News Release

Church in Cambodia celebrates Light the World with a First-ever Asian Christmas Devotional
(សាសនាចក្រ​នៅ​ប្រទេស​កម្ពុជា​ប្រារព្ធ​កម្មវិធី​បំភ្លឺ​ពិភពលោក​ជាមួយ​នឹង​ការប្រជុំ​ធម្មនិដ្ឋាន​បុណ្យគ្រីស្ទម៉ាស់​ប្រចាំ​អាស៊ី​លើក​ដំបូង​ដែល​មិន​ធ្លាប់​មាន)

ដើម្បីអានជាភាសាខ្មែរ សូមចុច នៅទីនេះ

In December, congregations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout Cambodia celebrated Christmas with an Asia-produced devotional by nine countries, and productions of local nativity programs with Light the World banners and Christmas lights.

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Thaong Putheary, from Cambodia, performed in the Christmas devotional.© 2023 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Thousands watched the first-ever Light the World Asia Area Christmas Devotional.  It was a production in collaboration with nine different Asia Area territories and countries comprised of music, song, dance, and testimony, as each country contributed to the retelling of the Nativity.  Each country added its unique cultural experiences to the devotional.  The musical performance for Cambodia was performed by Thaong Putheary and Rith Sunphenich.

The devotional was viewed by congregations at local churches, and country Facebook pages and was viewed and shared by thousands on social media platforms. It was well-received as many viewers commented how much they loved the video and how it helped them feel the spirit of Christmas to help Light The World.

In addition to the Asia Area Christmas Devotional, Church members in Cambodia helped light the world as they organized Christmas Eve nativity programs.  They included live reenactments with narration, Christmas hymns, musical numbers, and dinners.  Some Christmas Eve programs also included a visit from Santa and gifts. 

The Christmas Eve programs were very well attended by both Church members and non-members alike.  The Cambodia East District had nearly 600 people attend, filling the chapel and cultural hall. 

Non-members in one area inquired if there would be any kind of a Christmas Eve program after seeing the Christmas lights and Christmas tree visible from the street.  Ratha Khut, one of the program organizers, shared how thrilled she was to see that there were many less active and non-members attending the Nativity Program.

Light The World banners, with Mary holding the baby Jesus, were placed outside on the fences reminding those entering the church grounds of the great gift of God’s Son to the world.  The banners were highlighted by Christmas lights that were arranged on fences and trees at churches in Cambodia to help announce to passer-byes the celebration of Christ’s birth.

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