[1] LDS missionaries briefly visited Asia in 1851[2]: 43  Three missionaries—Hosea Stout, James Lewis, and Chapman Duncan—arrived in Hong Kong, which was, at that time, a British colony, on April 28, 1853.

[4]: 43 In 1949, the LDS Church began missionary activities in Hong Kong and Macao, but was unable to visit the mainland due to the Communist victory in the Chinese Civil War.

[3][2]: 44  LDS Church leaders and lawyers met with religious affairs officials and reported positively concerning the prospect of expanding into China.

Since 1979, Brigham Young University (BYU) performance groups have held tours in China to the approbation of Chinese political and business leaders.

[2]: 44 [5] Future church president Russell M. Nelson, who was also a surgeon, was recognized as an honorary professor at Shandong Medical College in 1985.

[3] After 1996, meetings became less publicized as the Chinese state sought to avoid inspiring other religious organizations to make similar demands for greater autonomy.

[2]: 45  The website confirmed that officially-approved congregations had existed in China since 2004, and reiterated the restrictions on the church's religious activities imposed by Chinese regulations.

[7] In response, Shanghai's Municipal Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau issued statements denying any knowledge of plans to build such a temple, indicating that it is "wishful thinking" and "not based in reality" and that foreigners are not allowed to establish places of worship in China.

[2]: 47 The LDS Church is not officially recognized by the national government in Mainland China, and operates under restrictions on fellowshipping and proselytism.

[1] Sociologist Pierre Vendassi states that the LDS Church has achieved a "precarious, but no less real, status of recognition" in practice.

[2]: 50 According to writer Robert Farley, the church is benefitted by good U.S.-China relations because it relies on converting Chinese nationals while they are overseas.

The LDS Church sees a significant flow members moving in and out of Macau causing fluctuations in membership and congregations.

[11] As of December 31, 2022, the LDS Church counts 24,611 members, 1 temple, 1 mission, 6 stakes, 30 wards, and 5 branches in Hong Kong.