Church Reaches Milestone in Vietnam

Contributed By MormonNewsroom.org

  • 11 June 2014

In a ceremony on May 30 at the Church branch facility in Hanoi, Mr. Pham Dung, chairman of the Vietnam Government Committee for Religious Affairs, presented the official national certification to Church leaders, members, and friends.

Article Highlights

  • Chairman of the Vietnam Government Committee for Religious Affairs presented the official national certification to Church leaders, members, and friends.
  • The Church is committed to continuing to abide by the laws governing religious activity in Vietnam.

HANOI, VIETNAM

The Vietnamese government has officially recognized what is known as the Interim Representative Committee of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Vietnam. This Interim Representative Committee consists of three Vietnamese Church leaders (the Hanoi district president and the two Ho Chi Minh City branch presidents). Vietnam’s government has given this Interim Representative Committee nationally recognized legal standing to represent the Church in Vietnam.

In a ceremony on May 30 at the Church branch facility in Hanoi, Mr. Pham Dung, chairman of the Vietnam Government Committee for Religious Affairs, presented the official national certification to Church leaders, members, and friends. Chairman Pham Dung was joined by other members of the Committee on Religious Affairs and other Vietnam government officials.

Eni Faleomavaega, the former chairman and current ranking member of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, sent a congratulatory letter, which was read at the ceremony. It expressed appreciation to the government of Vietnam and its leaders, with whom Faleomavaega and Church officials have worked closely.

Hoang Van Tung, president of the Church’s Hanoi District and chair of the Interim Representative Committee, said after the meeting that the Church is committed to continuing to abide by the laws governing religious activity in Vietnam. He also said the Church in Vietnam would not be making further announcements of what the recognition means in specific terms for members until more details are worked out.

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