Hinduism

A Hindu prayer: "Lead us from the unreal to the real, lead us from darkness to light, and lead us from death to immortality." 

That is a succinct summary of the teachings of the Book of Mormon.

"And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good. And now, behold, is your knowledge perfect? Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is dormant; and this because you know, for ye know that the word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your mind doth begin to expand. O then, is not this real? I say unto you, Yea, because it is light."(Alma 32:33–35)

"Behold, he changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God. Behold, they were in the midst of darkness; nevertheless, their souls were illuminated by the light of the everlasting." word (Alma 5:7)

"all things shall be restored to their proper order, every thing to its natural frame—mortality raised to immortality, corruption to incorruption—raised to endless happiness to inherit the kingdom of God." (Alma 41:4)


Akshardham

Some years ago I was working on projects in India. My hosts took me to visit Akshardham, a term that means "the divine abode of God." https://akshardham.com/ 

This is an impressive site that reminded me in many ways of Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. There are numerous exhibits and explanations that explain the background of Swaminarayan (3 April 1781 – 1 June 1830).

One of the displays was a diorama of God, in the form of a man, appearing to a young Swaminarayan. Apart from the different clothing styles, it resembled the depiction of Joseph Smith's First Vision in the North Visitors Center on Temple square at the time.

While there are obvious differences between the teachings of Swaminarayan and Joseph Smith, there are also similarities. Swaminarayan opposed the consumption of meat, alcohol or drugs, adultery, suicide, animal sacrifices, criminal activities and the appeasement of ghosts and tantric rituals. He objected to many of the religious traditions of his time and place, promoted the education of women, and sought to change the caste system. He constructed temples. He promoted general Hindu texts but also produced a volume of scripture called The Shikshapatri and a second volume called The Vachanamrut, which is a collection of 273 religious discourses.

Today there are around 20 million members of the Swaminarayan sect of Hinduism around the world.

When we learn about inspired people around the world, we think of a passage in the Book of Mormon.

10 Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written.

11 For I command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them; for out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that which is written.

(2 Nephi 29:10–11)