The Mormon Church and Globalization: A Look at China
September 11, 2009 by DH
Filed under Mormon Asia
The Mormon Church and Globalization: China
In China, the Mormon Church is still preparing for the day when proselytizing missionaries will be legally accepted. The development of the Mormon Church in China carries major implications for the global growth of the Church.
Mormon Church’s Challenges in China
In China, the LDS Church faces its most unique opportunity and challenge of the new century – something far different from what we see in most other developing countries. Although in Hong Kong the LDS Church is very well established with an active mission, 32 congregations, and a temple, China is entirely dissimilar: while thousands attend regular worship services under special circumstances, Mormon missionary efforts are very limited to just a handful of non-proselytizing volunteers. The Church and Brigham Young University have established rapport with many in the Chinese academic and policy making communities through educational exchanges, the entertainment of the Young Ambassadors and BYU’s ballroom and folk dance troupes, as well as BYU’s earned reputation for its sophisticated language training programs. The LDS Church has also published a translation of the Book of Mormon and other publications in Simplified Chinese, the script used in Mainland China. Chinese officials attend the annual International Law and Religion Symposium in Utah each year, planting a seed for the Chinese government to understand the importance of liberalizing its religious laws to allow proselytizing missionaries. Another interesting setting for connecting Chinese from the Mainland with the LDS Church has been BYU-Hawaii, where dozens of Chinese study and become acquainted with the Church. Once China’s borders are fully opened to missionary teaching, the Church will require tremendous resources to manage its operations there and will necessarily rely on the efforts of local members because of the country’s sheer size.
Though most of those who attend Mormon Church meetings in China are expatriates (or holders of foreign passports), there are thousands of Chinese nationals who also attend Church meetings – mostly restricted to attend smaller worship services. Expatriates attend so-called international branches in nine major cities, including Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Beijing. The expatriates who meet in Beijing do so in a large office complex, above the Dairy Queen. In Shanghai, the two branches hold their Sunday meetings in the conference center of a tall executive complex. There are also national units that consist of Chinese nationals who for the most part joined the Mormon Church overseas in places like Toronto and Los Angeles and returned to China with a desire to pursue their faith in congregations. These Mormon congregations are closely monitored by the State Religious Affairs Bureau.
The Church will probably begin receiving more mainstream scrutiny in China because of President Barack Obama’s appointment of a Mormon with extensive experience in Chinese Asia and who is also fluent in Mandarin to serve as U.S. ambassador to China. (Jon M. Huntsman Jr.) This is likely to cultivate more interest in the LDS Church among the political elite in Beijing and throughout China.
Already, there are some missionaries serving from Mainland China – I’ve met several who have served or are serving in the United States and Australia. This is setting the stage for a tremendous missionary effort that will be required in China.
Elder Dallin H. Oaks in 1991 gave a speech about the LDS Church and China in which he stated that “China is already “open”–it is we who are closed. We are closed because we expect the Orient to be the same as the West, China to be the same as Canada or Chile. We must open our minds and our hearts to the people of this ancient realm and this magnificent culture.” I believe that this is already happening – the Mormon Church is certainly making progress on the long path to flourishing in the Middle Kingdom. The future for the Church in the world’s most populous country looks promising.
Implications and future of Mormon Church in China
Though China poses very unique challenges to the LDS Church, the Church’s opportunity for tremendous growth and visibility is strong there. China offers the Church almost limitless possibilities in terms of sharing the restored gospel. As the Church continues to grow in this era of globalization, the face of the Church changes as the institution becomes a truly global religion. Members and leaders of the Church, from California to New York and from Shanghai to Rio de Janeiro, should become more aware of the impact of the growth of the Church in such important places as China. Watching the Mormon Church’s development in this region is extraordinarily inspirational.
Jonathan Beutler is a Los Angeles-based public affairs consultant and is also deeply involved in the international trade community. He has experience living in Europe, Asia, and South America. Jonathan served an LDS mission in Brazil and has a very deep connection to and love for the Chinese world.
Jonathan,
Thanks again for writing the article, fantastic stuff. Hope you can contribute more in the future.
DH
Thanks for the post. I’ve recently started falling in love with China so it was nice to read an article about two of my favorite things.
Nice overview! (Oh, man–it said my comment was too short, so here’s the extension.)
@ Linda and Morgan,
Thanks for stopping by and leaving comments.
Without a doubt it is a fascinating topic-the Mormon Church and China. Hopefully you both also saw the numerous other Mormon Church in China related posts.
DH
I really like this article. I am a BYU-Idaho student who served a mission in Taiwan and who is currently in China doing an internship with an all-Chinese company in the Guangdong Province. I am a member of the Shenzhen branch.
I really like what Elder Oaks said because we truly do have to accept their culture and way of life in order to show our love and help them learn about the Gospek. I saw this in Taiwan, and I see it even more now as I am currently living with a Buddhist/Daoist family of 4. The people in Mainland China are very kind, and the majority of them have no religion, they have just never really had an opportunity.
@Taylor,
Thanks for visiting MW. We would love to hear more about your experiences in China, they are probably fascinating. I’ve emailed you personally as well so hopefully you got it.
DH
I am a LDS chinese girl from Shenzhen.I wish one day I could be able to pursue my faith in China. I think my country needs it more than any other countries. Therefore, I would like to say thank you to all of you showing your interests to China. I believe one day my country will open its door to the missionaries and we will have our temple in China.
SL
I hope that someday the country of China has full religious freedom as well. Though the Lord knows when that time is and The LDS Church will continue to operate as the Chinese government allows them. I hope that the Saints of China – native Chinese or expatriate- will continue be able to practice their religion. Thanks for visiting.
DH
HELLO ,I MEMBER THE CHURCH,PLEASE A NEED CONTAC WHIT MEMBER IN SHENZHE, CHINA
THANKS
My son and daugther will be going to Lenyi. Are there any branches or church meetings? Thank you for your help.
Javiert and Kurt,
Sorry for such a long delay in responding. The best I can do is to direct you to mormon.org and advise you to use the Church locator. There is also a link in the sidebar. You can search for meeting times/locations in China by using that tool. If you are unable to find information regarding that you’re best bet is to email the Church directly and ask them. As relations with China are still very delicate it is more difficult in location congregations/meeting times etc in the country.
Hope that helps
DH
Javiert,
I just read your post. I have been to the Shenzhen branch several times. Try this email address: lds@perryho.com
Jim
Hey! I really wonder if someone knows where in China there are being held regular Sunday meetings for chinese people NOT holding a forreign passport? Which cities?
Thank you for a great article. There isn’t much online about china and the church.
http://tylerthorsted.com/ldschinese/