“Our Worship in Dubai,” Liahona, June 2021
Our Worship in Dubai
The author lives in Utah, USA.
I never once felt uncomfortable being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in a Muslim country.
Photograph from Getty Images
My family and I arrived in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in the fall of 2013, and we were excited to attend church. Our experiences as we have attended church in different locations have always been comfortably predictable. We love being able to walk through the doors for the first time already understanding what will take place and instantly being part of a group of people we have never before met.
Our expectations were fulfilled as we became part of this loving group of expatriate Latter-day Saints from many countries, and our faith and commitment grew during our time in Dubai. I will never forget my time in Dubai and the wonderful people I met as a consequence of being able to attend church and worship in the way I have always been fortunate to do. I hope that the leaders of the UAE understand what a gift they have given to us to allow us to worship.
Our stake center in Abu Dhabi.
Photographs of the Chomjak family courtesy of the author
What was unexpected was how much my faith grew as a consequence of living and associating with people who were not members of my religion. I have never lived somewhere where the centrality of God in peoples’ lives was so universal.
Communicating Trust in God
I found it a delight and refreshing to be able to speak about the influence of God and religion in my life without having others discount what I said or becoming offended. I felt this way because most everyone I met in Dubai spoke as I did, creating an immediate connection as we communicated.
Sitting by the pool next to another mother waiting for our children to finish swim practice, I was sharing how I was struggling through some trials and feeling discouraged. This Muslim mother proceeded to offer kind words of encouragement and her assurance that God was watching over us and would help us through our struggles. Not her God. Not my God. Our God.
My daughter and I were walking to the metro one day and were kindly offered a ride by an Emirati woman who shared with us experiences about her son who had medical difficulties that required them to travel to the United States for treatment. In the course of her story, her faith in and reliance on God’s will and watchful care was interwoven. I told her I would pray for her and her family, which she accepted with understanding and love.
Understood and Accepted
Meeting with fellow homeschooling families was always such a safe and communal environment. We had most every religion represented in that group. When we spoke about God, prayer, and worship, each person felt understood and accepted by all. Even among fellow Christians, there are many different religions. When I would meet up with other homeschool Christians, it was lovely to be fully accepted, no matter my specific religion and belief system. We had common morals and common practices due to our devotion to Deity.
When I talked with a Hindu mom whose children my daughter tutored, I heard how central her faith and belief were to her as she told me about how she spends her day in meditation and worship.
With my husband, Aaron, and our children, we visited Jumeirah Beach, on the coast of the Persian Gulf.
Common Values
And lastly, I must say how much I valued living somewhere that espoused the very values that my husband and I teach our children. We teach our children to take care of their health by not drinking alcohol or using drugs. We teach our children to be moral and modest in their dress and appearance. One of our favorite things that we encountered in the first few days of arriving in Dubai was the sign on the door of the mall stating the dress and conduct expectations. My family and I instantly commented that it seemed like an excerpt right out of the For the Strength of Youth standards booklet. We loved it!
I never once felt uncomfortable being a Christ-believing, God-fearing woman in Dubai. On the contrary, I felt encouraged and strengthened for my beliefs by those I came in contact with. I have not experienced this so universally in any other place I have lived.
When my family heard the Dubai United Arab Emirates Temple announced in general conference in April 2020, our jaws dropped, and we just stared at each other in utter amazement. We were overjoyed that a temple will be coming to the Middle East! My heart is happy for the many members of the Church who live in that region. I am so grateful to the leaders of the UAE for allowing this holy house to stand among their holy houses—their beautiful mosques that dot the landscape. This is truly a significant and unforgettable time.