Apia Samoa Temple

The Apia Samoa Temple (formerly the Samoan Temple) was the 24th constructed and 22nd operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). 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.

Apia Samoa Temple
Number22
DedicationAugust 5, 1983, by Gordon B. Hinckley
Site2 acres (0.81 ha)
Floor area18,691 sq ft (1,736.5 m2)
Height75 ft (23 m)
Official website • News & images
Church chronology
←
Atlanta Georgia Temple
Apia Samoa Temple		 →
Nuku'alofa Tonga Temple
Additional information
AnnouncedOctober 15, 1977, by Spencer W. Kimball
GroundbreakingOctober 19, 1981, by Dennis E. Simmons
Open houseAugust 6–27, 2005
RededicatedSeptember 4, 2005, by Gordon B. Hinckley
Current presidentJ. Phillip Hanks (2008)
Designed byNaylor, Wentworth, Lund
LocationApia, Samoa
Geographic coordinates13°50′18.03839″S 171°47′0.909600″W
Exterior finishGranite
Baptistries1
Ordinance rooms2 (Movie, two-stage progressive)
Sealing rooms2
Clothing rentalYes
NotesThe original Samoa temple was dedicated in 1983 and destroyed by fire while the temple was closed for renovations in 2003. This new temple of a similar design was built on the same site although it is substantially larger.[1] The LDS Church continues to list this as the 22nd operating temple, in accordance to its original dedication date.[2]
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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 serves members from 20 stakes in American Samoa, and the islands of Upolu and Savai'i.

As of 2020, Meliula M. Fata is the temple president, with his wife, Pono, serving as temple matron.[3]

Fire and reconstruction
Pre-fire temple

On July 9, 2003, a fire destroyed the temple.[4] Although the cause of the fire is unknown, it is believed to be construction related.[5] 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.[6]

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 neotraditional design with a single spire, on a 2-acre (8,100 m2) site. The original temple was 14,560 square feet (1,353 m2), but with the rebuilding the total floor area is now 18,691 square feet (1,736.5 m2). The exterior of is finished with granite.

The temple has two ordinance rooms and two sealing rooms.

See also
Temples in the Samoan Islands
  • = Operating
  • = Under construction
  • = Announced
  • = Temporarily Closed

References
  1. Images of the different designs may be found here (new) and here (old)
  2. "Find an LDS Temple: Temple Locations from Around the World", churchofjesuschrist.org, LDS Church
  3. "Read about these 5 new temple presidents and matrons". Church News. March 19, 2020.
  4. Swensen, Jason. "Samoan temple destroyed by fire", Deseret News, 10 July 2003. Retrieved on 27 March 2020.
  5. "Samoan Latter-Day Saint Temple Destroyed", Firehouse, 11 July 2003. Retrieved on 27 March 2020.
  6. "Temple burns", Samoa Observer, 15 September 2018. Retrieved on 27 March 2020.
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