Uzbekistan is drawing attention for an unconventional source of inspiration as it explores new pathways for economic and social development. In an analysis published by Eurasianet, observers note that Uzbek officials have begun engaging with leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, reflecting an apparent interest in what is often described as the “Utah model” of development.

Amid the Uzbek government’s drive to overhaul the country’s economy, Tashkent’s long-standing aversion to foreign, proselytizing religious groups may be selectively easing, The Caspian Post republishes the article.

A sign of changing times in Tashkent could be seen in the mid-January visit of a delegation led by Jack Gerard, a top leader of the Mormon movement, formally known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). A featured part of the Mormon delegation’s visit was a tour of the government-sponsored Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan.

Foreign religious groups, such as Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses, lack official registration in Uzbekistan, rendering any activities in the country effectively illegal. Mormon leaders are apparently undertaking a charm offensive aimed at gaining official recognition. Gerard, for example, in a government press release heaped praise on the Center for Islamic Civilization, which reflects state-sanctioned views on the Muslim faith and Islamic contributions to economic and scientific development over the centuries.

“This Center helps us understand that the origins of science and knowledge originate precisely in the territory of Uzbekistan,” Gerard is quoted as saying.

The Gerard-led delegation followed a visit last November by another top member of the Mormon leadership, David Bednar, who met with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

photo: president.uz

An economic motive seems to be underpinning Uzbek officials’ engagement with Mormon leaders. A presidential statement issued after the Mirziyoyev-Bednar meeting indicated that Uzbekistan wants to forge strong economic ties with Utah, a state closely associated with Mormonism.

“The prospects for developing trade, economic, and investment cooperation with the state of Utah were discussed in the context of the growing momentum of Uzbek-American strategic partnership relations,” the statement noted. “Joint projects in the field of digitalization, education, and social protection have been launched.”

Uzbek officials also have hinted that the historical experience of the Mormon movement offers potential lessons that Tashkent can emulate as officials strive to balance modernization goals with state-managed religious affairs.

Muzaffar Kamilov, an Uzbek presidential aide for religious affairs, published a commentary in The Deseret News, an LDS-owned and operated news outlet, that lauded the influence of Mormonism in Utah’s economic development.

“Religious values, harmoniously blended with local customs and traditions, unite people and strengthen the sense of mutual assistance and responsibility,” Kamilov wrote in the January 21 commentary, which coincided with Gerard’s visit to Uzbekistan. “In this regard, Utah’s experience attracts global interest: in a society where economic achievements coexist harmoniously with moral and ethical priorities, stability and prosperity become a natural state.”

“Utah differs from other regions,” the commentary continues. “The role of religion in public life, its influence on social relations, and its importance in strengthening the unity and cohesion of the population deserve particular recognition.”