The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Samoan Islands

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Samoan Islands refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members on the Samoan Islands. In 1890, there were 30 members in the Samoan islands. As of 2022, there were 104,131 members in 208 congregations. The Samoan Islands has the second most LDS Church members per capita in the world, behind Tonga.[7]


The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Samoa
AreaPacific
Members87,695 (2022)[1]
Stakes20
Wards156
Branches9
Total Congregations[2]165
Missions1
Temples1
Family History Centers20[3]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in American Samoa
AreaPacific
Members16,436 (2022)[4]
Stakes5
Wards38
Branches5
Total Congregations[5]43
Temples1 Under Construction
Family History Centers5[6]

As of 2022, the LDS Church reported 87,695 members in 165 congregations in the country of Samoa, making it the largest body of LDS Church members in Oceania outside of Australia and New Zealand.[7]

History
Combined Membership in the Samoan Islands[8][1][4]
YearMembership
1890 30
1899 1,139
1920 3,500
1930 4,543
1940 5,159
1950 7,319
1960 10,345
1970 24,249
1980 26,104
1989* 48,700
1999 71,310
2009 81,860
2019 100,230
2022 104,131
*1989 membership was published as a rounded number for both Samoa and American Samoa

In 2019, church president Russell M. Nelson met with head of state Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II of Samoa.[9]

Schools

In addition to seminaries and institutes, there are a few primary schools and secondary schools operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Stakes

American Samoa

Stake Organized
Pago Pago Samoa Stake15 Jun 1969
Pago Pago Samoa Central Stake6 Feb 1994
Pago Pago Samoa Malaeimi Stake26 Aug 2012
Pago Pago Samoa Mapusaga Stake9 Mar 1997
Pago Pago Samoa West Stake24 Aug 1980

Samoa

Stake Organized
Apia Samoa Central Stake8 Dec 2013
Apia Samoa Stake18 Mar 1962
Apia Samoa West Stake26 Apr 1970
Pesega Samoa Stake22 Jan 1995
Savaii Samoa Fagamalo Stake4 Dec 1995
Savaii Samoa Pu'apu'a Stake18 Mar 2012
Savaii Samoa Sagone Stake10 Sep 1995
Savaii Samoa South Stake17 Oct 1982
Savaii Samoa Stake8 Jan 1971
Savaii Samoa West Stake3 Jun 1973
Upolu Samoa Aleisa Stake5 Aug 1979
Upolu Samoa East Stake23 Oct 1977
Upolu Samoa Faleasi'u Stake24 Feb 1996
Upolu Samoa Malie Stake5 Aug 2012
Upolu Samoa North Stake25 Oct 1992
Upolu Samoa Nu'umau Stake3 Dec 1995
Upolu Samoa Saleilua Stake5 Dec 1995
Upolu Samoa South Stake1 Jun 1974
Upolu Samoa Tafuaupolu Stake26 Jan 2014
Upolu Samoa West Stake29 Apr 1971


Missions
Samoa Mission Office ca 1902

The Samoa Apia Mission was formed June 17, 1888 and serves as the only mission for the Samoan Islands.

Temples
Temples in the Samoan Islands
  • = Operating
  • = Under construction
  • = Announced
  • = Temporarily Closed
Main article: Apia Samoa Temple

On August 5, 1983 the Apia Samoa Temple was dedicated by Gordon B. Hinckley. The Pago Pago American Samoa Temple was announced by Russell M. Nelson on April 7, 2019.
Location:
Announced:
Groundbreaking:
Dedicated:
Size:
Style:
Notes:		 Apia, Samoa
July 2, 1980
February 19, 1981 by Spencer W. Kimball
August 5, 1983 by Gordon B. Hinckley
14,560 sq ft (1,353 m2) on a 2-acre (0.81 ha) site
Classic Modern, single spire - designed by Emil B. Fetzer
Destroyed by fire during renovations on July 9, 2003. Rebuilt temple was dedicated September 4, 2005 (see 22)[13]
Location:
Announced:
Groundbreaking:
Dedicated:
Rededicated:
Size:
Notes:		 Apia, Samoa
October 15, 1977 by Spencer W. Kimball
October 19, 1981 by Dennis E. Simmons
August 5, 1983 by Gordon B. Hinckley
September 4, 2005 by Gordon B. Hinckley
18,691 sq ft (1,736.5 m2) on a 2-acre (0.81 ha) site - designed by Naylor, Wentworth, Lund
The 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.[14] The LDS Church continues to list this as the 22nd operating temple, in accordance to its original dedication date.[15]
Location:
Announced:
Groundbreaking:
Size:
Notes:		 Tafuna, American Samoa
7 April 2019 by Russell M. Nelson[16]
30 October 2021 by K. Brett Nattress
17,000 sq ft (1,600 m2) on a 1.71-acre (0.69 ha) site
In conjunction with the site announcement, the exterior rendering for this temple was simultaneously released, on the same day the site of the Neiafu Tonga Temple was confirmed and its rendering was released.[17] The groundbreaking for this temple was originally set to occur on Saturday October 9, but a subsequent update on the arrangements provided the information about the presiding leader and the adjusted date.[18]
Location:
Announced:		 Savaiʻi, Samoa
1 October 2023 by Russell M. Nelson[19][20]

See also

References
  1. "Facts and Statistics: Statistics by Country: Samoa", Newsroom, LDS Church, retrieved 27 May 2023
  2. Excludes groups meeting separate from wards and branches.
  3. Samoa Family History Centers, familysearch.org, retrieved April 24, 2022
  4. "Facts and Statistics: Statistics by Country: American Samoa", Newsroom, LDS Church, retrieved May 27, 2023
  5. Excludes groups meeting separate from wards and branches.
  6. American Samoa Family History Centers, familysearch.org, retrieved April 24, 2022
  7. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints membership statistics
  8. Windall J. Ashton; Jim M. Wall, Deseret News, various years, Church Almanac Country Information: Samoa
  9. Mayron, Sapeer. "Head of State greets President Nelson of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints", Samoa Observer, 18 May 2019. Retrieved on 23 March 2020.
  10. LDS Church College Pesega Facebook Page
  11. Funefe'ai Dikaiosune Atoa Tamaalii (August 12, 2020). "SAVALI ISSUE 32: 'SAUNIATU, A PLACE TO SERVE AND GO FORTH'". Samoa Government. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  12. LDS Church College Vaiola Facebook Page
  13. Images of the different designs may be found here (new) and here (old)
  14. Images of the different designs may be found here (new) and here (old)
  15. "Find an LDS Temple: Temple Locations from Around the World", churchofjesuschrist.org, LDS Church
  16. "Prophet Announces Eight New Temples at April 2019 General Conference", Newsroom, LDS Church, 7 April 2019
  17. See this article for details.
  18. See this article for confirmation of the updated details.
  19. Where the 20 new Latter-day Saint temples will be built as Russell Nelson’s record tally continues to rise, Salt Lake Tribune, 1 October 2023
  20. "The Church of Jesus Christ Will Build 20 New Temples", Newsroom, LDS Church, 1 October 2023


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