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Leaders from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints participated in the grand opening ceremony for the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Mandir, a Hindu temple, in southwest Salt Lake County on September 13, 2025. The event marked the establishment of Utah's first mandir by BAPS, a Hindu socio-spiritual organization led by His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj.
The new mandir was previously used as a Latter-day Saint meetinghouse. It will now serve as a permanent place for worship and community gatherings for Hindus in the area, who previously met in homes and rented halls.
“This is more than a building,” said Divyacharandas Swami, Head Swami overseeing BAPS activities in the Western United States. “It is a promise to our children that they will always have a place to connect with their faith, culture, and each other.”
Divyacharandas Swami also addressed the significance of using a building with religious history. “The fact that this beautiful building was previously a home for faith makes this moment even more meaningful,” he said. “We feel we are simply adding a new chapter to a story of devotion that has blessed this ground for years.”
Elder Michael Cziesla, General Authority Seventy for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, attended with his wife Margret and other guests. He noted the longstanding relationship between Latter-day Saints and BAPS: “We are so pleased with this wonderful relationship that we have established over so many years. There is so much that brings us together,” he said. “We are a temple-building people and you are a temple-building people.”
After the event Elder Cziesla commented on his experience: “They were so kind, they were so welcoming, they were so loving,” said Elder Cziesla. “This was an uplifting spiritual experience for me to be here.”
Latter-day Saints have supported BAPS' efforts before; interfaith cooperation contributed to opening another mandir in Chino, California.
BAPS has built more than 1,300 mandirs worldwide and maintains over 5,000 congregation centers globally. In North America there are more than 120 mandirs including one of the world's largest—the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in Robbinsville, New Jersey.
“We pray that the bond between BAPS and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints allows the two global faith traditions to work together in harmony to inspire goodness and uplift communities,” said Hemang Dave, regional president for BAPS North America West region. “Both organizations are deeply committed to strengthening spirituality, nurturing families and serving society through humanitarian initiatives.”
Community members from all backgrounds have been invited to visit the new mandir and participate in service opportunities.
