srinakarin.jpg" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.lds-thailand.com/Chapels/Srin"><U>photo</U></A>).</div> <div> <B>April 26, 2008 - Bangkok Stake Sports Day - </B>Held at Ramkhamhang University</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><IMG SRC="0ca9a340.jpg" border=0 width="410" height="308" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>The Sisters have a Tug of War</B></div> <div> <B>[Photo: Thanachard]</B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="0c28c8d0.jpg" border=0 width="140" height="141" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="3" VSPACE="3"><B>March 14, 2008 - President Clyde T. Lowe passes - </B>President Clyde T Lowe passed away on Friday, March 14, 2008. He lived a great life and was a great mission president to those that served with him. We know he is enjoying a reunion with his sweet wife who preceeded him in death some years ago. Presidet Lowe was 92 years old at the time of his passing.</div> <bR> <div> President Lowe with his wife served from July 1, 1979 until June 30, 1982. He was the thrid president of the Thailand Bangkok Mission. Prior to his call as mission President he and his wife had previously lived four years in Thailand while he was employed by the U.S. government.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Asoke Chapel to close for remodeling. </B>The first chapel in Thailand near Soi Asoke, will close in May 2008 for 6 months or more of remodeling.  The church continues to search for a suitable place on a major road in Bangkok to construct a multi-use building, including a new home for the Bangkok Thailand Stake.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0bf7be90.jpg" border=0 width="379" height="233" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> The Asoke Chapel under Construction 1972</div> <div> [Photograph: Elder Ray Brown]</div> <bR> <div> <B>Saturday, February 2, 2008 - 40th Anniversary of the arrival of the First Missionaries. </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >[Note: Elder Elam Luddington was the very first missionary to serve in Thailand. He arrived in Bangkok in 1854, but stayed only a few months].</FONT></div> <div> Today marks the 40th anniversary of that day in 1968 when the first six missionaries arrived in Bangkok, Thailand. The Bangkok Thailand stake invited the original six missionaries to return this weekend to commemorate their arrival 40 years ago.  Of the original six missionaries only Alan H. Hess and Larry R. White made the trip back to Bangkok for the commemoration activities. The other four former missionaries Peter W. Basker. Craig G. Christensen, L. Carl Hanson. and Robert W. Winegar sent letters that were read during the commemoration fireside. Robert W. Winegar was nearby in Phnom Penh Cambodia serving as president of the Cambodia, Phnom Penh mission. </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0bc58e10.jpg" border=0 width="600" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Photograph after commemoration fireside at the Asoke Chapel.</div> <div> Elders Hess and White are on the far left.</div> <div> [Photograph Wisan Wisanbannawit]</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="0bd586e0.jpg" border=0 width="600" height="366" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Left to Right: Alan H. Hess, Srilaksana Suntarahut, Larry R. White</div> <div> [Photograph: Larry R. White]</div> <bR> <div> While in Thailand Alan Hess and Larry White visited with Sister Srilaksana. Elders White and Hanson were the missionaries that taught Sister Srilaksana and her daughters the gospel in 1968. They also visited Sister Srilaksana's younger sister Pathumthong who is in a Bangkok hospital being treated for cancer. Elder Hess was the most senior of the six missionaries and the only one called from Hong Kong (the rest were serving in Taiwan). Additional photos of the <A HREF="Photos/40th_Anniversary_Arrival_of_Missionaries/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Photos/40th_Anniversary_Arrival_of_Missi"><U>40th Anniversary of the arrival of missionaries</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Monday, January 14, 2008 - Mani and Noodchanaada Seangsuwan enter the Missionary Training Center</B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><IMG SRC="0ba61090.jpg" border=0 width="353" height="265" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> [Photograph: Mani Seangsuwan]</div> <div> The Seangsuwans are the first Thai couple to serve as senior missionaries in Thailand.  Mani previously served a mission in Thailand (1974-1976). He was the fifth native Thai to serve as a missionary. Their 1st assignment is to the Udorn Thailand district. For updates on their mission please see their<A HREF="http://elderandsisterseangsuwan.blogspot.com/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://elderandsisterseangsuwan.blogspot"><U> blog</U></A>. </div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>