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

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cambodia
(Logo in Khmer)
AreaAsia
Members16,317 (2022)[1]
Stakes2
Districts4
Wards10
Branches18
Total Congregations[2]28
Missions1
Temples
  • 1 Under Construction
FamilySearch Centers11[3]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cambodia refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and its members in the country of Cambodia. The first branch was organized in Phnom Penh in 1994.[4] Since then, the church has grown to more than 16,000 members in 28 congregations. In October 2018, a temple was announced to be located in Phnom Penh.

History

Membership In Cambodia
YearMembership
1996 285
2001 3,491
2006 7,874
2011 10,999
2016 13,716
2019 15,187
2022 16,317
Source: Jim M. Wall, Deseret News, various years, Church Almanac Country Information: Cambodia, Windall J. Ashton[1]

On March 4, 1994, the LDS Church received legal recognition by the government of Cambodia. The first branch was organized later that year in Phnom Penh.[4]

Stakes and Districts

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cambodia is located in Cambodia
Battambang
Battambang
Siem Reap
Siem Reap
Kampong Cham
Kampong Cham
Phnom Penh East
Phnom Penh East
Phnom Penh South
Phnom Penh South
Phnom Penh North
Phnom Penh North
Stake Centers in Cambodia (February 2023)
Green = Stake
Orange = District

As of June 2023, the following stakes and districts existed in Cambodia:[5]

Stake/District Organized Wards[6] Branches[6] Mission
Battambang Cambodia District 27 Jun 2010 3 Cambodia Phnom Penh West
Kampong Cham Cambodia District 19 Jun 2005 4 Cambodia Phnom Penh East
Phnom Penh Cambodia East District 26 Feb 2012 6 Cambodia Phnom Penh East
Phnom Penh Cambodia North Stake 28 Nov 1995 5 1 Cambodia Phnom Penh West
Phnom Penh Cambodia South Stake 1 Dec 2002 5 1 Cambodia Phnom Penh West
Siem Reap Cambodia District 22 Feb 2015 2 Cambodia Phnom Penh East

All congregations in a district are considered branches, regardless of size (wards only exist in stakes). The Cambodia Phnom Penh Mission Branch is not part of a stake or district, and serves individuals and families not in proximity to a church meetinghouse.

Missions

When the Church was introduced in 1994, Cambodia was part of the Thailand Bangkok Mission. This mission was divided in July 1998 to form the Cambodia Phnom Penh Mission.[7] This mission initially also included Vietnam until the mission was divided again to create the Vietnam Hanoi Mission in July 2016. The Cambodia Phnom Penh Mission mission boundaries is the same as the country's boundaries. The mission office is located in a meetinghouse at Building 2B Street 222 in Phnom Penh. In June 2024, the mission split into Cambodia Phnom Penh East and West Missions.

Temples

Cambodia was part of the Hong Kong China Temple district until the completion of the Bangkok Thailand Temple in 2023. The Phnom Penh Cambodia Temple was announced on October 7, 2018, by Church President Russell M. Nelson. Groundbreaking was held September 18, 2021.[8][9]

Map edit
Location:
Announced:
Groundbreaking:
Size:
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
7 October 2018 by Russell M. Nelson[10][11]
18 September 2021 by Veasna Kuonno Neang
10,000 sq ft (930 m2) on a 3.16-acre (1.28 ha) site

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Facts and Statistics: Statistics by Country: Cambodia", Newsroom, LDS Church, retrieved 4 June 2023
  2. ^ Excludes groups meeting separate from wards and branches
  3. ^ Cambodia Family History Centers, familysearch.org, retrieved 4 June 2023
  4. ^ a b Mortimer, Wm. James (2000), 1999-2000 Church Almanac, Deseret Morning News, p. 287, ISBN 1573454915
  5. ^ "Hong Kong China Temple District", churchofjesuschristtemples.org, retrieved 2021-05-13
  6. ^ a b as of February 2023
  7. ^ Mortimer, Wm. James (2000), 1999-2000 Church Almanac, Deseret Morning News, p. 436, ISBN 1573454915
  8. ^ Proffer, Craig (August 18, 2021), LDS Church announces groundbreaking date for first temple in Cambodia, retrieved January 29, 2023
  9. ^ "Cambodia's First Latter-Day Saints Temple Set to Break Ground Next Month in Phnom Penh", Cambodia Constructors Association, 25 August 2021, retrieved January 29, 2021
  10. ^ "Twelve Temples Announced as October 2018 General Conference Closes: Number of temples operating, announced or under construction now above 200", Newsroom, LDS Church, 7 October 2018
  11. ^ LDS Church announces plans to build 12 new temples worldwide, pioneer generation temples will be renovated, KSTU Fox 13, 7 October 2018