The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) (Korean: 예수 그리스도 후기 성도 교회) was unofficially established in South Korea as early as World War II due to religious influence by LDS servicemen; however, Korean people did not begin to get baptized until the missionary efforts of LDS servicemen during the Korean War. Kim Ho Jik was the first Korean person to be baptized in the LDS Church on July 29, 1951 in New York. Two of his children were of the first four Korean people baptized in Korea on August 3, 1952. LDS Church presence and missionary work was officially established on April 20, 1956 with the arrival of two missionaries: Don G. Powell and Richard L. Detton. The Korean Mission opened on July 8, 1962 with Gail E. Carr as the first president of the mission. Successful missionary work led to the growth of the LDS Church in the 1960s and 1970s leading to the organization of the first stake in Korea in 1973 and the dedication of the first temple in Seoul on December 14, 1985. Translation of the Book of Mormon was a lengthy process that commenced in the 1950s, however translators had a difficult time finishing the project. Kim Jo Hik aided translation throughout the process, but the translation was completed by Han In Sang and published on March 29, 1967. A re-translation of the Book of Mormon was completed in 2005. As of 2021, the LDS Church reported 88,603 members in 100 congregations in South Korea, making it the third largest body of LDS Church members in Asia behind the Philippines and Japan. History 1950–1962: The Korean War and missionary efforts Fresh after being released after president of the Japan Mission, Alma Owen Taylor and missionary Frederick A. Caine visited Korea for a few weeks to determine whether Korea was ready for missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Taylor recognized their increasing interest in Christianity, but wondered if it was purely political interest. This represented the first contact of the LDS Church with Korea; however, the first prolonged influence of the LDS Church in Korea was by United States servicemen stationed in Korea during World War II. The first baptism in Korea was of a U.S soldier. The first Korean member of the church was Kim Ho Jik, who joined the church on July 29, 1951