The Mongolian Ulaanbaatar Mission

WELCOME TO THE MONGOLIA ULAANBAATAR MISSION

A welcome from President and Sister Anderson, the current mission president and wife:

20 February 2010

Dear Elder Jolley

We were thrilled when we received notice that you have accepted a call from the Lord to serve as a missionary for the Church in Mongolia. We know you will have an experience that you will never forget.

Ulaanbaatar is an interesting city with varied and unusual architecture. The countryside is some of the most beautiful in the world. This land is very special. You will love it all, especially the people. They are sincere, kind and are so ready to receive the blessings of the Gospel in their lives.

Mongolia is relatively new to organized missionary work. The first missionaries actually began their service in September of 1992, prior to Elder Neal A. Maxwell’s dedication of the land to missionary work in 1993. There are now nearly 9,000 members in Mongolia with one stake, two districts and 21 branches or wards.

This is likely one of the more challenging missions in the world. That is why we believe that some of the very best and most qualified missionaries come to serve here. Missionaries are only allowed in Mongolia under the direction of Deseret International Charities, a foundation directed towards teaching English in schools, businesses and government offices. All missionaries are required to teach English 12 hours per week. One cannot mention the Church while teaching English, but if people ask about it outside the classroom, the missionaries may teach them....

Mongolia, commonly known as the Land of Blue Skies, is located between Russia on the north and China on the south. It is a developing country, after having been under Soviet dominationfor nearly seventy years. Since 1990, Mongolian has seen dramatic changes with new businesses,new products, new ideas and new government. Ulaanbaatar is the capital city with approximately one million people living either in ger districts or in apartments. The rest of the 2.9 million people live in the countryside — in small cities or out in open spaces.

The dominant religion in Mongolia is Buddhism, but Christian religions are taking hold. The membership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is growing steadily. Two new chapels were dedicated in January 2007, bringing the total number of LDS-owned chapels in Mongolia to ten. We have two districts and twenty-one branches in the cities of Ulaanbaatar, Baganuur, Nalaikh, Sukhbaatar, Darkhan, Erdenet, Moron, Zuun-Kharaa, Khovd and Choibalsan. Our mission’s compliment is 170 young missionaries and 14 senior couples.

MISSIONARY NEEDS: You are probably most concerned about what to bring (and what not to bring) with you to Mongolia. You will experience four seasons, but primarily short summers and long winters. The clothing list sent by the Missionary Department covers basic needs, but we will add a few insights. There is an old Russian saying: “There is no such thing as bad weather, there is only bad clothing.” Winter can begin quickly, usually in September and it can still be quite cold into April and May.

Things learned from LDS Church News:

Jan. 1, 2009: Est. population, 3,041,000; Members, 8,444; Missions, 1; Stakes, 1: Districts, 2; Branches, 21; Percent LDS, .28, or one in 360, Asia Area.

In 1984, Monte J. Brough, who would later be called to the Seventy, traveled to Mongolia on a hunting trip. During his visit, he developed a love for the Mongolian people. Eight years later, in May 1992, Elders Merlin Lybbert and Monte Brough, members of the Asia Area presidency, traveled to Mongolia to explore the possibility of the Church providing humanitarian aid. Prior to this trip, the Mongolian ambassador to United States had traveled to Brigham Young University, which had paved the way for Elders Lybbert and Brough by providing positive contact with the Mongolian government.

After several months of negotiation, permission was granted to send six missionary couples to assist the country's higher education program and to teach others about the Church. The first couple, Kenneth H. and Donna Beesley, arrived on 16 September 1992. Kenneth Beesley, former president of LDS Business College, was designated as lead elder. The first sacrament meeting was held on 20 September 1992 in the Beesley's apartment. The five other missionary couples to follow were Royce P. and Mary Jane Flandro, Richard G. and Anna M. Harper, Stanley B. and Marjorie Smith, C. DuWayne and Alice C. Schmidt, and Gary and Barbara L. Carlson.

The Mongolia Ulaanbaatar Mission was officially established on 1 July 1995. The first mission president, Richard E. Cook, and his wife were serving as missioniaries in Mongolia when he was called as mission president. President Cook would later be called to the Seventy and serve in the Asia Area presidency. Before the establishment of the mission, Mongolia was overseen by the Asia Area presidency.

Membership in 2002 was 4,358 organized in two districts and 21 branches. In 2003, there were 5,455. In 2005, membership reached 6,735.