Pago Pago American Samoa Temple Wiki
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Quick Facts
ANNOUNCED
7 April 2019
ANNOUNCED BY
President Russell M. Nelson
GROUNDBREAKING
30 October 2021
GROUNDBREAKING PRESIDED BY
Elder K. Brett Nattress
DEDICATED
date
DEDICATED BY
person and title
Additional Facts
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Description
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History
The Samoan Islands are divided between the independent nation of Samoa and the United States territory of American Samoa. In 1977, the population was about 180,000 in Samoa and about 30,000 in American Samoa.
Announcement
On October 15, 1977, the First Presidency announced that a regional temple would be constructed in American Samoa to serve the 50,000 Saints scattered across the islands of Samoa, Tonga, French Polynesia, and Fiji. At the time, members had to cross the Pacific Ocean for hundreds of miles to attend services in the Hamilton New Zealand Temple. The Tahitian Saints, who lived the farthest from the temple, devotedly traveled 2,500 miles to receive temple blessings. The Temple was anticipated to cost $1.5 million temple. At the time of announcement, the Church indicated that they were planning for the future, as the temple was being built so that a future expansion could double the size of the temple.[1]”First Presidency Announces…New Temple in Samoa,” Ensign Dec. 1977: 66–77, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1977/12/news-of-the-church/first-presidency-announces-new-temple-in-samoa?lang=eng.
ANNOUNCED ORDER
21*
| Date | 1977 12 01 |
| By | First Presidency |
| Role | # |
| Via | Press Release |
⮜Preceded by Mexico City Mexico
Followed by Jordan River Utah⮞
* the temple, which was to have taken the total number of temples to 21, would eventually be canceled in favor of regional temples, allowing the Jordan River Utah Temple to take its place at number 21 announced.
Groundbreaking Announced
While no specific date for the groundbreaking was ever released, the announcement article indicated that the church anticipated that the groundbreaking ceremony would take place in late 1978 with completion of the temple in 1980.[2]”First Presidency Announces…New Temple in Samoa,” Ensign Dec. 1977: 66–77, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1977/12/news-of-the-church/first-presidency-announces-new-temple-in-samoa?lang=eng.
Location Announcement [Site Selection]
On 3 June 1978 the specific site chosen for the Samoa Temple was announced in the Malaeimi Valley on Tutila Island near the village of Pago Pago, American Samoa, adjacent to a newly completed stake center. Its location on a bus-serviced road from the international airport would make it easily accessible to the many members who would be traveling to the temple by air. The picturesque setting at the base of a lush natural hill would be visible from the ocean.
Render Released
On 3 June 1978 in conjiunction with the location announcement, the official render for the temple was released.
Church architect Emil B. Fetzer said, “We expect [the temple] to be one of the finest, if not the finest, building on the island as far as workmanship, design and materials are concerned.” Plans called for a 20,000-square-foot temple, which would house a baptistry, a 100-seat ordinance room, four sealing rooms, and a circular Celestial Room featuring stained glass and crowned by a round roof and single spire. The grounds would be extensively landscaped including a water feature and reflecting pool.[3]”Peaceful island setting to surround unique new temple,” Church News 3 Jun. 1978: 4. The one-story building was designed so that a future addition could double the temple’s capacity. It was to be constructed using local materials including lava rock and the fine hardwoods available in the area. The high ground would protect the temple against flooding, and the soundproofed temple roof would function “as a giant umbrella for drainage efficiency,” said Brother Fetzer.[4]”First Presidency Announces…New Temple in Samoa,” Ensign Dec. 1977: 66–77, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1977/12/news-of-the-church/first-presidency-announces-new-temple-in-samoa?lang=eng.
Superseeded
On April 2, 1980, a landmark announcement by the First Presidency of plans for seven new temples for seven different nations were accompanied by a location and design change for the Samoa Temple. At a press conference, President Spencer W. Kimball said, “The Pago Pago location was selected on the basis of convenience for air travelers from other islands. Since there will be two other temples in the South Pacific islands, the Samoa site was altered to be more convenient to Samoan members. Its design will also conform to those included in this announcement.”[5]John L. Hart, “7 new temples to be erected,” Church News 5 Apr. 1980: 3.
Witht his annoucement, not only was this location dropped, but the unique temple design that had been created was abandoned as well.
Announcement
On 7 April 2019, the dream of having a temple in American Samoa was restored when President Russell M. Nelson announced the Pago Pago American Samoa Temple at the 189th Annual General Conference. The population of American Samoa had grown to 56,000 people including 16,390 members of the Church organized into five stakes. The territory has one of the highest percentages of Latter-day Saints in the world.[6]”Prophet Announces Eight New Temples at April 2019 General Conference,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, 7 Apr. 2019, https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/eight-new-temples-april-2019-general-conference.
ANNOUNCED ORDER
202
| Date | 2019 04 07 |
| By | Russell M. Nelson |
| Role | President |
| Via | General Conferrence |
⮜Preceded by Red Cliffs Utah
Followed by Okinawa Japan⮞
Announced 2019 04 07
Location Announcement [Site Selection]
On August 14, 2020, the location of the Pago Pago American Samoa Temple was announced. The temple will be constructed on Ottoville Road on the site of the Pago Pago Samoa Central Stake Center in the village of Tafuna. The temple will be a single-story building of nearly 17,000 square feet. A distribution center will be constructed on site in addition to housing for the temple president and matron and for temple missionaries.[7]The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, “Renderings Released for New Pacific Temples,” 14 Aug. 2020. https://news-pacific.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/renderings-released-for-new-pacific-temples. The render was released in conjunction with the render for the Neiafu Tonga Temple render, which will share a floorplan with the Pago Pago American Samoa Temple.
Render Released
On August 14, 2020, in conjunction with the location announcement, the official rendering of the Pago Pago American Samoa Temple was released.[8]The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, “Renderings Released for New Pacific Temples,” 14 Aug. 2020. https://news-pacific.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/renderings-released-for-new-pacific-temples.
Groundbreaking Announced
On Tuesday, July 27 2021, the announcement of the groundbreaking for the Pago Pago American Samo Temple, along with the same announcement for the Neiafu Tonga Temple, came from the first presidency via the Newsroom shortly after 2 p.m. local time (Mountain Daylight) for Church headquarters in Salt Lake City — but it was 9 a.m. Tuesday local time in American Samoa and 9 a.m. Wednesday, July 27, in Tonga, due to differences in international time zones.[9]“Groundbreakings Announced for Two Temples in the South Pacific.” newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org, 14 Sept. 2021, newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/groundbreakings-announced-for-two-temples-in-the-south-pacific. The groundbreaking date for the Pago Pago American Samoa Temple has been delayed from Oct. 9, 2021, to Oct. 30, 2021. Elder K. Brett Nattress of the Pacific Area Presidency will preside; the groundbreaking initially was announced without a Church leader assigned to preside. Attendance at both groundbreaking ceremonies will be by invitation only.
Groundbreaking Rescheduled
On 14 September 2021 the Church announced a change of plans for the Pago Pago Amercian Samoa Temple. The new date is 30 October, delayed from the 9 October date originally announced in late July.[10]“Groundbreakings Announced for Two Temples in the South Pacific.” newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org, 14 Sept. 2021, newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/groundbreakings-announced-for-two-temples-in-the-south-pacific.
Groundbreaking
On Saturday, 30 October 2021, ground was broken for the Pago Pago American Samoa Temple—the second temple to be constructed in the Samoan Islands. Elder K. Brett Nattress of the Pacific Area presidency presided at the event. He was joined by other Church officials and local government leaders. The event was held at the temple site located next to the stake center for the Pago Pago American Samoa Central Stake in the Ottoville neighborhood of Pago Pago. It was also broadcast to the other stake centers on the island. In his remarks, Elder Nattress said: “The Savior is at the very center of everything we do. He is at the center of all that is done within the walls of the temple.As we symbolically turn the soil, let us turn our hearts to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Let us establish a firm foundation in our Savior, Jesus Christ.”[11]Taylor, Scott. “Ground Broken for New Temple in Pago Pago, Nearly 45 Years After One Was First Announced for American Samoa.” Church News, 11 Jan. 2024, www.thechurchnews.com/2021/10/31/23217556/ground-broken-temple-pago-pago-american-samoa.
GROUNDBREAKING ORDER
214
| Date | 2021 10 30 |
| By | K. Brett Nattress |
| Role | Seventy |
| Attendees | ## |
⮜Preceded by Casper Wyoming
Followed by Bacolod Philippines⮞
Finial
The finial was installed atop the temple somewhere around 28 October 2023, taking the temple to its final full height.
Details
Location
The site of the Pago Pago Samoa Central Stake Center in the village of Tafuna on Ottoville Road has been chosen as the location of the temple.
Site
A distribution center will be constructed on site in addition to housing for the temple president and matron and for temple missionaries.
Interior
The temple will be a single-story building of nearly 17,000 square feet.
| Area | — f2 (– m2) |
| Floors above grade | |
| Floors below Grade | |
| Baptistries | |
| Initiatories | |
| Endowment Rooms | |
| Sealing Rooms |
Baptistry
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| Baptistries: | |
| Location: | |
| Exterior Windows: | |
| Artwork: | |
| Artwork Type: | |
| Oxen: | |
| Type: | |
| Hoof: | |
| Color: | |
| Layout: | |
| Font Exterior: | |
| Interior: | |
| Shape: | |
| Bowl Shape: | |
| Pillar: | |
| Stairs: | |
| Font Well: |
Initiatory Spaces
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| Style | detached, attached, combined |
| Type | stationary, progressive |
| Rooms | # |
Instruction Rooms
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| Rooms | # |
| Type | # |
| Capacity | # |
| Murals | y/n |
| Total Muraled Rooms | # |
| Mural Type |
Celestial Room
text-images
Sealing Room
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| Sealing Rooms | |
| Largest Capacity |
Cafeteria
Clothing Issue
Region
TEMPLES IN OCEANIA by country
| American Samoa | 1 | Pago Pago |
| Australia | 6 | Adelaide · Brisbane · Brisbane South · Melbourne · Perth · Sydney |
| Fiji | 1 | Suva |
| French Polynesia | 2 | Papeete · Uturoa |
| Guam | 1 | Yigo |
| Kiribati | 1 | Tarawa |
| New Zealand | 3 | Auckland · Hamilton · Wellington |
| Papua New Guinea | 1 | Port Moresby |
| Samoa | 2 | Apia · Savai’i |
| Tonga | 2 | Neiafu · Nuku’alofa |
| Vanuatu | 1 | Port Vila |
Sources and Citations
References
| ↑1, ↑2, ↑4 | ”First Presidency Announces…New Temple in Samoa,” Ensign Dec. 1977: 66–77, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1977/12/news-of-the-church/first-presidency-announces-new-temple-in-samoa?lang=eng. |
|---|---|
| ↑3 | ”Peaceful island setting to surround unique new temple,” Church News 3 Jun. 1978: 4. |
| ↑5 | John L. Hart, “7 new temples to be erected,” Church News 5 Apr. 1980: 3. |
| ↑6 | ”Prophet Announces Eight New Temples at April 2019 General Conference,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, 7 Apr. 2019, https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/eight-new-temples-april-2019-general-conference. |
| ↑7, ↑8 | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, “Renderings Released for New Pacific Temples,” 14 Aug. 2020. https://news-pacific.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/renderings-released-for-new-pacific-temples. |
| ↑9, ↑10 | “Groundbreakings Announced for Two Temples in the South Pacific.” newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org, 14 Sept. 2021, newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/groundbreakings-announced-for-two-temples-in-the-south-pacific. |
| ↑11 | Taylor, Scott. “Ground Broken for New Temple in Pago Pago, Nearly 45 Years After One Was First Announced for American Samoa.” Church News, 11 Jan. 2024, www.thechurchnews.com/2021/10/31/23217556/ground-broken-temple-pago-pago-american-samoa. |