Thai YSAs tour new Bangkok temple with Elder Gong

August 30, 2023

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Even before the Bangkok Thailand Temple was opened to the first official tours for media and special guests, more than 375 Thai young single adults got an early walk-through of the newest house of the Lord, courtesy of Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Susan Gong.

Prior to the tour, Elder and Sister Gong met with the participating YSAs in a devotional in the stake center next to the temple. As the young single adults prepared to enter the temple, Elder Gong expressed his hope that they would have a spiritual experience.

More than 375 young single adults from across Thailand gather for a photo with Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and his wife, Sister Susan Gong, following a tour of the Bangkok Thailand Temple, Aug. 26, 2023.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

“The Lord is waiting to meet you in His holy house,” the Apostle said. “We don’t go to the temple. We come to Jesus Christ in the house of the Lord.”

The special tour for YSAs across Thailand was first reported — with photos and videos — on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Held Monday, Aug. 28, the temple’s media day kicked off a series of special-guest tours that will continue daily until the public open-house tours begin Friday, Sept. 1, and continue through Saturday, Sept. 17, excluding Sundays.

Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will dedicate the Bangkok Thailand Temple in two sessions — at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. — on Sunday, Oct. 22. The dedicatory sessions will be broadcast to all units in the Bangkok Thailand Temple district, which includes Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and other parts of Southeast Asia. Currently, the closest operating temple for Church members in Thailand is the Hong Kong China Temple.

What the Gongs taught in Thailand

Elder Gong quoted President Russell M. Nelson, saying “Everything we believe and every promise God has made to His covenant people come together in the temple.”

Elder Gerrit W. Gong speaks to young single adults from across Thailand.

The Gongs were young adults themselves when they first visited Thailand in 1980 — on their honeymoon after their marriage. And they have returned a number of times since, include a time a decade ago that Sister Gong recalled during the devotional.

“Ten years ago, Elder Gong and I were here in Thailand, and we just felt that the blessings of God were ready to be poured out upon the people,” Sister Gong said. “And it’s happening. A temple is such a beautiful thing to have right here in the middle of Bangkok. It will be a light to the world. I am grateful for your goodness and sacrifice which helped make it possible.”

Sister Susan Gong speaks to more than 375 young single adults in Bangkok.

Elder Gong said “peace,” “purity” and “purpose” are three words that describe what the temple means to him. “Peace is something that we’re all seeking,” he explained. “Purity is something that we value. And we are looking for purpose.”

The Apostle invited the young adults to share the three words they would use to describe the temple through social media and other opportunities.

Thai young single adults gather for a photo with Elder Gerrit W. Gong and Sister Susan Gong outside the Bangkok Thailand Temple.

What the YSAs were saying

Jeeranan Sawasdeenaruemon said her three words — as invited by Elder Gong —are “holiness,” “family” and “eternity,” adding she knows “that through the temple families can be together forever. … I feel that the temple is really the house of God, and He was there.”

After walking through the temple, Pariwat Sengpoung of Rangsit, Thailand, said: “I feel closer with God, and Jesus really [is] closer.”

Thai young single adults pose for a photo outside the Bangkok Thailand Temple.

Suchawadee Prasithichai of Bang Khen, a district of Bangkok, said: “This is my first time to see Elder Gong. This is my special day. And I learned a lot about him.”

Surakrit Cherdchaiyaphum, also of Rangsit, said: “I [would] really like to invite everyone to come and to see what we have and what Jesus Christ wants us to know.”