A new website, www.mormonsandchina.org, is being launched with specific information for those from the People's Republic of China who have joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while living outside of China.
Typically, more than 70 students at BYU–Hawaii are from the People's Republic of China – many of them falling into the category of having joined the LDS Church while living in a different country. This is currently the seventh largest country representation on campus and is part of the university's target area for its international student base. According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, BYU–Hawaii is the most international of all baccalaureate institutions in the United States.
Visit www.mormonsandchina.org.
“Our more open communication about the Church in China follows our developed relationship of trust with Chinese officials and our concern for the PRC citizens who are joining the Church throughout the world,” said Elder Dallin H. Oaks, who has long supervised the Church in the People’s Republic of China under the direction of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
“We will continue to teach our members to be good citizens. Providing accurate information about the Church will allow them to better contribute to society in China,” he said.
The Church hopes that making information public will counter many unsubstantiated rumors that circulate about the Church in China, including whether the Church is sending missionaries to the PRC.
Elder Oaks said the Church has no proselytizing missionaries in the PRC, nor does it have any plans to send missionaries or to engage in proselytizing activities in China. Furthermore, this new site is in no way related to the recent Church announcement lowering the age of eligibility for full-time missionary service.
“Over the years, the Church has built a strong relationship of trust with the People’s Republic of China by always respecting the important laws and traditions of that country,” Elder Oaks said. “In order to observe Chinese laws and directions on religious activities, the Church is blocking access to this website so it cannot be viewed in China.”
The new website explains that Church members should not mail religious materials to China or carry scriptures or other Church materials into China beyond a copy for personal use. Latter-day Saints should not discuss religion or the Church while traveling in China.
In obedience to Chinese law, worship services for foreign-passport holding Latter-day Saints are separate from worship services for PRC Chinese members, whose branches are directed by their own local priesthood leaders.