Elder Andersen Joyfully Shares News of Future Ulaanbaatar Mongolia Temple

Elder Neil L. Andersen, an Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, visited Mongolia with his wife, Kathy, on September 18–19, 2025. They were joined by Elder J. Kimo Esplin, Asia North Area President, and his wife, Kaye. During those two days, Elder Andersen shared a consistent message everywhere he went: the house of the Lord is coming to Mongolia.

“Receiving a temple here in Mongolia is a monumental step in the Church,” said Elder Andersen. “It’ll take us four or five years to actually get it built and see it open, but it is a statement to say, ‘We are never leaving Mongolia. We will be here when the Savior returns.’”

On Monday, September 15, 2025, the office of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ released a rendering of the Ulaanbaatar Mongolia Temple and announced the site location.

Elder Andersen encouraged members of the Church not to “miss the majesty of the moment.”

“The joy we saw in their faces as we said, ‘Now you will have the house of the Lord right here in Ulaanbaatar.’ They were overjoyed. We were overjoyed,” said Elder Andersen.

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ in Mongolia currently travel 2,000 to 3,000 miles to attend the house of the Lord in either Hong Kong or Bangkok, Thailand.

Elder Esplin says the announcement by the First Presidency of its location and rendering is an answer to specific and earnest prayers of Mongolian saints.

“There was excitement, big smiles and tears of joy as Church members saw the renderings of the temple, the rooms inside, and the surrounding gardens for the first time,” said Elder Esplin.

The Apostle met with local government, community and religious leaders and explained why houses of the Lord are so meaningful to Latter-day Saints.

In a separate meeting, Elder Andersen shared renderings of the temple with Ulaanbaatar Mayor Khishgeegiin Nyambaatar, who helped the Church find property for the temple.

“I’ve been excited to share the temple because I know it is truly the house of the Lord. It is not just a beautiful building, but it contains sacred ordinances that will bring spiritual power and blessings to the members of the Church and to the community,” said Elder Andersen.

The temple will be built at the base of a sacred mountain in Mongolia, whose name (Khan-Uul) can be interpreted as “mountain of the Lord” or “mountain of the king.”

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Elder Andersen related a part of the process for buying the land. As the Apostle sought First Presidency approval, Church President Russell M. Nelson said to him, “How could we deny the blessing of having a house of the Lord at the base of the ‘Mountain of the Lord?’”

The property is located along the route from the airport to downtown Ulaanbaatar, which means the temple will be visible to all who enter the city. “The Lord, through miraculous events, led us to this property. And we are so grateful to have it,” said Elder Andersen.

While in Ulaanbaatar, Elder Andersen also met with full-time Church volunteers from the United States and Mongolia who teach English classes across the country.

Visit with Buddhist Monks at Gandan Monastery

Elder Andersen continued his friendship with Venerable Battsengel, whom he had met the previous October, by visiting Gandantegchenling (Gandan) Monastery.

Venerable Battsengel gave Elder Andersen a tour of the monastery and shared Buddhist teachings with him.

“We rejoice in the things we share. Their Buddhist doctrine teaches people to be better, to use discipline, to be compassionate, and to be their best selves,” said Elder Andersen.

Elder Andersen shared the renderings of the temple with his friend.

“He expressed his happiness with our progress,” said Elder Andersen. “We have supported the importance of religious liberty together in Mongolia. We enjoyed our time immensely with them.”

Elder Esplin echoed the importance of working together with other faiths in Mongolia. 

“Because constitutionally guaranteed and practiced freedom of religion is fairly new in Mongolia, the Church has joined with the major religions of the area, including the Buddhist and Muslim faiths, in an inter-faith dialogue to assist and support each other’s efforts and to increase understanding of our respective beliefs.”

Visit with Children at 71 Kindergarten

During the first week of September 2025, Church members through Deseret International Charities donated 70 pieces of various kitchen equipment to 12 kindergartens in the Khan-Ul district, which will benefit nearly 3,500 children.

Deseret International Charities is part of the worldwide humanitarian work of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

One of those kindergartens, 71 Kindergarten, welcomed Elder and Sister Andersen and Elder and Sister Esplin with traditional songs and dance to show their gratitude for replacing outdated and broken kitchen equipment.

“The children were so talented and beautiful. They help us remember all that is good and innocent and pure. It was one of our favorite experiences here in Ulaanbaatar,” said Elder Andersen.

“It is vital to provide healthy and nutritious meals, and that aligns with our goal to raise good and healthy Mongolian children,” said Erdenechimeg Sangidorj, director of 71 Kindergarten. “Having [this new] equipment will help increase the production, save energy consumption and ease the load of kitchen staff.”

Sangidorj also expressed her gratitude on behalf of the children’s parents.

Visit with Family in a Traditional Mongolian Home

Elder and Sister Andersen, along with Elder and Sister Esplin, spent time on the evening of Friday, September 19, with the Amarbayasgalan family.

The family traveled to the Hong Kong Temple in July to receive the sacred ordinances there, including the promise that through their love and faithfulness to Jesus Christ, they could remain bound together as a family in the eternities.  

The parents and the children were excited to talk with Elder and Sister Andersen about their experiences there. Elder and Sister Andersen shared the renderings of the Ulaanbaatar Mongolia Temple and the family rejoiced with them.

“It was a very warm experience. They had a very beautiful feeling in their family. You see who the Lord calls the children of the covenant. Whether in a ger in Mongolia or a high-rise in New York City, they are all special, and we felt that tonight,” said Elder Andersen.

“I hope they remember the time they sat knee to knee with an Apostle of the Lord, the prayer he offered, and the apostolic blessing he left upon their home and family,” said Elder Esplin.

Elder Andersen said he relishes opportunities to connect with people in more intimate settings.

“It’s when we’re with individual people and individual families that we feel a lot of the Lord’s impressions to us and inspiration to us,” Elder Andersen said. “We want to know them. We want to love them.”

The family said it would be a day they would never forget.

“I still can’t believe that an Apostle of Jesus Christ visited us in our home,” said the father, Amarbayasgalan.

Visit to Zaisan Hill

Thirty-two years ago, on April 15, 1993, Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles pronounced a blessing on Mongolia from  Zaisan Hill. 

Elder Andersen climbed the 300 steps to the top to remember where the Church began in Mongolia and reflect on where it stands now following the announcement of a temple.

“I am so thankful to be here and to see the blessings of the Lord from that dedicatory prayer,” Elder Andersen said. “I went up the hill because I wanted to think about the 32 years since [Elder Maxwell] walked up there and where we are now, and [consider] President Nelson’s statement, ‘I pray that we will not miss the majesty of the moment.’”

Elder Andersen’s Final Thoughts from Mongolia

“We need to lock arms with good people and always promote goodness over evil, helping the poor, the desolate, those who are in need,” Elder Andersen said. “We are so thankful for the very, very special people who have stepped forward in the countries of the Asia North Area, where it has required great faith and courage to believe in Jesus Christ, join the Church, and remain true and faithful.  Our members here are tremendous.  They are the pioneers and the disciples of these special lands.”

Prior to his time in Mongolia, Elder Andersen held trainings for local Church leaders in South Korea and Japan, where leaders from Guam and Mongolia also joined.

“It is remarkable to see the strength of leaders we have here and the blessings the Lord has brought them. I leave lifted, strengthened, happier, and with a desire to be a better person. And I am so grateful to have come and anxiously await my chance to return,” said Elder Andersen.