Nuku'alofa Tonga Temple

The Nuku'alofa Tonga Temple (formerly the Tongan Temple) is the 25th constructed and 23rd operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It is located in the middle of Tonga's main island Tongatapu near Matangiake. The area where the temple is located is commonly known as Liahona, after the name of the church-owned high school there. The temple is several miles south of its namesake city, the capital Nukuʻalofa.

Nuku'alofa Tonga Temple
The Nuku'alofa Tonga Temple
Number	23
Dedicated	9 August 1983 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Site	5 acres (2 hectares)
Floor area	14,572 sq ft (1,354 m^2)
Preceded by	Apia Samoa Temple
Followed by	Santiago Chile Temple
Official website • News & images
Additional information Announced 2 April 1980 Groundbreaking 18 February 1981 by Spencer W. Kimball Open House 19–30 July 1983 Rededicated 4 November 2007 by Russell M. Nelson Designed by Emil B. Fetzer Location Loto Road Tongatapu Nuku'alofa Tonga Exterior finish "R-wall" exterior finish and insulation system on concrete block; roof covered by split cedar shake shingles. Ordinance rooms 2 (Movie, stationary sessions) Sealing rooms 3 Clothing rental Yes Cafeteria No Visitors' center No Notes The Tongan temple was rededicated 4 November 2007 following remodeling that began in June 2006.[1][2]

The temple is the only one in Tonga, and has a floor plan similar to other southern Pacific temples, including the Apia Samoa (rebuilt in 2005) and the Papeete Tahiti temples. It was built with a modern single-spire design, similar to the Bern Switzerland Temple and the London England Temple. Most of the construction work on the temple was done by labor missionaries from New Zealand and other South Pacific Islands.

History

The Nuku'alofa Tonga Temple was announced on 2 April 1980, and dedicated on 9 August 1983 by Gordon B. Hinckley.[3][4] The temple was built on a 5-acre (20,000 m²) plot, has 2 ordinance rooms and 3 sealing rooms, and has a total floor area of 14,572 square feet (1,353.8 m²).

The temple was closed for renovation in July 2006. After completion, an open house was held September 29 to October 20, 2007, and the temple was rededicated on November 4, 2007 by Russell M. Nelson.[5][4]

After he was released as president of Brigham Young University-Hawaii in 2007, Eric B. Shumway became the temple president.[6]

In 2020, the Nuku'alofa Tonga Temple was closed in response to the coronavirus pandemic.[7]

See also

• Eric B. Shumway, a former temple president
• Comparison of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by geographic region
• Temple architecture (Latter-day Saints)
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Tonga

References

1. "Public to Tour Renovated Temple in Nuku'alofa, Tonga", Newsroom (Press release), LDS Church, 2007-07-10, retrieved 2012-10-07
2. Weaver, Sara Jane (2007-11-05), "LDS Tonga Temple rededicated", Deseret Morning News, retrieved 2012-10-07
3. "Utah's People of Color; Significant Events in the Ethnic Communities of Utah". Salt Lake Tribune. 27 December 1998. ProQuest 288910311.
4. "LDS church rededicates Tonga temple". Salt Lake Tribune. AP. 5 November 2007. ProQuest 282193920.
5. Weaver, Sara Jane (2007-11-05), "LDS Tonga Temple rededicated", Deseret Morning News, retrieved 2012-10-07
6. "President of BYUH to take post in Tonga". Honolulu Star Bulletin. 6 February 2007. ProQuest 412403137.
7. Stack, Peggy Fletcher. "All Latter-day Saint temples to close due to coronavirus", The Salt Lake Tribune, 26 March 2020. Retrieved on 28 March 2020.

External links

• Media related to Nuku alofa Tonga Temple at Wikimedia Commons
• Nuku'alofa Tonga Temple Official site
• Nuku'alofa Tonga Temple at ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org