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 2021, there were 100,252 members in 205 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
Members83,740 (2021)[1]
Stakes20
Wards151
Branches11
Total Congregations[2]162
Missions1
Temples1
Family History Centers20[3]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in American Samoa
AreaPacific
Members16,512 (2021)[4]
Stakes5
Wards38
Branches5
Total Congregations[5]43
Temples1 Under Construction
Family History Centers5[6]

As of 2021, the LDS Church reported 83,740 members in 162 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
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
*1989 membership was published as a rounded number for both Samoa and American Samoa
Source: Windall J. Ashton; Jim M. Wall, Deseret News, various years, Church Almanac Country Information: Samoa
Samoa Mission Office ca 1902

In 2019, church president Russell M. Nelson met with head of state Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II of Samoa.[8]

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.

Missions

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
Red = Operating
Yellow = Announced
Blue = Under Construction
Black = Closed for Renovations
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)[12]
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.[13] The LDS Church continues to list this as the 22nd operating temple, in accordance to its original dedication date.[14]
Location:
Announced:
Groundbreaking:
Size:
Notes:		 Tafuna, American Samoa
7 April 2019 by Russell M. Nelson[15]
30 October 2021 by K. Brett Nattress
{{{open_house}}}
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.[16] 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.[17]

See also

References
  1. "Facts and Statistics: Statistics by Country: Samoa", Newsroom, LDS Church, retrieved 22 July 2021
  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 April 24, 2022
  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. 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.
  9. LDS Church College Pesega Facebook Page
  10. 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.
  11. LDS Church College Vaiola Facebook Page
  12. Images of the different designs may be found here (new) and here (old)
  13. Images of the different designs may be found here (new) and here (old)
  14. "Find an LDS Temple: Temple Locations from Around the World", churchofjesuschrist.org, LDS Church
  15. "Prophet Announces Eight New Temples at April 2019 General Conference", Newsroom, LDS Church, 7 April 2019
  16. See this article for details.
  17. See this article for confirmation of the updated details.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.