A chance meeting of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) Missionaries and a rice farming family living in Prey Veng Province resulted in the family taking the missionary discussions and several months later the parents becoming the first convert baptisms in Prey Veng Province.
Missionaries of the Church, Elders Crump and Keo who had been assigned by their Mission President David C. Moon the exciting but challenging task of introducing the citizens of Prey Veng to the teachings of Jesus Christ, were contacting referrals they had developed from Phnom Penh Church members and from their own referral efforts. One referral, in particular, with a location listed in the countryside of Prey Veng Province was requiring an extra effort to locate. Finally, in frustration the Elders decided to stop the next motorbike and ask for some help. To their dismay the rider had no idea about the address or the listed people. Disappointed, the Elders were ready ride their bikes to their apartment, a good hours ride away when the motorbike rider asked why the Elders were in the province’s countryside and so intent on finding the home. The Elders responded and quickly told their story expecting only an acknowledging nod from the rider. Now interested, however, the rider introduced himself as Noun Soeun and requested the missionaries take time to teach him, his wife and children rather than continue looking for the referral.
Two months later, 25 January 2015, Elders Keo and Crump baptized Noun Soeun and his wife Keo Savoeun. The baptisms became a historical event – the couple became Prey Veng’s first convert baptisms of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in that Province.
- First Convert Baptisms in Prey Veng
- Filling The Font
- The Family Arriving For Baptism
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Prey Veng
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
In total 12 persons including Senior Missionaries and the Elders witnessed the historical baptism that took place in the driveway parking area of a rented building serving as the Church meetinghouse. The building towered over the small portable white font filled with murky water of the Mekong River. The small white portable baptismal font dwarfed by the tall four story building stood in sharp contrast to the towering building that from a distance has the appearance of the number “1” -- a fitting tribute to the courage of Soeun and Savoeun .
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cambodia has over 12,000 and worldwide 15.5 million. The Church headquarters is located in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.