Suva Fiji Temple Wiki

Description

Latter-day Saints in Fiji, Kiribati, Vanuatu, Nauru, Tuvalu and New Caledonia attend the temple to find peace as they worship God.

History

Missionary work officially began in Fiji in May 1954, and the first missionaries in Suva were Elders Boyd L. Harris and Sheldon L. Abbott. For a few decades before missionaries arrived, member families who moved to Fiji had held worship services, but the missionaries created the first official congregation in Fiji in September 1954. By 1984, there were 2,722 Church members. As of 2014, there were more than 17,000 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Fiji.

In Nadi, Fiji, Latter-day Saints once had to travel to Tonga to attend the temple. The Church members would work together to raise money for those who were unable to set aside money to go. Now the Fijian Saints have a temple in their country, making the temple’s blessings more accessible.

Announcement

The Suva Fiji Temple was first announced May 7, 1998

Groundbreaking

Elder Earl M. Monson of the Seventy presidency presided at the temple’s groundbreaking services on 8 May 1999. “It will be a privilege for many of you to watch as the temple grows from where we are today to a beautiful structure on this scenic hillside,” he said to those gathered at the event. He said the temple will stand as a reminder of the intention God has for families to be eternal. “It will be wonderful for mothers and fathers to be able to point to this temple and say that this is where we were sealed for eternity and their families will have a sense of peace and assurance that will help them through difficult times,” he said.

Referring to the great era of temple building initiated by President Hinckley, Elder Monson continued: “In many ways we are preparing for the Second Coming of the Savior to the earth, but equally important is that we are preparing family members to meet Him. It is wonderful to know the steps to be taken on the strait and narrow path, defined by the Savior, that lead to eternal life, and to know how families and the temple are interlocked with them.”^[1]Church News, 22 May 1999

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Suva Fiji Temple was held on the same day as the groundbreaking ceremony for the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple.

When they were preparing the grounds for construction, workers found several underground concrete bunkers that had been built during World War II to defend Suva.

Open House

The temple was open for public tours June 7th through the 12th, 2000. Just before the open house, starting on May 19th, political unrest occurred in Fiji. A group of armed rebels held a group of government leaders hostage in Suva for weeks. Those held hostage included the Prime Minister of Fiji at the time, Mahendra Chaudhry. The situation was so intense that the Church decided to send all of the missionaries in the area to the other side of the island to avoid any dangerous situations. Despite these problems and little media attention, about 17,000 people toured the temple including 300 community leaders

Government officials, military personnel and members of other faiths were touched by the peaceful feeling they experienced in the temple.

Dedication

The Suva Fiji Temple was dedicated on June 18, 2000, by Church President Gordon B. Hinckley. However, to ensure safety during the country’s political upheaval, the service was small — merely consisting of Church leaders, the temple committee and their families and a small choir that performed. In the dedicatory prayer, President Hinckley said, “No longer will we have to travel far across the seas to do that work which Thou hast established as sacred and necessary for Thy Saints in this latter-day dispensation. Thou hast heard our prayers and hearkened to our entreaties that this blessing might come to us.”^[2]Suva Fiji Temple dedicatory prayer, in Church News, June 24, 2000.

Dedication Order

The Suva Fiji Temple was the first temple built in Melanesia.

Renovation

On 30 July 2014 the Church announced that the Suva Fiji Temple would soon close for a renovation that would improve air conditioning operations, refresh all the finishes and make some slight modifications to the temple.

In fact, the renovation completely gutted the interior, realigned some of the walls, and completely refinished the temple inside.

Closure

The Suva Fiji Temple was closed 13 October 2014. During the closure, other temples in the Pacific Area accommodated members from the Suva Fiji Temple District, including those who desired to receive their own ordinances.

Open House

The open house which was free to the general public was held on Monday, 25 January, through Saturday, 6 February 2016. There was not an open house on Sunday, 31 January. The tours began at the adjacent Fiji Service Centre, and consisted of a 10-minute video presentation followed by a 30-minute walking tour through the temple. The temple is located at 2-20 Lakeba Street, Samabula, Suva. A local Church leader who oversaw the open house, Vito Qaqa, commented, “We welcome everyone to come and see our temple. We look forward to sharing with visitors why Latter-day Saints consider temples our most sacred places of worship.”

Cultural Celebration

The re-dedication of the Suva Fiji Temple was preceded by a cultural celebration featuring music and dance by 1,300 Latter-day Saint youth from around Fiji and friends from other faiths. The celebration honored the pioneers of the Church and the early pioneers of the Pacific in helping the worldwide faith to grow. Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency of the Church commented, “I join with you in celebrating the great contributions of so many who have built up the kingdom of God in these islands. You will touch hearts that will transform those in this audience with feelings of love for the Lord and gratitude for all that Heavenly Father has done for us.”

The event was scheduled to take place at on the evening of Saturday, 20 February 2016, at ANZ Stadium in Suva. However, due to an impending cyclone, it was moved up from the evening to the afternoon and the program was shortened. Instead of using the outdoor venue as planned, the event was moved across the street from the stadium to the enclosed Vodafone Arena. The media and members of the public were invited to attend.

Rededicated

President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, rededicated the Suva Fiji Temple on Sunday, February 21, 2016. The re-dedicatory sessions were held at 9:00am, 12:00pm, and 3:00pm. The services were broadcast to meetinghouses in the Suva Fiji Temple district, and the regular three-hour block of meetings were cancelled to allow members to participate in the services. Accompanying President Eyring were Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Kent F. Richards of the Seventy, members of the Pacific Area Presidency and temple presidency.

Presidents

Details

Location

The site chosen for the temple was 4.7 acres and is considered one of the most beautiful temple sites. The Pacific Ocean can be seen from three sides of the property, The Temple rises from one of the tallest areas of Suva. It also overlooks the city, the city center being only a few minutes away.

The beautiful edifice is surrounded by plants — in the lawns encircling the temple, in boxes between the sets of stairs leading to the entrance, and along the outer walls of the temple.

Exterior

Cladding

The granite

Windows

Symbolism

Inscriptions

Cornerstone

ERECTED
2xxx

Spires and Moroni

its spire rises into the sky and supports a gold-leafed statue of the angel Moroni, a prophet from the Book of Mormon.

Spire

Moroni

Interior

The colors and design motifs of the 10,700 square foott temple were inspired by the flowers, beaches and jungles of Fiji. The interior of the temple features original art glass and a hand-painted mural depicting the landscape and flora of the islands.

Rooms

Individuals and Contractors

Sources and Links

Additional Articles

Sources/Citation