Historic Day for the Church in Cambodia

July 10, 2020 was a historic day in Cambodia for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Church and government leaders gathered to meet with His Excellency Hun Manet, Cambodia Royal Army Commander, as he expressed appreciation for a large donation of special protective equipment from the Church to the Cambodian government.

After months of work, a large quantity of supplies was donated by the Church to the Cambodia government to help with the Covid-19 pandemic. The donation is a continuation of Church humanitarian efforts in Cambodia. The materials donated are Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and is a response to a government list of the top six priorities to meet Covid-19 needs. The donated materials include: aprons, N95 masks, protective suits, face shields, goggles, and gloves.

Mr. Srey Sopheak, Kampong Cham Provicial Director for Cult and Religion Department, a good friend to the Church, arranged for the eldest son of Prime Minister, H.E. Hun Manet, to meet with Church leaders so he could express a formal “thank you.”

H.E. Hun Manet, together with his wife and youngest son, expressed his gratitude to the Church as he met with the following Church leaders:

• Samnang Sea, Church Service Center Director
• Eng Bunhuoch, Phnom Penh North Stake President
• Uk Sophal, Phnom Penh South Stake President
• Neang Kunno Veasna, Phnom Penh East District President
• John Lewis, Cambodia Phnom Penh Mission President
• Long Saret, Church employee responsible for the medical humanitarian project
• Yorn Sophaneth, Church Materials Management Specialist

During the meeting, H.E. Hun Manet, who graduated from West Point in the United States, offered a kind gesture to President John Lewis, president of the Cambodia Phnom Penh Mission.

He said, “I think that I will speak in English to say ‘thank you.’”

He then spent several minutes expressing his appreciation for the efforts of the Church in providing the donation, as well as all the humanitarian efforts the Church has offered during the past years. One memorable statement he made included these words:

“It is important for all of us, no matter what our religious belief, to spend our time doing good.”

He then again expressed gratitude for the assistance of the Church, as he referenced the “good” that it has been doing in Cambodia.    

Samnang Sea shared details of the Church’s history in Cambodia, including the numerous past and ongoing humanitarian projects the Church has supported. He also spoke of the historic visit of President Russel M. Nelson to Cambodia last November in which several thousand members of the church gathered to hear him speak. He told H.E. Hun Manet and his wife about the importance of building families in our Church beliefs, and he presented them with a beautiful statue of a family.