6 June 2019 - Salt Lake City
First Presidency Welcomes Delegation from Vietnam's Committee for Religious Affairs
The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints met Tuesday with a delegation headed by Vietnam's Committee for Religious Affairs (CRA). The delegation was in Utah Tuesday through Thursday to meet Church, government, religious and academic leaders. The group toured the Church's Family History Library, Welfare Square, Humanitarian Center, Bishop's Central Storehouse and Brigham Young University.
"We have long-standing cooperative relationships with the Committee on Religious Affairs and other government officials in Vietnam," said Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who accompanied the delegation during its visit with the First Presidency. "We appreciate those relationships continuing and deepening with the visit of this important delegation."
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Related resource (June 2016): Church Receives Official Recognition in Vietnam
The delegation members included Mr. Vu Chien Thang (CRA chairman), Mr. Nguyen Huu Tuan (Ministry of Home Affairs), Mr. Nguyen Duc Vinh (director of the CRA Internal Relations Department), Mr. Nguyen Phong Thinh (head of the CRA General Administration-Statistic Department) and Mr. Dao Huy Cuong (specialist in the CRA Protestant Department).
Collectively, the CRA has several important responsibilities, including its role as the principal government agency for oversight and approval of all religious activities in Vietnam.
President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints thanked the delegation for promoting religious freedom in Vietnam and indicated the importance of such freedom for countries around the world.
The delegation also discussed the indispensable nature of strong families to society.
"Strong families make strong countries," Elder Gong said. "The focus on family and family values is something that is shared deeply by those in Vietnam and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."
Chairman Thang thanked the Church for its law-abiding citizens and for the faith's many positive contributions to society and Vietnam.
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