The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints participated with friends of many faith traditions in offering support for the global call by the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity for a special day of prayer on May 14.
Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared support on his Facebook and Twitter accounts saying, “Our hearts are joined with our brothers and sisters in the Muslim, Catholic, and other faith traditions in their efforts for this important cause.”
As we join with the UAE in a “Prayer for Humanity” day of fasting on May 14, the hearts and prayers of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints unite with our brothers and sisters of other faith traditions as we petition God for relief from COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/wm22iAkWgr
— David A. Bednar (@BednarDavidA) May 14, 2020
Elder Anthony D. Perkins, president, and Elder Larry S. Kacher, first counselor in the Church’s Middle East/Africa North Area, participated in the Virtual Interfaith Ramadan Gathering, hosted by the United Arab Emirates Embassy in Washington, D.C., United States May 13.
During the virtual gathering, Ambassador to the US Yousef Al Otaiba, UAE Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development Noura Al Kaabi and Permanent Representative to the UN Lana Nusseibeh welcomed representatives from the Muslim, Christian, Jewish and Sikh communities in the UAE, and recognized The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recent announcement to build a temple in Dubai.
H.E. Noura Al Kaabi shared on Twitter, “There is a long-established tradition of coexistence in the UAE that has been shaped by the centuries, lived and promoted by our great founding father. To that end, we announced this year that the Church [of Jesus Christ] of Latter-day Saints will build a new temple in Dubai and join the larger community of faiths here in the UAE.”
The Church is grateful to be a part of the community in Dubai. We appreciate the opportunity to join with others in the cause of promoting faith.
— The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (@Ch_JesusChrist) May 14, 2020
In the UAE, Abu Dhabi Stake President Marcus Oates joined faith leaders in a virtual event hosted by the UAE Ministry of Tolerance, "Prayers for Humanity," on May 14.
H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, UAE Minister of Tolerance, opened the program with a message of unity. “May our prayers inspire hope in our heart,” he said. “May God Almighty help us reach out towards one another in the spirit of human fraternity and a commitment to live together in peace, safety and good health.”
President Oates spoke of the power of fasting: “In times of trouble and need, when we turn to the God of the Universe, He who created all, with supplication and fasting, He will hear and answer our prayers.”
In his Facebook post, Elder Bednar said, “As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we believe in a living God who hears and answers prayers. We believe that fasting and prayer can connect our hearts to the power of God. I pray that each of us will continue to petition God for relief from this global pandemic.”