Construction for Thailand's first temple will officially commence at the beginning of next year after a groundbreaking ceremony to be held on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019.
President Thomas S. Monson announced the Bangkok Thailand Temple during general conference on April 5, 2015, and now, more than three years later, construction will begin.
“Attendance at the site will be by invitation only,” according to a letter from the First Presidency dated Nov. 21, 2018. “It is anticipated that the services will be transmitted via the Internet to stake centers within the proposed temple district.”
Elder David F. Evans, General Authority Seventy and Asia Area president, will preside at the ceremony, which will be transmitted to Church members living in Thailand and other nearby countries.
“We look forward to the start of construction on the Bangkok Thailand Temple,” according to the letter.
There are more than 22,000 members living in Thailand within four stakes made up of 42 congregations. Once the temple is complete, a public open house will take place and a dedication date will be announced.
The event will be held at the temple site — 1645/6 New Phetchburi Road Makkasan, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400 Thailand.
Although the first missionary to visit Thailand was as early as 1854, it wasn't until 1966 when the first Thailand District was created. Families had been holding informal services in the 1950s and 1960s. Then-Elder Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the country for the preaching of the gospel on Nov. 2, 1966, and missionaries were then transferred to the area.
Since that time, Church membership has continued to grow. Thailand became its own mission in 1973, and only one year later the first meetinghouse was dedicated by Elder David B. Haight of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. In 1995, the Bangkok Stake was created.