Rajan Zed was a guest speaker at the Dunedin Interfaith Council meeting, held at the Dunedin Baha’i Centre, last Sunday 7 October.
Zed is a Hindu statesman and a noted leader in interfaith relations from the Indian Association of Northern Nevada, based in the city of Reno, Nevada in the United States.
Geoff Mitchell, Max Gillies and Isaac Anderson represented The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the gathering. After the meeting they spent some time talking with the visitor.
"Rajan is extremely knowledgeable about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," said Gillies.
"He quoted the membership statistics and acknowledged that it was one of the fastest growing religions in the world. He commended the Church on its youth and young single adult programs and their activity in the Church."
There is a Hindu temple near Brigham Young University (BYU) in the city of Provo, Utah. BYU is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Zed enjoyed the influx of BYU students who attended a recent Hindu celebration—drawn, no doubt in part, he said, "by the offer of celebratory food!"
Zed called himself a "friend and ally of the Church," and has attended a Temple Open House.
The Church's Newsroom website states: "A respect for the diverse beliefs and unique contributions of all the world’s faiths is one of the hallmarks of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. From the earliest days of the Church, Joseph Smith elevated the principle of religious liberty and tolerance: 'We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may' (Articles of Faith 1:11)."
Read more about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and interfaith relations.
Watch a short video about temples in the Church: