On Saturday evening a special leadership meeting was held in Bangkok. The meeting was transmitted to Malaysia, Mongolia and other countries in Asia. Elder Oaks pronounced an Apostolic blessing on Thailand, similar to what Elder Maxwell had done in 1992 during a period of political strife in Thailand.

On Sunday May 22, Elder Donald Hallstrom of the presidency of the Seventy and Bishop H. David Burton Presiding Bishop visited Bangkok and Pakkret for a special stake and district meeting. Elder Oaks visited Cambodia on that day.

May 15, 2010 - Brother Chin Ngam-Aksorn a long time faithful member of the Asoke ward passed away. He was an older brother in the ward and his death had nothing to do with the current political strife in Bangkok.

The new Stake President is Sarawut Kanyaphan. President Sarawut was serving as bishop of the Asoke Ward. His counselors are Kitiphon Tovakanon, first counselor and Pattara Chaitip second counselor.

Many thanks go to the previous presidency, President Wisit Khanakham (stake president) and President Wisan Wisanbannawit (1st counselor). They served just 2 months short of 9 years. During that period there were at least 3 different men who served with them as second counselor.

March 24, 2010 - A new book "Monk to Missionary" was published by HTown Publishing. The book is the true life story of Mani Seangsuwan. He was born and raised in the south of Thailand. He later spent three years as a Buddhist Monk. He found the Bible and started to investigate it while still in the monestary. After he left he started school to become a teacher. That was his mother's dream for him. Later he became the fifth native Thai to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. See Monk to Missionary for more information.

March 15, 2010 - President Samart Kaivalvatana and his family were involved in a serious automobile accident on the way to Bangkok for brother Samart's mother's funeral. The accident took place just south of Nakhorn Ratchasema (Korat) Thailand. The family is one of few three generation families in the church in Thailand. Samart's mother was a member of the Pakkret branch. She passed away on March 14, 2010. Samart and his daugher later died from injuries suffered in the accident. Samart and his family lived in Khon Kaen, Thailand, President Samart had been a counselor in the Thailand Bangkok mission presidency under presidents Hanson, Dodge and Smith. Brother Samart's wife and two children survived the accident.

A memorial service was later held in Murray Utah on March 27, 2010. Speakers at the service included Suchart Chaichana (former country director of Church Education in Thailand), and former mission presidents Larry White, Michael Goodman, Scott Hansen and Karl Dodge. See the memorial service program.

At the Utah memorial service, some speakers compared this tragic accident to the one in 1971 when Elders Huntington and Willis were killed on the highway just south of Khon Kaen Thailand. Samart's brother Sathid was injured in an auto accident several years ago. He has used a wheelchair since that accident.

January 23, 2010 - Ground was broken today in Pakket (north of Bangkok, outside the Bangkok Thailand stake) for a new meeting house.This chapel will serve as the district center for central Thailand north of Bangok. Read the Church News article.

December 29, 2009 - President Smith, Representatives from LDS Charities and other Church Leaders in Thailand meet with HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn in Tak Province. The meeting was to recognize efforts in providing clean water to the area. There are no LDS congregations in Tak province. Read the complete Church News article published January 9, 2010.

The Thailand Bangkok Stake celebrated Christmas on December 12, 2009. The event took place for the second year at the New Petchaburi building. Below are a few photographs from the event: Thanks to President Wisan Wisanbannawit who provided the photographs. Additional photos can be found in his photo gallery on facebook.


The Bangkok Stake Presidency with Brother and Sister Gygi who were the masters of ceremony for the evening.	A missionary choir made up of missionaries serving in the Bangkok Thailand Stake.

A group of Children perform	An Angelic Choir sings

November, 2009 - Asoke Chapel Re-opens - The first chapel in Thailand on Chulindr Lane, just east of Soi Asoke has re-opened following remodeling. The International Ward has moved back into the building from their temporary home at Srinakarin. The building is expected to be home to the International Ward for the foreseable future.

The head of the Church Translation department Jeffrey C. Bateson confirmed today that church policy states the following with regard to scripture translation:

While the policy may work well for many countries, I feel it is inappropriate with respect to countries where a very small percentage of the population is Christian and where a solid translation of such terms is already in place. Some policies simply don't fit when applied world-wide. Proper consideration of the people who speak the target language and their culture and history must also be cosidered.

Thus we now understand why terms from the Thai Bible will replace terms already in use in Thailand. They were not necessairly the choice of the translators, but rather used to conform with the policy stated above.

Many of the changes seem to bring terminology used in Latter-day Saint scriptures closer to alignment with the Thai Bible. This brings a lot of transliteration from the German language into Latter-day Saint scripture and terminology (the Thai Bible was translated from the German language). For instance the new transliterations for Messiah and Jehovah now follow the German pronunciation rather than the English pronunciation of these words. Following the Thai Bible is of questionable value since less that 1/2 of 1% of speakers of the Thai language have ever seen a copy of the Bible, let alone read it.

Other changes are for words that were formerly translated, but are now transliterated such as Celestial and Telestial. Other changes have more significance such as the words for seer, charity, excommunication etc. The letter also confirms that the name of the church will change (See entry for May 14, 2009)..

Who knew that "O" means "We ask"? That change seems to be a bold leap indeed. While most terms are approved for use immediately, the new sacrament prayers are on hold until further notice.

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.

Information on President Smith: 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. [LDS Church News - January 24, 2009]

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.

Information on President Smedley: 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. [LDS Church News - February 27, 2009]

June 13-14 - Bangkok Stake Conference. 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.

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).


President Smith Speaking	A view of the Audience

Group Picture at the Ceremony in Tak Province	President Smith (left) and the Crown Princess (right)