The First Presidency Welcomes the Ambassador of Thailand to Temple Square

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints welcomed His Excellency Dr. Suriya Chindawongse, the Ambassador of Thailand to the United States, to Temple Square on Friday, March 20, 2026.

The ambassador was greeted by President Dallin H. Oaks and his counselors in the First Presidency, Presidents Henry B. Eyring and D. Todd Christofferson. They were joined by Elder Gérald Caussé of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

The Church has a long-standing presence in Thailand, with more than 24,000 members and the Bangkok Thailand Temple, which was dedicated in October 2023.

During the meeting, Church leaders and Ambassador Suriya discussed the shared values of education, family, and service, and reviewed the positive impact of recent humanitarian collaborations between the Church and the Kingdom of Thailand. One example of this collaboration came in 2025 when the Church worked alongside the Information Technology Foundation under the Initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn to provide computers and educational technology to schools and institutions throughout the country.

This spirit of collaboration extends to the health care sector as well. Last year, the Church donated neonatal resuscitators and warmers to more than 20 hospitals in Thailand, continuing a 20-year collaboration with the Neonatal Society of Thailand to improve newborn care.

The Church’s commitment to local communities was further highlighted by the successful debut of the first Light the World Giving Machine kiosk in Bangkok at Siam Paragon’s NEXTOPIA, which provided a platform for residents to donate to local Thai charities.

Ambassador Suriya’s visit to Utah also included academic, governmental, and institutional engagements aimed at strengthening relationships and promoting dialogue.