Published: February 15, 2008

Hindu and Mormon Leaders Examine Similarities

Share With Friends

A prominent Hindu leader met a senior leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) in Salt Lake City (Utah) yesterday and discussed similarities in both the religions.

Rajan Zed, prominent leader of Hindus and Indo-Americans, and Neil L. Anderson, member of the Presidency of the Seventy of LDS Church, met in LDS headquarters in Salt Lake City, and talked about various issues concerning their religions.

Similarities examined were "law of the harvest" of LDS and karma doctrine of Hinduism; life does not begin with birth nor end with death; Brahman is unlimited and pervasive, so is the Light of Christ; Bhakti in Hinduism and worshipping Heavenly Father through devotion.

Rajan Zed with an LDS leader Neil Andersen

Rajan Zed recited the historical first Hindu prayer in Utah Senate and visited prominent LDS leader Brigham Young's grave in downtown Salt Lake City before the meeting yesterday.

Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has no datable beginning but some scholars put it around 3,000 BCE. It has no founder, no one authoritative figure, and no single prophet or holy book. There are about one billion Hindus in the world. Moksha (liberation) is the ultimate goal of Hinduism.

LDS Church was started by Joseph Smith in 1820 and currently has about 14 million followers worldwide. Jesus Christ is viewed as head of the church and central to LDS belief is the Restoration. Thomas S. Monson is President of the Church who is also considered a prophet.

judythpiazza@newsblaze.com