The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Malaysia refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) 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.[1]
 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Malaysia | |
|---|---|
 (logo in Malaysian) | |
 A meetinghouse in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. | |
| Area | Asia |
| Members | 10,829 (2022)[1] |
| Districts | 5 |
| Branches | 27 |
| Family History Centers | 8[2] |
History edit
| Year | Membership |
|---|---|
| 1977 | 66 |
| 1979 | 60 |
| 1985 | 290 |
| 1989* | 300 |
| 1995* | 700 |
| 1999 | 1,141 |
| 2004 | 2,456 |
| 2009 | 6,404 |
| 2014 | 9,259 |
| 2019 | 10,845 |
| *Membership was published as an estimated or rounded number. | |
The LDS Church has had a presence in Malaysia for less than 40 years.
When the Singapore Mission of the church was established in 1974, Malaysia was within the boundaries of the mission. Mormon missionaries were rotated in and out of the country on 30-day tourist visas to comply with Malaysian law.
After the government granted the LDS Church recognition status in 1977, Elder and Sister Werner Kiepe were sent as senior missionaries to Malaysia. They helped acquire the first property owned by the church in Malaysia in the suburb of Kuala Lumpur. Church membership was small with many members being Americans, Australians temporarily working in the country; there were also some Chinese members living in the country.
A milestone was reached when two native Malaysian men were called in 1981 to serve as missionaries in the Singapore Mission. In the same year, a district was organised in Malaysia. In 1986, the seminary and institute program was established in the country. In 1990, King Syed Putra Jamallulail, the Raja of Perlis, was honoured during a visit at the church's Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie, Hawaii.[1]
In 1995, Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles visited Malaysia and dedicated the country for "the preaching the gospel". Convert baptisms have doubled in 1998 over those in 1997.
Ground was broken for the first meetinghouse in East Malaysia at Kota Kinabalu on 16 April 2003.[1][4] Though it was the first groundbreaking of a meetinghouse in Malaysia, it was the second meetinghouse dedicated in the country.[5]
On 2 August 2003, the Malaysia district holds its women's conference.[6] Latter-day Saint Charities, the humanitarian arm of the Church, assisted 15 Malaysian communities with providing a reliable supply of clean drinking water.[7]
Districts edit
Orange = District
Purple = meetinghouse not part of stake or district
As of February 2023[update], the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has 5 districts in Malaysia:[8]
| District | Organized | Branches[9] |
|---|---|---|
| Kota Kinabalu Malaysia District | 4 May 1997 | 4 |
| Kuala Lumpur Malaysia District | 2 Apr 1980 | 8 |
| Kuching Malaysia District | 11 Mar 2003 | 5 |
| Miri Malaysia District | 15 Jun 2008 | 4 |
| Sibu Malaysia District | 29 Nov 2009 | 5 |
All congregations in a district is considered a branch regardless of size and participation. The Singapore Mission Branch serves individuals and families not in proximity to a church meetinghouse.
Missions edit
Malaysia is within the boundaries of the church's Singapore Mission.
Temples edit
Malaysia was part of the Hong Kong China Temple district until the completion of the Bangkok Thailand Temple in 2023. A temple in Singapore was announced to be constructed on April 4, 2021.
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c d e "Facts and Statistics: Statistics by Country: Malaysia", Newsroom, LDS Church, retrieved 4 June 2023
- ^ Malaysia Family History Centers, familysearch.org, retrieved 21 August 2022
- ^ Windall J. Ashton; Jim M. Wall, Deseret News, various years, Church Almanac Country Information: Malaysia
- ^ "First meetinghouse in Kota Kinabalu", Church News, 17 May 2003.
- ^ "Second meetinghouse in Malaysia", Church News, 6 May 2006.
- ^ "Malaysia district holds women's conference", Church News, 23 August 2003.
- ^ "A reliable supply of clean water", Church News, 12 May 2007.
- ^ "Hong Kong China Temple District", churchofjesuschristtemples.org, retrieved 25 April 2021
- ^ as of February 2023
External links edit
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Official site
- LDS Church in Malaysia Newsroom
- ComeUntoChrist.org Latter-day Saints Visitor site
- LDS Newsroom (Malaysia)
- Deseret News Church Almanac article