Apia Samoa Temple


The Apia Samoa Temple was the 24th constructed and 22nd operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was the first built in Samoa and the third to be built in Polynesia. After it was destroyed by fire, a new temple was built and dedicated on the same grounds.

History

The intention to construct a temple in Apia was announced by the LDS Church on October 15, 1977. A groundbreaking ceremony and site dedication were held on February 19, 1981, with church president Spencer W. Kimball giving the dedicatory prayer.
The temple was open to the public for tours July 19 to 30, 1983. Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the new Apia Samoa Temple August 5, 1983, and rededicated it on September 4, 2005. The Apia Samoa Temple is one of the more heavily used of the church. It serves members from 20 stakes in American Samoa, and the islands of Upolu and Savai'i.
As of 2017, Beaver Taituliatu Ho Ching is the temple president and Judy Ann Miller Ho Ching is temple matron.

Fire and reconstruction

On July 9, 2003, a fire destroyed the temple. Although the cause of the fire is unknown, it is believed to be construction related. The fire occurred in the evening after workers had gone home. Firefighters from Faleolo International Airport were called in to help firemen from Apia fire station.
One week later, on July 16, 2003, the First Presidency sent a letter to the people of the area telling them that the temple would be rebuilt. Three months later, on October 19, 2003, the site was rededicated and a groundbreaking ceremony was held. As part of the construction process, the church demolished a building on the property and built a new chapel across the street from the temple. On January 25, 2005, the angel Moroni statue that had survived the fire was placed on the spire of the new building.

Architecture

The original and the rebuilt temple use a classic modern design with a single spire, on a site. The original temple was, but with the rebuilding the total floor area is now. The exterior of is finished with granite.
The temple has two ordinance rooms and two sealing rooms.