India Bangalore Mission

Free resources about the India Bangalore Mission:

• Mission address and phone number
• Mission map
• Video interviews with returned missionaries
• Missionary blogs
• Facebook groups
• LDS Mission t-shirts and gifts
• List of past mission presidents
• Cultural articles written by returned missionaries
• Survey with RMs

*Other Mission Pages: India LDS Missions.

India Bangalore Mission Address

Here’s a recent address for the India Bangalore Mission. We try to keep this information up to date, but it’s a good idea to check the address with several sources, including your mission packet or the mission office.

India Bangalore Mission Map

Here’s a link to the mission map for the India Bangalore Mission (LDS). To access the official, up-to-date LDS.org map for the Bangalore Mission:

1. Log into your LDS account here.
2. Click here.

Videos with India Bangalore RMs

Here are in-depth YouTube video interviews with returned missionaries from the India Bangalore Mission.  We interview hundreds of returned missionaries each year, so check back regularly to see new RM interviews.

LDS-Friendly Videos about India

Here are LDS-friendly educational videos about India. We scoured YouTube to find the best quality videos about India, that are free from inappropriate music, immodesty and profanity.

India Bangalore Missionary Blogs

Here’s a list of LDS missionary blogs for the India Bangalore Mission. This list includes the missionary’s name, URL and when their blog was updated.

*Send your missionary a gift (mission-specific shirts, ties, Christmas stockings/ornaments, pillowcases, etc.)

India Bangalore Mission Groups

Here are India Bangalore Mission Groups- for LDS missionary moms, returned missionaries, mission presidents and other alumni of the Bangalore Mission.

1. India Bangalore Mission Facebook Group (255 members)
2. Who served 1996-98, Bangalore Mission Group (8 members)
3. Bangalore and New Delhi Mission Moms (LDS) Group (4 members)

India Bangalore Mission T-Shirts

Here are T-shirts for the India Bangalore Mission!

Shirt designs include India Bangalore Mission logo/emblem shirts and Called to Serve shirts. The shirts make great gifts for pre-missionaries, returned missionaries and missionaries currently serving. LDS Mission shirts come in all sizes: Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large, up to 4XL.  The mission designs are printed on white shirts and are shipped to you.

*Simply click on a shirt design to view the details and submit an order. The designs on mission t-shirts may also be printed on other LDS mission gifts, including: India Bangalore missionary aprons, Christmas stockings, ties, pillow cases, teddy bears and Christmas ornaments.

*Click here to browse Bangalore Mission gifts

India Bangalore Mission Presidents

Here’s a list of current and past Mission Presidents of the India Bangalore LDS Mission.

1. 2016-2019, Fred M. Mortensen
2. 2013-2016, David M. Berrett
3. 2010-2013, Randy D. Funk
4. 2007-2010, Melvin R. Nichols
5. 2004-2007, Brent Reynolds Bonham
6. 2001-2004, Karl Earl Nelson
7. 1998-2001, Ebenezer Solomon
8. 1995-1998, Neil C. Twitchell
9. 1992-1995, Gurcharan Singh Gill

India LDS Statistics (2015)

• Church Membership: 12,257
• Missions: 2
• Temples: 0
• Congregations: 43
• Family History Centers: 6

Helpful Articles about India

Coming soon..

India Bangalore Missionary Survey

Here are survey responses from India Bangalore RMs, to give you a snapshot into what it’s like to live in the mission.

When did you serve?

• October 2008 – October 2010 (Reid)
• 2010-2012 (Vasanth)
• 2006-2008 (Ravi)
• 2013-2015 (Brad)
• 2012-2014 (Mark)

What areas did you serve in?

• Rajamundry,Vizak, Hydrabad,Chennai. (Ravi)
• Colorado Denver North, Bangalore Hyderabad, Visak, Rajahmundry, Philippines Angeles. (Brad)
• Hyderabad, Rajahmundry, Vishakapatnam, and Bangalore. (Mark)

What were some favorite foods?

• Biryani, butter chicken, tikka masala, and kaja. (Reid)
• Tandoori Chicken with rotis at Seven 11 Coimbatore. Meals from Nagarjuna in Bangalore. Parottas from Erode. Fry piece Chicken Biryani from Rajahmundry. Pork next to chapel in Chennai. Meals at Sai Parlor, Vizag. (Vasanth)
• Briyani, cheese Masala dosa. (Ravi)
•  Everything!! 😁 (Brad)
• Butter Chicken Masala, hyderabadi dum biryani, beet root fry. chicken curry. (Mark)

What was a funny experience?

• When I saw my first elephant it came just roaming the streets. They’re not an every day experience, but they’re a weekly sight. Daily, depending on where you serve. (Reid)
• Basket ball at Chennai Chapel. Jogging in Rajahmundry. Indoor exercises in Erode. (Vasanth)
• When I fell off a running bus. (Ravi)
• Adjusting to the local customs 😉 (Brad)
• Getting the cold sweats when you realize that you can no longer hold out for toilet paper. 🙂 (Mark)

What was a crazy experience?

• There was a lot of opposition to the Church and Christians in general. Make sure your knocking shoes double as track shoes. (Reid)
• Surrounded by mob in Bangalore. Facing AG church members trained by pastor in Chennai. Pastors in Rajahmundry. (Vasanth)
• When I tore my knee ligament. (Ravi)
• Getting on and off buses.. Crossing the street, riding a bike. (Brad)
• Learning how to deal with all the crazy traffic and how to get on and off the buses safely. (Mark)

What was a spiritual experience?

• There are so many people who’ve never heard of the Savior. Seeing so many families go from worshiping Hindu Gods, to swing the power of the Atonement, is incredible. (Reid)
• Investigator testifying that they knew we would find them. Watching, how the Atonement brings the change into individual’s life – and within me. Understanding the Love of Heavenly Father for his Children – How He is mindful of every individual. (Vasanth)
• Baptizing the orphans in Chennai. (Ravi)
• While I saw miracles happen, I think that +80% would be doing study’s daily. (Brad)
• Feeling the Spirit very strongly as you are kneeling in prayer with an investigator when they receive an answer. (Mark)

What are some interesting facts about the Bangalore Mission?

• Most transfers are done via plane. We spoke English, sort of. And the church is very young there- about 30 years old. (Reid)
• The chapel in Rajahmundry is termed AC (Air conditioned) church. In Chennai, church is referred as Devil’s church. Erode has the best parottas in the world. (Vasanth)
• Couldn’t baptize people who didn’t speak any English. (Ravi)
• Let me ask what isn’t interesting? 😜 it’s one of a kind. (Brad)
• No toilet paper so yeah have fun. 🙂 You take your shoes off all the time when entering homes so wear slip on shoes. You will haggle for prices on most everything. You spend a lot of time stuck inside because of protests and festivals. (Mark)

What was the weather like?

• Hot! Except for monsoon season. Monsoon season varies based on city, but it can last up to three months. During that time you barely see the sun. (Reid)
• Bangalore – Chill. Chennai – Hot Vizag & Rajahmundry – Humid. Hyderabad – Moderate Erode & Coimbatore – Seasonal (Vasanth)
• Very, very hot in summer. (Ravi)
• HOT. (Brad)
• Even if you use an umbrella you’re still going to get drenched during the rainy season.  (Mark)

Any things you really like about the area/people?

• The people of India are extremely curious and polite. You can find people to teach just by staring at a wall. They will want to know who you are and why you’re staring at a wall. Then they’ll invite you over and feed you and listen to your message. They truly are an amazing people. (Reid)
• Tamilnadu – Welcoming and humble Karnataka – Prideful and I-don’t-care attitude. Rajahmundry – Humblest. Hyderabad – Helpful KGF – Humble Vizag – take it easy. (Vasantha)
• Very interesting and open hearted people. (Ravi)
• Everything. Loving humble and great people. (Brad)
• The people are so loving and generous to missionaries. (Mark)

Any packing/clothing advice?

• Again, make sure your shoes can also be track shoes. Short sleeve shirts and breathable attire are a must. And be prepared to throw away many ties that turn brown from dust and sweat. (Reid)
• 5 white Shirts + 5 Pants, 2 set night wear, 2 set sport wear, 1 casual wear, 2 set shoes, 1 set slippers, 2 towels, 3 ties (Vasanth)
• In summer, wear light, long sleeves or your hands will burn. (Ravi)
• Invest in good shoes! Missionary shoes, prophets, hush puppies or something like that. If you need a visa, wait in the Philippines like many of us, buy Easysoft the rubber shoes there. They are beyond durable!! (Brad)
• Your white shirts are going to get trashed, so bring some and have extras that you hold onto for a while without wearing so you have clean ones to start out the 2nd year with. you’re only allowed one checked bag and have limited weight (around 44lbs) so leave all the unnecessary stuff behind. (Mark)

What blessings did you receive from serving a mission?

• “The beauty of your future wife depends on how hard you work on your mission.” Besides that, India will teach you patience and love beyond compare. And being in a country with abject poverty is extremely humbling.
• I witnessed heaven’s opened the windows to shower blessings on me and my family in my absence. Profound understanding of the Atonement. And it’s effect in my life. Could look at things through Heaven’s eyes. (Vasanth)
• Better understanding of gospel and strengthened my testimony. (Ravi)
• If I start, I might not stop..😇 (Brad)
• I learned to be humble and to love and serve all of those around me, and to not be judgmental of others. Also to appreciate the quality of life I have. Most importantly, I learned to be patient with others and myself. (Mark)

What are some skills you gained?

• Leadership, patience, the ability to make things work while crossing different cultures. (Reid)
• Teaching, Public Speaking, Ready to face everything attitude, Leadership traits, Planning and Goal setting, Training a group. (Vasanth)
• People skills and communication skills. (Ravi)
• So many. 😊 (Brad)
• I learned how to relate and to truly care about others around me. (Mark)

What do you wish you knew/did at the beginning of your mission?

• How different their culture is. The Gospel and the Church are true everywhere. But the culture is a complete 180 from ours. (Reid)
• – I wished that I knew how to treat my companion and keep him happy, where and where not to loose my control or tongue. More willing to obey mission rules. (Vasanth)
• Language. (Ravi)
• Worked smarter not harder..(Brad)
• I wish I had made more of an effort to be exactly obedient to all the mission rules from the start, no matter what others around me are doing. (Mark)

Any advice/testimony for pre-missionaries going to Bangalore?

• Learn to not use your left hand in public. Eat some spicy Indian food before, and it won’t be nearly as spicy as it is there. Don’t be a proud American. Learn to be humble and see the beauty of India through it’s faults. (Reid)
• – Trust in the Lord with all your heart, might and mind. Be OBEDIENT – no matter what. Give everything that you have to His mission. (Vasanth)
• There will be challenges but stay strong and have faith in the Lord. (Ravi)
• If I can do it, then you can too 😁 have faith be obedient work, always be actively sharing your purpose, don’t doubt, be nice and learn from your companion. (Brad)
• Be Exactly obedient even if you don’t understand why. NEVER give in to peer pressure, be open and Honest with your Mission President at all times even if you have done something wrong. You will be grateful for the blessings that come from obedience. (Mark)

What was a funny language mistake?

• It took me four days of constant praying before I understood an Indian and the same time before I spoke to someone without them looking at my companion for a translation….even though we were all speaking English! (Reid)
• When we tried to speak like the people there. (Ravi)
• Speaking Tagalog.😆 All day, every day. (Brad)
• Trying to learn how to communicate with people in India is a bit challenging. I had developed a broken English accent that I would use when speaking to native people in order to help them understand me. Well, I had an Indian American companion who spoke perfectly good English (he was from Utah). Well one day, I started using the accent out of habit while speaking with him. He stopped suddenly and looked at me and said I speak English you know and then laughed at me. 🙂 (Mark)