The first Latter-day Saint meetinghouse in Azerbaijan was recently inaugurated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a dedication service presided over by Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
“This is a historic day, in Azerbaijan, for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” said Elder Bednar at the building’s Nov. 13 inauguration.
“We are honored and delighted to be here … and to be able to dedicate this facility where we will meet and worship. We are grateful and excited to be here in Azerbaijan.”
Azerbaijan is a country in the world’s Caucasus region, which spans eastern Europe and western Asia, and has become a place where Latter-day Saints are growing increasingly active in community service and humanitarian efforts, according to a recent release on and western Asia, and has become a place where Latter-day Saints are growing increasingly active in community service and humanitarian efforts, according to a recent release on Asia, and has become a place where Latter-day Saints are growing increasingly active in community service and humanitarian efforts, according to a recent release on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
In this region, the church is also furthering collaborations with local partners to promote education, self-reliance and religious harmony. And the new meetinghouse — located in Baku, Azerbaijan — will help provide a space where local Latter-day Saints can worship together each Sunday, as well as host a variety of youth, family history, and other social and community events.
“The opening of this building is a witness to everyone that the Azerbaijani society is further expanding its cultural richness and openness to different religions,” stated local chairman Ramin Mammadov. The head of the state committee overseeing affairs with religious associations in Azerbaijan, Mammadov thanked Elder Bednar for attending the inauguration and participating in “this significant and happy event for the church and for the country of Azerbaijan.”
Accompanying Elder Bednar at the building’s inauguration was his wife, Sister Susan Bednar, along with other church leaders, including Elder Jack N. Gerard, first counselor in the church’s Europe Central Area presidency. More than 40 other invited guests, including local government representatives, religious officials and business leaders also attended the inauguration.
There, these guests were able to tour the building and receive a brief explanation on how worship services are organized in the Church of Jesus Christ.
The new building’s inauguration is a “significant milestone, as we are building a foundation of faith for many years to come,” Elder Gerard said at the inauguration.
“We love our Azerbaijani brothers and sisters and look forward to continued growth across this region of the world.”
The Church of Jesus Christ was officially registered in Azerbaijan in July 2024, according to the church’s release. This opened the way for the local Latter-day Saints to meet and secure a permanent meetinghouse. And the “inauguration of the new meetinghouse aligns closely with Azerbaijan’s vision of promoting freedom of religion or belief and fostering multicultural harmony,” according to the release.
Following the inauguration ceremony, guests attended a luncheon where both Elder Bednar and Elder Gerard expressed thanks for the warm welcome given to the church in Azerbaijan. In the evening, members and friends of the church — totaling nearly 200 people — also attended the building’s dedication service.
“Our greatest desire is that this will be a holy place,” Elder Bednar said in prayer, as he dedicated the new meetinghouse. “We live in a remarkable season in the history of the earth. We can see much in the world that is troublesome, and surely there is great commotion in the world. But in spite of all that turmoil, in this moment, in this place, we feel great peace.”
Recently, Elder Bednar has also attended the Festival of Tolerance and Coexistence in the United Arab Emirates, has visited a BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, has praised the people of Bahrain for furthering interfaith dialogue and has met with Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam of the Muslim Council of Elders.
The council’s “efforts to promote peace and coexistence are very similar to our hopes, to bring more understanding and collaboration into this divided world,” Elder Bednar said in his meeting with Abdelsalam.
Abdelsalam visited Utah this September and met with church leaders, including President Dallin H. Oaks, who was then serving as first counselor to President Russell M. Nelson. During his visit, the Muslim judge also met with the Deseret News and shared how religions and the media can be a “force for unity.” See what he shared here.
