Hindu Leader Rajan Zed Makes History Through Prayers in Sanpete County, Utah
Hindu prayers are making their way through Latter-day Saint-dominated Sanpete County, Utah — and they’re marking a place in the history books in the process.
When Hindu statesman Rajan Zed offered the prayer in the Ephraim city council on April 7, it was believed to be the first time in Ephraim City history that a member of Hinduism had offered a prayer, Ephraim Mayor John Scott said. When Zed gave the invocation in the Sanpete County commission on March 16, it was reportedly the first time since its founding 171 years ago that the commission started its meeting with Hindu prayers, according to a press release. Also, Zed offered the prayer in the April 13 Mt. Pleasant city council meeting. Mt. Pleasant Mayor Michael Olsen wasn’t sure if that was a first for the city.
Zed reached out to both Scott and Olsen, at least.
“I had such a good feeling about his prayer and his attitude,” Scott told me.
“It was good,” Olsen told me. “I liked it. I did. It was great to have a little different culture.”
Scott said that Ephraim “welcome(s) all denominations” and their prayers and that the city has had many different members of denominations give prayers.
