SALT LAKE CITY-The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced the release of a new pamphlet called Muslims and Latter-day Saints: Beliefs, Values and Lifestyles.
This pamphlet was released on the heels of an October 2021 announcement by Elders David A. Bednar and Gerrit W. Gong of the Salt Lake City-based faith’s Quorum of Twelve Apostles at Brigham Young University during a conference on Islam.
This booklet entails collaboration with Muslim imams.
In working with Muslim colleagues, Elder Bednar noted how many similarities these two faiths have.
While acknowledging differences between the two faiths, Elder Bednar noted several shared truths.
- God is omniscient. Faith should be expressed in thought, word and action.
- Prophets are vital in providing guidance from God
- Jesus Christ (while not the Savior of mankind in Islam, He is considered a great prophet by adherents) plays an important, though different, role for both faiths
- Revelation from God given through messengers as Scripture is the foundation for learning God’s will, keeping commitments and participating in faithful worship
- Human beings must communicate with God through daily prayer
- God delights in purity and chastity
- Women are essential in society and in the home
- Family is the fundamental unit in society and an essential source of joy
This pamphlet is accompanied by a 30-minute video wherein Elders Bednar and Gong discuss these similarities.
Elder Gong contributes by reading from an 1841 Nauvoo City ordinance that shows religious tolerance during the beginning of the Latter-day Saint Movement.
The pamphlet is available on churchofjesuschrist.org in Arabic, English, Farsi, French, Spanish and Turkish. German and Russian versions will come at a future date.
It is also available on the Gospel Library app by going to “Books and Lessons,” and opening “Interfaith Relations.”
