The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mongolia

Last updated
Flag of Mongolia.svg
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mongolia
LDS Church logo - mon.png
(Logo in Mongolian)
Church in Ger District UB.JPG
A ward meetinghouse in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Area Asia North
Members 12,477 (2022) [1]
Stakes 2
Districts 1
Wards 12
Branches 12
Total Congregations [2] 24
Missions 1
Temples 1 Announced
Temples 1
Family History Centers 9 [3]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mongolia refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and its members in Mongolia. The first missionaries arrived in 1992 under request of the Mongolian government in effort to improve higher education in the country following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The first small branch was established in 1993. Since then, the LDS Church in Mongolia has grown to more than 12,000 members in 24 congregations. In 2022, Mongolia had the second most LDS Church members per capita in Asia behind the Philippines. [4] In 2023 it was announced that the first temple will be constructed in Ulaanbaatar. [5]

Contents

History

Membership in Mongolia
YearMembers
1993*100
1995*400
1999 1,850
2004 6,346
2009 9,239
2014 11,028
2019 12,261
2022 12,477
*Membership was published as a rounded number.
Source: Windall J. Ashton; Jim M. Wall, Deseret News, various years, Church Almanac Country Information: Mongolia [1]
Residential area in the city of Erdenet, Mongolia. The building with a steeple is a meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ErdenetBarrio1.jpg
Residential area in the city of Erdenet, Mongolia. The building with a steeple is a meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In May 1992, Elders Merlin Lybbert and Monte Brough, members of the Asia Area presidency, went to Mongolia to explore the possibility of the Church providing humanitarian aid. Under the request of Mongolian government, the church sent six missionary couples to improve the higher education system in Mongolia. These missionary couples included a former business college president, a medical doctor responsible for postgraduate studies at a university medical center, a computer science professor, a business professor, a professor of curriculum development and administration, and an educational administrator. [6] [7]

The first Mongolian converts were baptized in 1993 and the Ulaanbaatar Branch was organized in September of the same year. On July 1, 1995, the Mongolia Ulaanbaatar Mission was officially organized. On October 24, 1994, the church was officially registered with the Mongolian government. On April 11, 1995, the first native Mongolians received mission calls. Seminary and institute classes started in 1996. On September 15, 1996 the Ulaanbaatar Mongolia District was organized. [8]

On June 6, 1999, the first LDS Church meetinghouse was dedicated. Previously, the building was widely known as "Children's Cinema". The first meetinghouse built by the LDS Church was built in Darkhan and was dedicated in June 2001. The Bayanzurkh Church Center, a five-story building that houses the mission home and office, service center, distribution center, meetinghouse, Stake offices for both the Ulaanbaatar Mongolia East and West stakes, and Church Educational System offices, started construction in the fall of 2000.

The Mongolian translation of the Book of Mormon became available starting in November 2001 with selections translated into Mongolian, [9] and the most recent edition completed in 2008.

The Ulaanbaatar Mongolia West Stake with six congregations was formed in 2009 growing to nine congregations by May 2016. The Ulaanbaatar Mongolia East Stake was created in May 2016 with six congregations. About 2010 new visa laws went into effect limiting foreigners causing many of the foreign Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints missionaries to be reassigned to other countries. There were, however, about 110 Mongolian missionaries serving full time missions inside Mongolia. Some missionaries serving in Mongolia are from Mongolia. [10] [1] In May 2011, Elder Jeffery R. Holland visited Ulaanbaatar to meet with government officials, missionaries, and members of the Church. [11] Elder David A. Bednar visited Mongolia in May 2018.

In July 2015 a choir of more than 50 members of the LDS Church in Mongolia toured communities throughout Northern Mongolia. They also provided humanitarian service in these communities during the tour. This was the first rural tour of the LDS Church in Mongolia. [12] In 2016, “Zion” band, a youth choir of the LDS Church in Mongolia, successfully participated in "Mongolia's Got Talent Show. [13]

On August 1, 2019 the LDS Church in Mongolia became part of the Asia North Area which covers Northern Asia and some North Pacific islands. [11]

Humanitarian work

In addition to the missionaries sent to improve Mongolia's higher education, the church has provided humanitarian support. In 1996, church-sponsored humanitarian projects included the support of the Mongolian Scout Association, training of professional accountants, cold weather housing, teaching English, and relief for victims of grass fires. In the year 2000, after a severe dzud followed by a harsh drought, Mongolian government leaders requested international assistance. In response, the LDS Church sent three shipping containers of clothing and quilts, in addition to 8,000 food boxes. [8] The church has provided medical equipment and supplies and training for hospitals and individuals, implemented several clean water projects, implemented programs to help people struggling with drug and alcohol addictions, job training, education, as well as several other humanitarian service projects. The LDS Church continued to provide donations and other services in during the COVID-19 pandemic. [14] In addition to church-run service projects, members and missionaries are encouraged to do additional volunteer work within their communities.

Stakes

Mongolia location map 2.svg
Green pog.svg
Ulaanbaatar East
Green pog.svg
Ulaanbaatar West
Orange pog.svg
Darkhan
Purple pog.svg
Choibalsan
Purple pog.svg
Murun
Purple pog.svg
Oyu-Tolgoi
Purple pog.svg
Khovd
class=notpageimage|
Stake Centers in Mongolia
Green = Stake
Orange = District
Purple = meetinghouse not part of stake or district*
*Khovd Branch is part of Ulaanbaatar West Stake

As of February 2023, 2 stakes and a district existed in Mongolia: [15]

Stake/District/OtherOrganizedWardsBranchesFamily History Centers
Ulaanbaatar Mongolia East Stake13 Aug 1996522
Ulaanbaatar Mongolia West Stake [16] 7 June 2009711
Darkhan Mongolia District*13 Aug 200054
Choibalsan Branch*7 Nov 199911
Muron Branch*19 Jun 200211
Oyu-Tolgoi Branch*13 Jun 20101
Mongolia Ulaanbaatar Mission Branch*25 Jul 20031

In addition, a church Employment Resource Center is located in Ulaanbaatar. [17]

Missions

Prior to establishment of a Mission, Mongolia was overseen by the Asia Area Presidency. [8] The first missionary couples arrived in Mongolia in 1992 as educators. The first young missionaries arrived in 1993. In 1995, the Mongolia Ulaanbaatar Mission was established with Richard Cook as the first mission president. [18] He and his wife were serving as missionaries in Mongolia prior to his assignment as mission president. [8]

Temples

As of July 2023, congregations in Mongolia were assigned to the Hong Kong Temple District.

On October 1, 2023, during a General Conference address, LDS President Russell M. Nelson announced plans to build a temple in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

 edit
Location:
Announced:		 Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
1 October 2023 by Russell M. Nelson [19] [20]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Malaysia</span>

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Malaysia refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Malaysia. In 2019 membership was nine times what it was in 1999 and number of congregations more than doubled during the same time period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in California</span>

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in California refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in California. California has the 2nd most members of the LDS Church in the United States, behind Utah. The LDS Church is the 2nd largest denomination in California, behind the Roman Catholic Church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New Mexico</span>

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New Mexico refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in New Mexico. The first congregation of the Church in New Mexico was organized in 1895. It has since grown to 69,055 members in 137 congregations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hong Kong</span>

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hong Kong refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Hong Kong. In 2021, Hong Kong had the third most LDS Church members per capita in Asia behind the Philippines and Mongolia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in North Dakota</span>

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held its first congregation in North Dakota in 1919. In 2022, there was 11,487 members in 26 congregations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New Jersey</span>

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New Jersey refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in New Jersey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Russia</span> Presence of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Russia

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had a presence in Russia before the rise of the USSR, with the first baptisms occurring in 1895. Preliminary missionary efforts began before the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and the Russian government officially recognized the church in 1991. Membership increased in the 1990s and early 2000s. Missionary efforts were impacted by the 2016 Yarovaya law, which prohibited proselytizing outside of official church property. Current membership statistics are not available for Russia, but the church reported 19,946 members in 2009. As of February 2023, there were three stakes and three missions in Russia. In 2018, Russell M. Nelson announced that a temple would be constructed in a major city in Russia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sierra Leone</span>

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sierra Leone refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Sierra Leone. In 2022, Sierra Leone ranked as having the third most LDS Church members per capita in Africa, behind Cape Verde and Liberia.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Botswana refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Botswana. The first branch was organized in 1991 with fewer than 100 members. As of 2022, there were 4,031 members in 16 congregations in Botswana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ivory Coast</span>

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ivory Coast refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Ivory Coast. At year-end 1989, there were fewer than 200 members in Ivory Coast. In 2022, there were 60,162 members in 257 congregations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Madagascar</span>

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Madagascar refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Madagascar. In 1990, a small congregation was created in Madagascar. In 2022, there were 14,353 members in 43 congregations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Kiribati</span>

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Kiribati refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Kiribati. In 1976 the first branch was organized in Tarawa. As at the 2020 Census, there were 6,720 people declaring as LDS members. According to LDS church, as of year-end 2022, there were 22,210 members in 43 congregations, making it the largest body of LDS Church members in Micronesia. Kiribati also has the most LDS Church members per capita in Micronesia, and the third most members per capita of any country in the world, behind Tonga and Samoa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Republic of the Congo</span> Church in the Republic of the Congo

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Republic of the Congo refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in the Republic of the Congo. The country was opened to the church's missionaries in 1991. Since then, the church has grown to 11,481 members in 32 congregations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Indonesia</span>

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Indonesia refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Indonesia. The first small branch was established in 1970. Since then, the LDS Church in Indonesia has grown to more than 7,500 members in 24 congregations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Albania</span>

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been present in Albania since at least the early 1990s. In 1993, there were approximately 100 members in the country. In 2022, there were 3,314 members in 14 congregations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Mariana Islands</span> Latter-day Saints in the Mariana Islands

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Mariana Islands refers to the organization and its members in the Mariana Islands. The Mariana Islands consist of two jurisdictions of the United States: the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and, at the southern end of the chain, the territory of Guam. As of December 31, 2022, the LDS Church reported 2,547 members in one stake, five congregations, one mission, and one temple in Guam. There are 906 members in a ward in the Northern Mariana Islands. There are two family history centers, one in Guam and one at the Saipan Ward building in the Northern Mariana Islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Lesser Antilles</span> Latter Day Saints Church in the Lesser Antilles

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Lesser Antilles refers to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in the Lesser Antilles. The Lesser Antilles is part of the Caribbean Area and is part of three missions. As of 2022, the LDS Church reported 9,959 members in 34 congregations in the Lesser Antilles.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Guianas refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in the Guianas, primarily French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname. This is part of the Caribbean Area which is more similar culturally and linguistically than the rest of South America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Caucasus</span> Latter-day Saints in the Caucasus

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Caucasus refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. When the Church was registered in Armenia in 1995, there were approximately 200 members in that country. In Georgia, converts were not allowed to be baptized until 2003. In 2022, there were 3,546 members in 5 congregations in Armenia, and 252 members in 2 congregations in Georgia. It's unclear how many members are in Azerbijan as the LDS Church doesn't publish these numbers, but there was a branch of 37 members as of 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Pakistan</span>

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Pakistan refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Pakistan. The church does not publish how many members are in Pakistan, but it is estimated there are roughly four thousand members in thirteen congregations in Pakistan.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Facts and Statistics: Statistics by Country: Mongolia", Newsroom, LDS Church, retrieved 4 June 2023
  2. ↑ Excludes groups meeting separate from wards and branches.
  3. ↑ Mongolia Family History Centers, familysearch.org, retrieved August 21, 2022
  4. ↑ The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints membership statistics
  5. ↑ Pace, Eliza (2023-10-01). "20 new temples announced during October 2023 General Conference". KSLTV.com. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  6. ↑ Cook, Mary Nielsen (June 1996). "A Mighty Change in Mongolia". Ensign. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Missionaries in Mongolia". Ensign. November 1992. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Country information: Mongolia", Church News, Deseret News, January 29, 2010, retrieved May 15, 2021
  9. ↑ "News Item: Book of Mormon in Mongolian", Mongolia Ulaanbaatar Mission, 1 November 2001
  10. ↑ "Some Mormon missionaries leave Mongolia".
  11. 1 2 "The Church, which is developing in Mongolia, is now part of the Asia North Area (Mongolian)", Newsroom, LDS Church, October 6, 2016, retrieved 15 May 2021
  12. ↑ "The choir toured northern Mongolia (Mongolian)", Newsroom, LDS Church, September 6, 2015, retrieved 15 May 2021
  13. ↑ ""Zion" band successfully participated in "Talented Mongolians" show (Mongolian)", Newsroom, LDS Church, October 6, 2016, retrieved 15 May 2021
  14. ↑ "Newsroom for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mongolian)", Newsroom, LDS Church, retrieved 15 May 2021
  15. ↑ "Hong Kong China Temple District", churchofjesuschristtemples.org, retrieved May 15, 2021
  16. ↑ Hall, Richard; Avant, Gerry; Stahle, Shaun, eds. (February 2012). "Mongolia". 2012 Church Almanac . Deseret News. p. 525. ISBN   978-1-60907-002-1.
  17. ↑ "Ulaanbaatar Mongolia PEF Self Reliance Center" . Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  18. ↑ Sticht, Carl. "Mongolia Ulaanbaatar Mission". mission.net. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  19. ↑ Where the 20 new Latter-day Saint temples will be built as Russell Nelson’s record tally continues to rise, Salt Lake Tribune, 1 October 2023
  20. ↑ "The Church of Jesus Christ Will Build 20 New Temples", Newsroom, LDS Church, 1 October 2023
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.