What once served as one of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ many church meetinghouses in Utah recently opened as a new mandir, or temple, of the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha — a socio-spiritual organization within the Hindu faith commonly referred to as BAPS.
For BAPS followers, mandirs are “sacred places of worship that serve as centers of peace, devotion and community service for all Hindus and people of faith,” reads a recent release on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
In celebration of the new mandir located in southwest Salt Lake County, leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ — among them General Authority Seventy Elder Michael Cziesla — attended the building’s grand opening ceremony held Saturday, Sept. 13.
“We are so pleased with this wonderful relationship that we have established over so many years,” said Elder Cziesla, addressing those gathered for the grand opening ceremony.
“There is so much that brings us together,” he said. “We are a temple-building people and you are a temple-building people.”
Prior to opening of the new BAPS mandir, followers of the faith organization would gather in homes and rented halls, according to the church’s release. Now, the new mandir will serve BAPS followers as a “permanent home for worship and community activities.”
The new mandir is “more than a building,” said Divyacharandas Swami, a BAPS head swami who oversees the faith organization’s 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 said knowing the new mandir’s 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.”
While the new mandir is the first in Utah, according to the church’s release, this is not the first time the Church of Jesus Christ has collaborated with and supported BAPS’ establishment of sacred spaces.
“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, president of BAPS North America West region.
“Both organizations,” he continued, “are deeply committed to strengthening spirituality, nurturing families and serving society through humanitarian initiatives.”
The opening of the new mandir in southwest Salt Lake County follows a June visit between the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ and Pujya Brahmaviharidas Swami, head of the BAPS mandir in Abu Dhabi.
People of all faiths are invited to visit the new mandir in Salt Lake County and participate in service opportunities.
