"When will China be opened?" This question has been asked of Church leaders for years.
Elder Russell M. Nelson and Elder Dallin H. Oaks, who visited China recently on assignment from the First Presidency, have a simple and direct response, which may be surprising to many Church members: "The door to China is already open!"But it's not open in the way that most members think. There are no plans for sending missionaries to China, and there will be no Church proselyting in that country. But branches of the Church have already been established in the cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Xi'an, and many Chinese citizens have joined the Church during their studies in the United States and elsewhere.
"We have assurance from the highest levels of Chinese government that people are free to practice religious beliefs in China," said Elder Nelson. "The Chinese Constitution provides equally for religious freedom, no matter how small the denomination."
Having received such assurance, Elder Nelson and Elder Oaks of the Council of the Twelve feel that China, which for years was shielded from the rest of the world behind a closed-door policy, has, indeed, opened its doors, inviting in the outside world.
During their visit, Elder Nelson and Elder Oaks, who were hosted by the China International Cultural Exchange Center, held 22 meetings in eight days.
One highlight was Elder Nelson's meeting with Li Xiannian, former president of China and now chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. The apostles were also hosted at a banquet in the Great Hall of the People by Peng Chong, vice chairman of the National People's Congress and chairman of the China International Cultural Exchange Center.
"We were assured," Elder Nelson explained, "that the people in China or Chinese citizens who are abroad are free to join any religious denomination they choose and to practice the tenets of that religion in China without fear of repression."
Elder Oaks said this means that "you can be a Latter-day Saint and live in the People's Republic of China, and you won't be isolated from your fellow members of the Church or penalized for your beliefs."
However, missionary work cannot be conducted in China since proselyting is prohibited by Chinese law.
Elder Nelson said that it is legal for one individual to ask another individual for information. "If that information is on a religious topic, the person being asked is free to answer questions about his religious beliefs or doctrine," he explained. "If the inquiring individual chooses to believe, then he is free to join a church and follow the tenets of that religion."
Elder Nelson continued, "A lot of people have the idea that religions are forbidden in China, but that is not so. There are millions of religious believers in China. Churches, temples, institutes for religious instruction, and church buildings are all over. In Shanghai, for example, we were told by leaders of religious denominations that their churches are filled on Sundays. Churches there are involved in building programs to accommodate the many believers they already have."
He also said there "is a spirit of cooperation among denominations. Wherever we went we were accorded great courtesy. We saw religious leaders working together and they invited us to participate in working with them in a significant movement to reassure the people of the country that religious freedom is real and that their people can participate in religious activity without fear of persecution."
Religions in China function under what is known as a "three-self" concept, the apostles explained. Churches must be self-supporting, self-administering, and self-propagating. Under these concepts, Chinese churches are financially independent; they are led by Chinese, and new membership in the various denominations come from individuals requesting to be taught rather than from proselyting.
The two General Authorities said the members of the Church would be able to function under the "three-self" concept. "The Prophet Joseph Smith's declaration that the leaders of the Church teach correct principles and they the membersT govern themselves is a pattern that is equally applicable in a nation such as China," said Elder Nelson.
"We would expect the Church in China to be led by Chinese just as the Church in Argentina is led by Argentines, and the Church in Japan is led by Japanese," said Elder Oaks. "We are not an American church - we are a worldwide church." Chinese law does permit religious leaders from outside China to enter the country to conduct leadership training and also permits Chinese religious leaders to attend meetings in other countries.
Elder Nelson said, "We learned the government does not keep track in any way of a person's religious affiliation. The question of one's religion is not asked in job interviews or applications for schools or employment, and such records are not kept.
"We were assured over and over again that there is no discrimination regarding job or educational opportunities if one chooses to join a religious denomination."
"It is time for China," Elder Oaks emphasized. "That is my feeling. I am convinced the Church can grow and members can flourish in China."
Elder Nelson and Elder Oaks said Latter-day Saints who are prepared to go to China with the intent of helping to build that nation are the most likely means by which the Church will become established there. "But the people who go to China have to be prepared to serve the people and nation of China by giving of themselves," emphasized Elder Nelson. "Our expert volunteers can make great contributions as China modernizes itself."
To assist members traveling to China or for Chinese who are baptized in the United States or elsewhere, the Church has established an information line at Church headquarters, reported Elder Oaks. By calling (801) 240-1998 members may receive information regarding the Church in China and how they may help with volunteer activities in that country.
"China is reaching out," Elder Nelson continued. "The Chinese people are trying to lift themselves, and they welcome competent help. Thousands of their students are studying abroad.
"Foreigners who have sponsors can go to China as engineers, industrial consultants, teachers, doctors, nurses and other professionals to help develop the country," said Elder Nelson, who, before he was called to the Council of the Twelve, was a heart surgeon. He went to China three times as a visiting professor of surgery and is an honorary professor in three universities in China. He has been to China twice as a General Authority.
This time, Elder Nelson visited two of the universities where he serves as honorary professor of surgery, including Shandong Medical University in Jinan and Xi'an Medical University in Xi'an.
At Shandong Medical University, Elder Nelson met with Dr. Li Jin-bang, superintendent of the university hospital; Dr. Zhang Zhenxiang, professor of surgery and a long-time surgical colleague; and with many other members of the faculty in a special conference.
At Xi'an Medical University, he met with the president of the university, Prof. Ren Hui-Min, and his associates, including Sun Daren, vice governor of the Shaanxi Province, regarding "the continuing excellent relations that have been established between that university and medical scientists in the state of Utah."
In Shanghai, Elder Nelson also met with Dr. Xie Li-Juan, vice mayor, and religious figures and officials.
In Beijing, the two apostles held meetings with representatives of China's Bureau of Religious Affairs, with professors at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, with officials of the State Education Commission, and with religious leaders in the Religion Commission of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference. They also met with China's Minister of Public Health.
Accompanying Elder Nelson and Elder Oaks were Ralph G. Rodgers Jr. and his wife Joan. A former president of the Church-owned Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie, Hawaii, Rodgers played a key role in arranging many of the apostles' appointments while in China. Under the leadership of Elder Marvin J. Ashton, former chairman of the board, the Polynesian Cultural Center had established contact with several of China's high government officials, business leaders, educators and other Chinese dignitaries who visited the Center.
"We didn't go to China as strangers," said Elder Oaks.
In their visits in Beijing, the apostles were also accompanied by Gerritt Gong, president of the Beijing branch, and his first counselor, Timothy Stratford.
Elder Oaks said BYU has played important roles in helping establish positive contacts for the Church and its members in China. Performing groups, such as the Young Ambassadors, BYU Folk Dancers and ballroom dance teams have traveled in China, receiving popular acclaim.
As China has opened its door to the outside world, numerous travel-related businesses have been established in that country. Many of those businesses have sent representatives to BYU-Hawaii to be trained in travel-related matters, and to get valuable work experience in the Church's Polynesian Cultural Center.
"The Chinese leaders with whom we met were warm and friendly, and invited us back for further discussions," said Elder Nelson. "Mr. Li [the former Chinese presidentT indicated they would respect us and give protection to our members. Our meeting with him was televised live and was replayed on delayed broadcasts on national television to millions who viewed the proceedings.
"There are some elements of Chinese law with which we as Church members will have to become familiar. But once we know the law, our members in China can operate within that law. Our 12th Article of Faith requires us, as conscientious citizens in any country, to sustain and uphold the law of the land. We will teach our members to do that in China.
"Indeed, our members are known the world over as the best citizens of their countries. They are industrious, honest, frugal, and maintain the highest standards of personal, moral conduct."
