As the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints celebrates 60 years in the Philippines, the Philippines Area Presidency releases a timeline detailing significant events in the growth of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Philippines.
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It was on 28 April 1961 that around 100 Latter-day Saints gathered on the grounds of the American War Memorial Cemetery as Elder Gordon B. Hinckley (then an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles) rededicated the Philippines for missionary work. Today the growth of the Church continues at a rapid pace, with the number of Filipino members exceeding 800,000 strengthening the faith, establishing the Church, and engaging in humanitarian service throughout the country. On 28 April 2021, the Church will celebrate 60 years in the Philippines.
Members can enjoy the Church Timeline in full display while walking through the tunnel leading to the Manila Philippines Temple by April.
Elder Yoon Hwan Choi of the Philippines Area Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints invites members to join in this celebration of faith. He related, “Whether you have been a member for long years or a recent convert, whether you are in the Philippines or abroad, whether you are young or old, each one of you is an important part of the 60 years of the Church history in Philippines. I admire you and I am proud of each one of you. Let us rejoice together with one accord pressing forward with the Lord who invites us to follow Him. It is a great time for us to start a new era of the church here.”
Elder Steven R. Bangerter invites all to take a closer look at the Church Timeline and reflect on their personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He says, “During the last supper, the Savior taught His apostles 'the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, shall bring all things to your remembrance (John 14:26).' The beautiful timeline depicting historic milestones of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Philippines, combines with the sweet whisperings of the Holy Ghost to call our minds and hearts to remember our own personal milestones during the history of our lives.”
“I invite everyone to ponder this wonderful history, as they thoughtfully read the events depicted on the timeline, from the earliest days when servicemen brought the good news of the gospel to this beautiful people on these isles of the sea, up to and including our present-day. Reflect on the sacred, significant days of your life in the gospel, such as the first time you met missionaries, your first sensation of knowing by a witness of the Holy Spirit that the Book of Mormon was the word of God, the day you entered the waters of baptism, the first time you stood at a pulpit to deliver your first testimony to a congregation of Saints, or your first sacred experience in the Lord’s Holy Temple.”
“The rich history of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the Philippines is a legacy of faith, the heritage of a humble people desirous to submit their will to the will of our Heavenly Father, by allowing God to prevail in their lives. This is the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Philippines,” he added.
Elder Taniela B. Wakolo recalled the stories of early Filipino pioneers including Sister Aniceta Fajardo, the first Filipino who was baptized in the Philippines. “I think I know what was in Sister Fajardo’s mind when she accepted the invitation to be baptized in 1945. I think I know what was in Elder Ray Goodson’s and his companions’ mind when they first arrived in Manila in 1961. Imagine the joy in Elder Hinckley’s mind when he offered a prayer at the American Cemetery in 1961 when only a handful of members attended and 35 years later when he returned as a Prophet where 35,000 gathered for a devotional.”
Referring to Filipino Latter-day Saints, he said, “For 60 years, you have contributed to create 177 stakes and districts (dioceses) with a total of more than 805,000 members of the Church. What pattern do you see when you look to the future? In the next 40 years of the Church in the Philippines, more stakes, missions and temples will be everywhere and all around us. More members will be among us. They will bear stories of their own.”
“The words of President Joseph Smith on April 6, 1830 at the gathering of approximately 60 people in the Whitmer home at Fayette, New York re-echoed again in my mind 'that you know no more concerning the destinies of this Church and kingdom than a babe upon its mother’s lap. You don’t comprehend it. This Church will fill the world.'”
About 60 Years of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Philippines: A Celebration of Faith
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will celebrate 60 years in the Philippines on 28 April 2021. With the theme “60 Years of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Philippines: A Celebration of Faith,” the Church reflects on its growth in the Philippines as it has blessed the lives of people and those of other faiths through the teaching of Jesus Christ, at its foundation.
On 7 February 2021, the Area Presidency launched the 60 Years Celebration with the release of the official logo and #60TheChurchOfJesusChristPH.