Just a few miles from the North Korean border sits a small brick building--the West Casey Chapel. Built back in 1954 for UN soldiers, today it hosts weekly services for Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, and LDS congregations. I attend the LDS Korea North Military Branch which consists of sacrament and priesthood/relief society. Starting at 2 pm, Sunday services last 2 hours.In the North Military Branch there is a branch president and one counselor, a branch clerk, a branch mission leader, an elders quorum president, and a relief society president. The sacrament is blessed and passed by two priesthood holders. All musical numbers are accompanied by disc and CD player with no chorister.
There are about fifteen to twenty members that come out to church each week depending on field assignments or weekend duty. One couple has a small baby. The local missionaries attend as do a missionary couple from Idaho Falls, Brother and Sister Pickett. From time to time, area district leaders attend and preside over meetings as well.
There are holiday socials, family home evening gatherings, and monthly temple trips to the Korea Seoul Temple which is about two hours away by Metro. To ease branch logistics, tithes are mailed by hand to Salt Lake. The overall spirit of the Saints is good and the leadership is faithful.
