In the heart of Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, three Brigham Young University–Hawaii alumni are serving together in a remarkable way. President Nasanbold Sukhbaatar, President Enkhbat Damdin, and President Bayasgalan Sukhbaatar make up the Ulaanbaatar Mongolia East Stake presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Each of them represents a generation of faithful leaders whose lives were shaped by their experiences at BYU–Hawaii.
Though their paths to Laie were different, all three share a common purpose: to serve, uplift, and strengthen the Saints in their homeland, living proof of the university’s mission and vision.
President Nasanbold Sukhbaatar: Discipleship and Leading in Faith
Born and raised in Dornod province, the easternmost part of Mongolia, President Nasanbold “Naska” Sukhbaatar is the sixth of eight children and the only member of his family to join the Church. His conversion began with something as simple as a pamphlet.
“My journey to faith began when I came across a brochure about Jesus,” he said. “As I read through it, I felt something deeply special that stirred my heart and led me to seek more.”
That quiet prompting eventually led to his baptism in July 2006. Years later, he would marry in the temple and become a father of four, grateful for how the restored gospel reshaped his life.
Education was not always within reach for Sukhbaatar. After leaving school as a child to help on the family farm, he later taught himself to read and write Cyrillic while herding livestock. “Those years taught me valuable life lessons and helped me realize the importance of education,” he recalled. With his aunt’s help, he re-entered school after a seven-year gap, determined to finish his studies.
He eventually learned about BYU–Hawaii and the IWORK program. Inspired by the opportunity to study in a faith-based environment, he spent five years preparing for admission. “My growing passion for education motivated me to set a new goal—to pursue higher education abroad in a safe and supportive environment,” he shared.
From 2015 to 2018, Nasanbold studied at BYU–Hawaii, where he served as president of the Mongolian Club and led several student projects. These experiences, he said, prepared him for the leadership responsibilities he now carries as a stake president.
“I feel deeply grateful to be living the fulfillment of prophecy, especially that of President David O. McKay, who foresaw BYU–Hawaii as a place where men and women would go forth to bless their nations,” he said.
Today, as the first temple in Mongolia moves closer to completion, President Sukhbaatar sees his calling as part of that prophetic vision. “BYU–Hawaii’s mission has inspired me to give back to my country and help build God’s kingdom here in Mongolia,” he said. “Every member’s service is vital and meaningful in this land.”
President Enkhbat Damdin: Building Faith Through Service and Skills
Serving as the first counselor, President Enkhbat Damdin found the gospel through the example of those closest to him. “My wife and three colleagues from my travel and tourism job were the primary influences that led me to join the Church,” he said.
His connection to BYU–Hawaii came through a visit from then-university president Steven Wheelwright, who traveled to Mongolia in 2014. “He told me that going to Hawaii would truly open my eyes,” Damdin recalled. “That conversation changed my life.”
In 2015, he arrived at BYU–Hawaii and studied through April 2016, gaining valuable experience both spiritually and professionally. “During my brief time at the university, I gained experience not only in the Church culture but also in my professional field, the culinary arts,” he explained.
Though his time in Laie was short, its impact was lasting. “Every moment I spent studying there was one of the most beautiful memories of my life,” he said. “It motivates me to serve more and to encourage young people to pursue the opportunity to attend university.”
For President Damdin, BYU–Hawaii is more than a university; it is a vital link between faith and nation-building. “BYU–Hawaii plays the single most important role in strengthening the Church here,” he said. “It equips our young people with knowledge, education, and practical work experience. Beyond that, it helps with the local Church culture and changes the perspective of Mongolians who often see Hawaii as distant and unreachable.”
He encourages all Mongolian students studying abroad to remember their purpose. “Mongolia can only be developed by Mongolians,” he said firmly. “Once you graduate, return home and dedicate the knowledge and skills you gained to serve your people and the Church.”
President Bayasgalan Sukhbaatar: Strengthening Faith and Creativity
As the second counselor in the stake presidency and the current BYU–Hawaii Alumni President in Mongolia, President Bayasgalan “Baya” Sukhbaatar brings creativity, faith, and leadership together in his service. “Learning at BYU–Hawaii with my family was a big blessing,” he said. “Even though I struggled with my studies, I learned from good Church members who strengthened my faith.”
He joined the Church with his family at age 12 after missionaries met one of his sisters on the street. “They came to our home, and soon after, my parents decided to join the Church,” he shared. Years later, he would serve as a missionary in the Mongolia Ulaanbaatar Mission from 2009 to 2011, strengthening his testimony and commitment to the gospel.
He and his wife, Khulan Davaakhuu, also a BYU–Hawaii alumna, studied together and saw their time in Laie as preparation for a life of service. “We always talked about going back to our country after school because the Church in Mongolia needs educated people based [in] the gospel,” he explained.
Bayasgalan graduated in fall 2023 with a major in hospitality and tourism management and minors in entrepreneurship and film. He believes that education abroad gives Mongolian Saints new perspectives, leadership skills, and spiritual depth. “Being away from home and learning a different culture is sometimes challenging, but those challenges made us strong,” he said. “Those improvements strengthen the Church locally and internationally.”
He also feels a sacred urgency as Mongolia prepares for its first temple. “Our Church needs people who have experience serving in the temple,” he said. “I want our students to learn in the temple, increase their spirituality, and come back to serve.”
United in Faith and Purpose
Each member of the stake presidency has a distinct story, but all three share a unified mission: to serve the Lord and their people through the education, faith, and leadership they cultivated at BYU–Hawaii.
Their journeys from Laie to leadership testify to the prophetic purpose behind the university’s creation and its continuing influence across the globe. As President Nasanbold expressed, “BYU–Hawaii was not just a school—it was a place where I discovered my potential, deepened my faith, and prepared to serve others.”
Together, these three leaders embody what it means to “be lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ and leaders in their families, communities, chosen fields, and in building the kingdom of God” by strengthening the Church, their communities, and the nation of Mongolia through lives of dedicated discipleship.