The municipal leader lauded annual activities held by the LDS Church, which, he said, have received the enthusiastic response of the public and contributed to socio-economic development of Hanoi, ensuring security and order in the capital city and promoting the image of Hanoians to international fiends.
Evans F.David thanked the municipal People’s Committee for creating favourable conditions for the Church to operate and develop over the past years, and expressed his belief that the city will complete targets set for 2019.
Hoang Van Tung, Chairman of the Interim Representative Committee of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Vietnam, said the Church has encouraged its followers to participate in the construction of the city and the country, and abide by law.
The LDS Church was founded by Joseph Smith (1805 - 1844), its first president, on April 6, 1830 in Fayette Township, New York.
It was then developed by Brigham Young, who migrated with the new Mormons to Salt Lake City in 1847.
The LDS Church was brought to Vietnam in 1962, and was registered in 1967 by the South Vietnam government. After 1975, the LDS Church in Vietnam ceased operations, with most of its members migrating to other countries. Those who stayed in the country practiced the religion at home.
In 1995, the LDS Church revived its activities in Vietnam, with two groupings formed in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Currently, the Church has nearly 1,000 followers, mostly in the two cities.
To support Mormons to practice religion, the Interim Representative Committee of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Vietnam was officially recognised in May 2014.
VNA/VNP
