PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Cambodia's King Norodom Sihanouk received two copies of the Book of Mormon from Cambodia Phnom Penh Mission President John P. Colton during a recent meeting at the royal palace.
President Colton said he felt the audience he was granted with the king was partial fulfillment of the prophecy: "That the fullness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers." (Doctrine and Covenants 1:23.)
The king and his wife, Queen Mony Neat Sihanouk, gave audience to President Colton and a Church delegation including his wife, Barbara; his counselor Elder Gordon Haight, and his wife, Sister Emma Haight; LDS Charities representative Elder Ralph Francis and his wife, Sister Charla Francis; and Elder David Rasmussen and Elder Tol Koim, President Kolton's assistants.
President Colton presented to King Sihanouk a newly translated copy of the Book of Mormon in the Cambodian language and another in French, the king's favorite second language. In addition, the king received a record documenting the history of the Church's activities in Cambodia since the early 1990s. The record contained photos and an accounting of the Church's $4 million of humanitarian and welfare support to the people of Cambodia. The king also received, in the Cambodian language, the Proclamation on the Family, the Articles of Faith and the Ten Commandments.
The king and queen thanked President Colton for the Church's support of the Cambodian people and presented the delegation with traditional Cambodian silver dishes.
After the presentations, the royals heard of the Church's emphasis on families. Elder Rasmussen demonstrated his ability to speak in the Cambodian language while telling about his family. Elder Koim also told of his family, including his brother who serves on the staff of the royal palace. King Sihanouk expressed interest as he heard about Elder Haight's seven children and 38 grandchildren.
Learning of the Word of Wisdom, the king directed that orange soda be served to the visiting Church delegation.
Reflecting upon the meeting with the king, President Colton said, "We spent one of the most delightful hours I have ever encountered in teaching of the gospel."
Capping the experience, President Colton learned that a 15-minute report of the visit, including a close-up picture of the new Cambodian language Book of Mormon, was featured on the country's primary evening news channel.
