Sunday, February 17, 2008

Sunday Message - O Pioneers!

Do a google image search of the name Kim Ho Jik and only one relevant picture will come up. A tiny image of the man standing with his family. But while this man may be a complete unknown here in the US, he is the George Washington of Korean Latter-day Saints.

I will spare you a complete biography of this man. It is enough to know that he was the first Korean Mormon ever. Baptized in the Susquehanna river (like Joseph Smith) in 1951, he took the gospel back to war-torn Korea that same year. In the short 8 years between his baptism and death, Dr. Kim was president of several colleges and served in the cabinet of president Syngman Rhee as vice minister of education. He used that position to convince the Korean government to officially recognize the LDS church and then to allow LDS missionaries to proselyte. In the church, he served as District President and taught Sunday School until the day he died. An entire nation was opened to the gospel because of this man's faith and courage. He is a father and a pioneer.

I'm sorry this entry is so boring. But I am inspired every time I learn about this man and hopefully you'll recognize his name and pay attention the next time you hear of him.