Pago Pago American Samoa Temple
On 15 October 1977, the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced that a regional temple would be constructed in American Samoa to serve the 50,000 Saints scattered across the islands of Samoa, Tonga, French Polynesia, and Fiji. At the time, members had to cross the Pacific Ocean for hundreds of miles to attend services in the Hamilton New Zealand Temple. The Tahitian Saints, who lived the farthest from the temple, devotedly traveled 2,500 miles to receive temple blessings.
The Samoan Islands are divided between the independent nation of Samoa and the United States territory of American Samoa. In 1977, the population was about 180,000 in Samoa and about 30,000 in American Samoa where the $1.5 million temple would be constructed. A groundbreaking ceremony was anticipated to take place in late 1978 with completion of the temple in 1980.
The specific site chosen for the Samoa Temple was in Malaeimi Valley on Tutila Island near the village of Pago Pago, American Samoa, adjacent to a newly completed stake center. Its location on a bus-serviced road from the international airport would make it easily accessible to the many members who would be traveling to the temple by air. The picturesque setting at the base of a lush natural hill would be visible from the ocean.
Plans called for a 20,000-square-foot temple, which would house a baptistry, a 100-seat ordinance room, four sealing rooms, and a circular Celestial Room featuring stained glass and crowned by a round roof and single spire. The grounds would be extensively landscaped including a water feature and reflecting pool. The one-story building was designed so that a future addition could double the temple's capacity. It was to be constructed using local materials including lava rock and the fine hardwoods available in the area. The high ground would protect the temple against flooding, and the soundproofed temple roof would function "as a giant umbrella for drainage efficiency."
On 2 April 1980, a landmark announcement by the First Presidency of plans for seven new temples for seven different nations were accompanied by a location and design change for the Samoa Temple. At a press conference, President Spencer W. Kimball said, "The Pago Pago location was selected on the basis of convenience for air travelers from other islands. Since there will be two other temples in the South Pacific islands, the Samoa site was altered to be more convenient to Samoan members. Its design will also conform to those included in this announcement." With additional announcements for Nuku'alofa, Tonga, and Papeete, Tahiti, the location of the Samoa Temple was moved from Pago Pago, American Samoa, to Apia, Samoa. The design and size were altered to conform to a new 12,500-square-foot standard design. The location change placed the temple on the island where the vast majority of Samoan members reside.
On 7 April 2019, the dream of having a temple in American Samoa was restored when President Russell M. Nelson announced the Pago Pago American Samoa Temple at the 189th annual general conference. The population of American Samoa had grown to 56,000 people including 16,390 members of the Church organized into five stakes. The territory has one of the highest percentages of Latter-day Saints in the world.
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Temple Facts and Site Location
American Samoa is a U.S. territory where more than 16,000 Latter-day Saints live, comprising 43 congregations and five stakes. missionaries first arrived American Samoa in 1863 and the Samoan Mission opened in 1888.
The Pago Pago American Samoa Temple will be the first temple built in American Samoa and the second built in the Samoan Islands, following the Apia Samoa Temple (1983). American Samoan members have been regularly traveling to Apia to attend the temple.
On 14 August 2020, the official rendering of the Pago Pago American Samoa Temple was released and the location of the temple was announced. The temple will be constructed on Ottoville Road on the site of the Pago Pago Samoa Central Stake Center in the village of Tafuna.
The Pago Pago American Samoa Temple will be a single-story building of nearly 17,000 square feet. A distribution center will be constructed on site in addition to housing for the temple president and matron and for temple missionaries.
Groundbreaking Ceremony Held for the Pago Pago American Samoa Temple
A groundbreaking ceremony for the Pago Pago American Samoa temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was held on Saturday, 30 October 2021. Nearly 45 years after the Church first announced a temple for the South Pacific island of American Samoa, the construction of a new temple in the capital city of the U.S. territory is officially underway.
Elder K. Brett Nattress, a General Authority Seventy and first counselor in the Church’s Pacific Area presidency, presided at the event. During his remarks, he said, "This is an historic day for the wonderful Latter-day Saints of American Samoa. . . .The Savior is at the very center of everything we do. He is at the center of all that is done within the walls of the temple. . . .As we symbolically turn the soil, let us turn our hearts to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Let us establish a firm foundation in our Savior, Jesus Christ."
He was joined at the groundbreaking by Elder Faa'ipito Auap'au, an Area Seventy from American Samoa, and Elder O. Vincent Haleck, an emeritus General Authority Seventy and native of American Samoa, along with stake presidents and many other members and friends of the Church.
The groundbreaking ceremony was broadcast to the stake centers throughout American Samoa. A video of the event is available in both Samoan and English available at pacific.churchofjesuschrist.org and the Church Pacific Area Facebook page.
Elder Auap’au said, "It [the temple] will help point people to our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ. It will also bring love and togetherness to the local community." Elder Haleck said, "The Lord has now answered our longing prayers and the sacrifice of so many who made the trip to receive saving ordinances for their families. . . .[The temple's] beauty will raise our sights and spirits to heaven with the temple blessings that we will receive for ourselves and for our ancestors who have passed on."
Among the notable guests attending were Governor Lemanu Mauga who offered his congratulations to the Church. He commented, "The temple is a place where generations will be blessed and a home for closer worship to the Lord." The president of the territory’s Senate, Tuaolo Manaia Fruean, and the speaker of the House, Savali Talavou Ale, were also in attendance.
Fifteen-year-old Jonalin Young said God knew the right time to build a temple in American Samoa. She said, "A time when everyone is in despair due to the pandemic, a time when the temple is needed most by many, and the time when He knew of my aching heart, longing for a family of seven to be sealed. His timing is the perfect time."
