LDS Mission Outreach among Nepali-Bhutanese and Karen Refugees in Salt Lake City, Utah

At cumorah.com, we are writing a case study on recent LDS growth among Nepali-Bhutanese and Karen refugees in the Salt Lake City area. The Church opened its first Karen-speaking branch in 2009 to meet the needs of increasing numbers of Karen refugees joining the Church. The Karen are an ethnic minority group in eastern Burma who have been targetted by the current political regime in Burma, resulting in many fleeing to refugee camps in neighboring Thailand. Earlier this year, the Church opened its first Nepali-speaking branch in the United States in Salt Lake City to service an increasing number of Nepali-Bhutanese refugees joining the Church. These refugees are ethnic Nepalis who lived in Bhutan but have fled the country into refugee camps in neighboring Nepal and India and, like the Karen, are being accepted by the United States and resettled in many major cities such as Salt Lake City. We are looking for any current information on the language usage, convert retention, receptivity to LDS teachings and proselytism efforts, and humanitarian and development work relating to these two people groups. Please comment if you have additional information or insight.