Cambodia Temple site dedication

We finally got words that the Cambodia Temple will be have its groundbreaking ceremony on September 18, 2021,  The following is an article written by Elder Daniel Sellers on the event:

CAMBODIAN TEMPLE GROUNDBREAKING CHOIR

The announcement by President Russell M. Nelson in 2018 that there would be a Temple built in Phnom Penh Cambodia came with great surprise and profound thankfulness to the saints in Cambodia. The beautiful and strategically situated Temple Lot along Russian Federation Boulevard will provide a particularly inspiring reference to The Savior Jesus Christ for the citizens of Cambodia to reverence with awe.

In anticipation of the official groundbreaking on September 18, which will be conducted under the direction of President Veasna Neang of the Cambodia Phnom Penh Mission, President Neang asked Sister Marian Sellers, one of the Senior Couple Sister missionaries, to organize a choir to enhance the spirit of the groundbreaking celebration. With the invaluable assistance of Elder Ethan Arkell, a missionary currently serving in the Phnom Penh Mission, a missionary choir was assembled and began earnestly practicing Sister Sellers’ arrangement of “High On The Mountain Top”.

President Vichit Ith, one of the first members of the Church in Cambodia, who had stood next to President Hinckley in 1996 as the land of Cambodia was dedicated for the preaching of the Gospel, was asked to organize the details of the ceremony. With Cambodia’s Covid policies to consider, the 33-voice choir first recorded the musical rendition of this majestic hymn while gathered together in the Mission Home. Then under President Vichit Ith’s guidance, an independent filming group was retained to capture video of the choir as it divided into three separate small groups within the government-prescribed gathering limit and put faces to the previously recorded music. One group was recorded at the waterfront junction of the Mekong, Tonle Sap and Bassac Rivers, with a breaking sunrise behind; another group was videoed at Neak Banh Teuk Park in the heart of Phnom Penh, with the monument to Cambodia’s independence as their backdrop; the final group was filmed at the East District

meetinghouse of the Church, with its beautiful stone plaques proclaiming the name of the Savior, and the towering rooftop spire as the backdrop.

The day of the outdoor recordings was weather perfect. The sisters fairly glowed in their traditional Khmer skirts, and the Elders reinforced the Khmer fittings with Cambodian-themed ties.

A deep debt of gratitude was felt toward Heavenly Father and His Son for their gracious oversight of this special musical addition to the Cambodian Temple Groundbreaking Ceremony upcoming.

We were able to help out on the day of the video recording of the choir, the choir consisted of local Khmer missionaries (current and past), and a few foreign missionaries), they spent days practicing the song with music arranged/adopted by Sister Sellers, they pre-recorded the song ahead of time, due to Covid restriction, we divided the 30 plus choir into three different groups and take videos of the three groups singing.  We made cookies as a treat for both the missionaries and the photographers who did the shoots for us.  The final product was professionally done.  We loved the beautiful sceneries, the sun raise behind the choir on the first few pictures, the perfect lighting while we were in the front of Independent Monument and finally at the church building!   Cambodia is a blessed land and with the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we pray and hope that it will become a land of peace and growth for its citizens.

September 18, 2021:  We were not able to physically attend the dedication prayer/ceremony but it was videoed and broadcasted in Khmer.  Our Mission President was assigned to give the dedicatory prayer, even though we don't understand the words he spoke but we could feel the emotion and the love and gratitude he expressed to our Father in Heaven for the wonderful blessing that a temple will bring the this land!  We are so grateful to be part of this historic moment in the history of Cambodia!