Dead trees are seen against a barren landscape in the Tejon Pass between the San Joaquin Valley to the north and Los Angeles to the south, in Lebec, Calif. Jan. 22.
Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Baha’i and other faith leaders participated in a joint prayer service here Feb. 1 urging for divine intervention in view of persistent drought conditions in the western United States.
Held at Mormon Chapel, the service included religious leaders from Roman Catholic, First Congregational Church of Reno, Northern Nevada Muslim Community, Universal Society of Hinduism, Reno Buddhist Center, North Tahoe Hebrew Congregation and Temple Beth Or, Baha’i community, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, International Community of Christ, Unification Church and Circle’s Edge Center for Spiritual Living.
Leaders from the respective religious traditions prayed in seeking God’s blessings for rain and snow to help farmers, ranchers and others. Sparks Mayor Geno R. Martini also participated and delivered his words of support.
Rajan Zed, president of the Universal Society of Hinduism who coordinated the “Nevada Multi-Faith Drought-Relief Prayer Service,” said in a Feb. 2 statement that Nevada faith leaders were moved by the plight of the residents of the western United States in general and Nevada in particular in view of the disastrous drought conditions “which persuaded us to invoke God for help and we were confident that it would bring positive results.”