The History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Japan 1901-2001
Contact:
Heather Seferovich/Lincoln Hubbard
Joseph Fielding Smith Institute Public Relations
(801) 378-7436
September 19, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CENTENNIAL
CONFERENCE CELEBRATES HUNDREDTH
ANNIVERSARY OF
CHURCH IN JAPAN
Provo, Utah – Brigham Young University will host a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for scholars, Japanese Latter-day Saint converts and missionaries who served in Japan on October 13.
2001 marks the 100 year anniversary of the first missionary effort of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Japan. A special commemorative conference with prominent speakers, a centennial banquet and possibly the largest mission reunion ever will be held on BYU’s campus.
Conference co-chair Reid Neilson said several hundred guests are expected to attend.
“Anyone who served anytime as a missionary or mission president is invited, as well as Japanese converts and interested members,” said Neilson, who served an LDS mission in Sapporo, Japan.
Neilson felt the need for the conference while working in Japan. He saw Japanese Saints planning their own celebrations and thought the centennial should be remembered in America as well.
“I thought it would be a unique opportunity to help people remember their missionary experience and to get together for a reunion,” he said.
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Two years later, Neilson’s dream has grown into a full day of activities with 26 speakers.
Topics covered during the day will include Heber J. Grant’s mission experiences, the history of the Church in Asia and Japanese-Americans in Utah.
Among those addressing the conference will be Elder L. Edward Brown of the Second Quorum of Seventy, recently released as Area President for the Asia north area.
“I really don’t know of anyone in the church who is better suited than Elder Brown to talk about where the Church in Japan is today,” Neilson said.
Keynote speaker at the banquet will be Elder Yoshihiko Kikuchi of the First Quorum of Seventy. Other speakers include professor of history R. Lanier Britsch.
Neilson said he was excited that professor Britsch could attend.
“He has written more than anyone else on the history of the Church in Asia,” Neilson said.
In addition to the scheduled speakers, the conference will mark the publication of the missionary journals of Alma O. Taylor. Along with Heber J. Grant and two other missionaries, Taylor opened the Japanese mission in 1901. While there, he initiated the Sunday School program and made the first Japanese translation of the Book of Mormon.
Neilson found Taylor’s journal by chance in BYU’s Harold B. Library Special Collections while researching his thesis in history.
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“Taylor was a remarkable missionary,” Neilson said. “He remained in Japan for eight and one-half years, making his one of the longest continuous missions in LDS Church history.”
Taylor’s journal is published by the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for LDS History, which also sponsors the conference. Conference co-chair Ron Walker said the conference and book will be significant reminders of the history of the Church in Japan.
“They help celebrate accomplishments of both Japanese and American missionaries,” Walker said.
Neilson hopes the event will help attendees realize their personal contributions to the Church in Japan.
“More than anything else I want attendees to remember what it was like being missionaries and mission presidents; to remember what their conversions were like and appreciate sacrifices of the Japanese Saints,” he said.
Because people will not be able to attend all conference addresses, Neilson and Walker plan to compile the speakers remarks into a book for future publication.
For information on the conference, the reunion and registration please visit http://japanconference.byu.edu/index.asp or contact BYU Conferences and Workshops at (801) 378 3559.
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