The Church in Asia

The earliest Latter-day Saints in Asia were converts from early missions in the 1850s. After World War II, United States military personnel in parts of the continent helped establish missions and congregations. Though Church growth has been especially pronounced in the Philippines, stakes and congregations now thrive in many areas of Asia, and more than a dozen temples serve Asian Saints.

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History of the Church in Asia

The first Latter-day Saint missionary to reach Asia was Orson Hyde in 1841. Later, in the early 1850s, missionaries labored in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Hong Kong, mostly baptizing Europeans. While many of these converts gathered to Utah in the United States, small groups of Saints continued to worship together in British India. In 1884, the Church established a mission in Ottoman Turkey, where success among the Armenian population led to Church branches in Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon. Missionaries also labored in Japan from 1901 until 1924, when political tensions forced the mission to close.

Although Church growth slowed in Asia during World War II, the postwar period saw Asian Saints working with members in the United States military to build up the Church in Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and other countries in the region. In 1955, the Church established the Southern Far East Mission in Hong Kong, and it served as a hub for extending the message of the restored gospel to Taiwan, Thailand, and Singapore. In the decades that followed, the Church also grew in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Armenia, Mongolia, and other parts of Asia.

In the 1970s, Latter-day Saint stakes were organized in Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. The dedication of the Tokyo Japan Temple in 1980 began an era of temple building that accelerated in the 21st century. By 2025, 31 temples were operating, under construction, or announced in Asia, including 13 temples in the Philippines alone. Church members in Asia have also contributed to their communities as they responded to natural disasters, helped with refugee crises, and contributed to educational and developmental programs.

Today, Latter-day Saints in Asia continue to draw strength from the restored gospel as they strive to improve their lives, enrich their communities, and collaborate with other people of goodwill.