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Elder David A. Bednar, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, visited the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi on November 15, 2025. He met with His Holiness Brahmavihari Swamiji, who leads the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi and manages international relations for BAPS.
During their meeting, both leaders discussed the importance of promoting harmony, peace, and service among faith communities. They spoke about shared values such as dialogue and service and described efforts by both organizations to help those in need and contribute to global peace.
Elder Bednar thanked His Holiness for his recent visit to Utah and his meeting with the First Presidency there. The delegation from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints toured the mandir, learning about its history, architectural features, and vision.
Accompanying Elder Bednar were Elder Anthony D. Perkins, Elder Adilson de Paula Parrella, Elder Roland J. Bäck from the Middle East/Africa North Area Presidency, and Elder Kelly R. Johnson from the Asia Area Presidency.
The visit builds on an ongoing relationship between the two faiths through previous meetings aimed at increasing understanding and cooperation. In February 2024, church leaders attended the Festival of Harmony during the opening celebrations of the mandir in Abu Dhabi. In June 2025, His Holiness met with senior leaders in Salt Lake City to discuss unity and service. In September 2025, church representatives attended another grand opening ceremony for a BAPS mandir in Utah.
Pranav Desai, Director of the BAPS Hindu Mandir Abu Dhabi, commented on what he sees as a symbol of devotion and unity: “The BAPS Hindu Mandir is a true reflection of the story of harmony and tolerance felt across the UAE,” he said. “It is inspiring to see how faith can bring people together. We value our friendship with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — here in Abu Dhabi and around the world.”
He added: “We were happy to host Elder Bednar, who had a wonderful and heartfelt conversation with His Holiness Brahmavihari Swamiji. His Holiness fondly recalled his meeting with the First Presidency and warmly congratulated President Dallin H. Oaks for his leadership.”
Elder Parrella also reflected on his impressions: “Since my first visit to this beautiful Hindu temple, I have been impressed — not only by the architecture but by the devotion of the people.
“They come to express their faith and to learn how to bless others. I’m honored to call these people my brothers and sisters.
“The United Arab Emirates and its leadership offer all of us a remarkable opportunity to work together and serve the community. We can all learn from each other and do something meaningful together.”
BAPS (Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha) is an organization within Hinduism focused on moral values, social service efforts, spiritual growth for individuals, as well as community outreach through its network that includes more than 1,800 temples worldwide.
Respect for diverse beliefs remains central for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well; earlier this year during World Interfaith Harmony Week in January 2024 Elder Bednar encouraged engagement across traditions: “engage in acts of learning … bridging gaps of understanding between different traditions and worldviews.”
