The first meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Azerbaijan was inaugurated by Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the city of Baku, on Thursday, November 13, 2025. Elder Bednar was accompanied by Elder Jack N. Gerard, First Counselor in the Europe Central Area Presidency. Sister Susan Bednar and Sister Claudette Gerard were also in attendance, as well as other Church leaders.
The historic event marked a significant milestone for the Church in the Caucasus region. More than forty invited guests, including government officials, religious and business leaders, and other distinguished dignitaries, attended the inauguration ceremony. The guests had the chance to tour the building and receive a brief explanation about how worship services of the Church are organized.
“This is an historic day, in Azerbaijan, for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints”, Elder Bednar said. “We are honoured and delighted to be here and formally recognized, and to be able to dedicate this facility where we will meet and worship. We are grateful and excited to be here in Azerbaijan”.
Chairman Ramin Mammadov, who heads the State Committee on Affairs with Religious Associations of Azerbaijan added, “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. I would like to thank Elder Bednar for being present in this inauguration and participate in this significant and happy event for the Church and for the country of Azerbaijan”, he concluded.
A Moment of Friendship and Faith
The inauguration included a ribbon-cutting ceremony performed jointly by Elder Bednar, Elder Gerard, Ramin Mammadov, and His Virtue Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazadeh. Other religious leaders where present. This symbolic moment highlighted the spirit of friendship and mutual respect that has characterized the relationship between the Church and the Azerbaijani people.
Following the ceremony, guests attended a sit-down luncheon, where Elder Bednar and Elder Gerard expressed gratitude for the warm welcome extended to the Church in Azerbaijan. They also spoke about the shared values of faith, family, and service that unite believers of all backgrounds. In addition to the on-going humanitarian efforts, one of the programs of the Church that is already being offered for free in the Baku meetinghouse is English Connect. The program is designed to help individuals learn and improve English language skills.
A Growing Presence in Azerbaijan
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was officially registered in Azerbaijan in July 2024, a development that opened the way for the local congregation to meet and securing a permanent meetinghouse. The new facility will serve as a spiritual home for Church members and a centre for humanitarian and interfaith activities.
The inauguration of the new meetinghouse aligns closely with Azerbaijan’s vision of promoting freedom of religion or belief and fostering multicultural harmony. The country’s long-standing commitment to mutual respect among diverse faiths provides a welcoming environment for people of all beliefs to worship and contribute to society.
Elder Gerard expressed appreciation for the nation’s openness to dialogue and cooperation, a trend he has seen and experienced for many years in the Caucasus and Central Asia region. “This is a significant milestone as we are building a foundation of faith for many years to come. We love our Azerbaijani brothers and sisters and look forward to continued growth across this region of the world”, he said.
Another significant example of the developing relationship between the Church and Azerbaijan is the teaching of a class of Azerbaijani language at the Brigham Young University, a Church-sponsored higher education institution in Provo, Utah. This is unique in all North America.
A New Chapter in the Region
In the evening, a special devotional meeting was held for members and friends of the Church, with almost 200 people in attendance. Elder Bednar offered a dedicatory prayer, formally consecrating the building as a place of worship and community gathering.
“Our greatest desire is that this will be a holy place”, Elder Bednar prayed. He also stated in the prayer that “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”.
The dedication of the Baku meetinghouse marks an important step in the Church’s growth across Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and in Central Asia, where members are increasingly active in community service and humanitarian efforts. The Church continues to collaborate with local partners to promote education, self-reliance, and religious harmony.
The new meetinghouse will host Sunday worship services, youth programs, family history activities, and community events open to people of all backgrounds. During the week, it will also be opened for other social and community activities and other programs offered by the Church.
At the end of the day, His Virtue Sheikh-ul-Islam, who leads the Caucasus Muslim Board and is the most senior Muslim leader in the region, hosted Elder Bednar and other Church leaders in Baku. A strong relationship between Sheikh ul-Islam and senior leaders of the Church has been developed over the years, and this gathering was one more step in strengthening those ties and expressing appreciation for his help in getting the Church recognized in Azerbaijan.
Sheikh-ul Islam has visited the Church’s headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he met with the former President Russell M. Nelson, and more recently with President Dallin H. Oaks. Those meetings deepened ties of understanding and respect between the two faith communities. For many years the Church’s humanitarian effort has been in Azerbaijan and has run several projects and initiatives with the Azerbaijani authorities and with other international and local entities.