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| Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (middle right) and his wife, Susan, host a dinner for the Ambassador of Bahrain to the United States (middle), His Excellency Shaikh Abdulla bin Rashid Al Khalifa, in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Thursday, February 12, 2026. Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson (middle left) and her husband, Doug, were also in attendance. |
SALT LAKE CITY — In a significant step forward for international interfaith relations, Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hosted His Excellency Shaikh Abdulla bin Rashid Al Khalifa, the Bahraini Ambassador to the United States, at Church headquarters on Thursday, February 12, 2026.
The historic visit marks the first official diplomatic mission of Ambassador Al Khalifa to Temple Square, signaling a deepening of the unique bond between the island nation in the Persian Gulf and the Church. The meeting served as a reciprocal gesture following several high-level visits by Church leaders to the Kingdom of Bahrain over the past year.
A Dialogue of Shared Values
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| Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (right) laughs during a dinner with the Ambassador of Bahrain to the United States (left), His Excellency Shaikh Abdulla bin Rashid Al Khalifa, in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Thursday, February 12, 2026. |
During a formal dinner and subsequent meetings, Elder Bednar and Ambassador Al Khalifa engaged in a wide-ranging dialogue focused on the societal bedrocks that both the Kingdom and the Church hold dear: education, the strengthening of the family unit, and the promotion of regional peace.
The Ambassador emphasized that Bahrain’s commitment to religious pluralism is a top-down mandate driven by the nation’s highest leadership.
“Guided by the vision of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the leadership of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Bahrain continues to promote initiatives that strengthen dialogue among civilizations,” the Ambassador stated.
He further noted that the Kingdom remains dedicated to upholding freedom of religion and belief, aiming to foster "inclusive, harmonious societies grounded in human dignity."
The Bahrain Declaration and Global Tolerance
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| Elder David A. Bednar (middle) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Susan, visit with the Ambassador of Bahrain to the United States, His Excellency Shaikh Abdulla bin Rashid Al Khalifa, in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Thursday, February 12, 2026. |
The visit highlighted the Kingdom of Bahrain Declaration, a landmark document advocating for religious freedom that has become a cornerstone of the nation’s foreign policy. The Ambassador detailed the Kingdom’s proactive stance against extremism, including global awards for empowerment and proposals for international frameworks that safeguard social cohesion.
Elder Bednar’s reception of the Ambassador is the latest in a series of strategic engagements:
- November 2025: Elder Bednar and his wife, Susan, traveled to Manama, Bahrain, to meet with the King Hamad Global Center for Coexistence and Tolerance.
- May 2024: Elder Anthony D. Perkins, President of the Middle East/Africa North Area, met with Dr. Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa to discuss regional cooperation and interfaith understanding.
These interactions have laid the groundwork for the Church to collaborate with the King Hamad Center on future interfaith initiatives designed to combat hate speech and promote mutual respect on a global scale.
A Half-Century of History in the Gulf
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| Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (middle) and his wife, Susan, host a dinner for the Ambassador of Bahrain to the United States (middle left), His Excellency Shaikh Abdulla bin Rashid Al Khalifa, in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Thursday, February 12, 2026. Elder Edward B. Rowe (middle right), a General Authority Seventy, and his wife, Brooke, and Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson (right) and her husband, Doug, were also in attendance. |
While the diplomatic visibility of the Church in Bahrain has increased recently, the roots of the relationship go back more than 50 years. The first small congregation of Latter-day Saints was formed in the early 1970s, as expatriates moved to the region for professional opportunities.
Today, Bahrain is home to a diverse population of 1.5 million people, over half of whom are expatriates. In this melting pot of cultures, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has enjoyed the privilege of gathering and worshiping openly in the capital city of Manama.
The Church currently maintains a presence in the country through local leadership and a senior missionary couple who provide support to members and engage with the local community. This long-standing "footprint of friendship" provided the warm foundation for Thursday’s high-level diplomatic exchange in Salt Lake City.
Looking Ahead
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| Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shakes hands with the Ambassador of Bahrain to the United States, His Excellency Shaikh Abdulla bin Rashid Al Khalifa, ahead of a dinner in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Thursday, February 12, 2026. |
As the meeting concluded, the atmosphere was one of mutual optimism. By hosting the Ambassador at the heart of the Church’s global headquarters, Elder Bednar reaffirmed the Church's commitment to being a partner in the Kingdom’s vision for a more tolerant Middle East.
The visit stands as a testament to the power of "soft diplomacy"—where religious organizations and sovereign nations find common ground in the pursuit of the public good and the protection of faith.
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