The language of the gospel is transcending barriers in the Asia Area and the new Asia North Area as the message goes forward in a region where hundreds of languages are spoken and where more than half the world's population lives, according to area presidents.

Elder Eugene W. Hansen of the Seventy presides over the Asia North Area, which was created by the First Presidency in a division of the Asia Area and includes Japan and Korea. Elder Hansen's counselors are Elder Han In Sang and Elder Sam Shimabukuro. The new area, which has its headquarters in Tokyo, became effective Oct. 1.Most Church members in Asia live in Korea or Japan with 152,000 members of the Church in 36 stakes and 14 missions in the two countries, Elder Hansen observed.

The Asia Area presidency, with Elder Merlin R. Lybbert of the Seventy serving as president, will continue to work from its headquarters in Hong Kong. Elder Lybbert and his counselors, Elder Monte J. Brough and Elder John K. Carmack, preside over the area that has seven stakes, 14 districts and six missions. There are 57,000 members living in 23 different countries represented in the area. Most members in the area, however, live in Hong Kong or Taiwan.

"We have the potential to accomplish the Lord's purpose in these areas," explained Elder Hansen of the Seventy.

"The new area puts us closer to our work; therefore, we spend less time en route and more time with the people and the saints in performing our duties and responsibilities," he said.

The Asia Area extends from Mongolia and China along the Pacific Rim to India and Afghanistan.

"In the past, because of the member population and the number of stakes and missions in Japan and Korea, a great deal of attention had to be given to that area," Elder Lybbert said. "This change will let us focus on some other matters involving Church membership in Southeast Asia and also in developing relationships to the extent we can with these countries."

One mission, the Singapore Mission, includes two of the five most populous countries of the world, Singapore and India. Missionaries serving in that mission work in an area equal to the geographical span from Alaska to Washington, D.C., Elder Lybbert said.

Although the presidencies of the two areas serve with people of different countries, they face similar challenges.

"One of the challenges we face in Japan is the fact that less than 2 percent are Christian," Elder Hansen said. "The challenge is to acquaint the people with Christ and Heavenly Father and blessings that come by embracing the gospel."

Korea is about 30 percent Christian, but some of the same challenges still exist in that country, he continued.

In Japan, many people practice Buddhism and Shintoism. In Korea many practice Confucianism, Buddhism and Ch'ondogyo.

Elder Lybbert said the people of the Asia Area have a history of non-Christian backgrounds as well. Fewer than 1 percent of the population are Christians. Many are Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists and Taoists.

"As they come from these Eastern religions to Christianity, a good part of the converts to the Church in the area are those who have accepted Christianity in another form so they have some understanding of Judaic concepts.

"Our attempt has been to make sure that through the teachings and integration into the Church that they understand who God is and Jesus Christ and their relationship with the Godhead."

Elder Lybbert continued: "The presidency is excited and thrilled with the opportunity to preside over this area. Where we have had so much time taken in the north areas with membership responsibilities, now we can focus on these new countries. We are really on the frontiers here.

"About the best we can do in some areas is attempt to posture the Church so that it can gain official recognition permitting it to carry on the functions of the Church in these nations."

There are members in virtually all of the countries in the Asia Area, he continued.

What many of the countries have in common with the Church is the strong emphasis on family and their citizens' reliance on the family organization, Elder Lybbert commented.

"We share with them our belief in the family unit and emphasize particularly their relationship with deity. Missionaries work with local members to retain those who are recent converts and to reactivate those who have fallen into inactivity. Although the activity levels may not be as high as we would like to see them, we find when conferences are held that sometimes there is double the usual attendance."

In many of these countries, missionaries also teach English to serve in the community and to find some investigators as an outgrowth. Many people have a desire to learn English because they see it as the international language for business, Elder Lybbert explained.

"Some of our second generation members are now coming into leadership positions in countries such as Hong Kong and Taiwan. They are well-educated and serve in prominent civic and business positions. Most of them are returned missionaries and there's an opportunity now to really move forward with the Church as there has never been."

Elder Han, a native of Seoul, Korea, made similar comments in regards to the Asia North Area.

"We are positive that the work will move ahead with no problem. We see the possibilities. The potential is there and we are ready."

The new Asia North Area presidency is unique in that Elder Hansen's counselors have lived extensively in Japan and Korea. While Elder Han is from Korea, Elder Shimabukuro is a son of Japanese immigrants. He grew up in Hawaii, but served in Japan as a missionary, then as a mission president and as president of the Tokyo Temple.

"I am so fortunate to have counselors who bring with them the knowledge, the culture and the experience both from a Church standpoint and otherwise from both Japan and Korea," Elder Hansen remarked.

In speaking about the Japanese people, Elder Shimabukuro said members are challenged when work or school conflicts with their activity in the Church.

"But the ones who are faithful and true have somehow devoted quality time to their assignments and callings, so that is very admirable and gratifying."