Apia Samoa Temple

The intention to construct a temple in Apia was announced by the LDS Church on October 15, 1977. A groundbreaking ceremony and site dedication were held on February 19, 1981, with church president Spencer W. Kimball giving the dedicatory prayer.

The temple was open to the public for tours July 19 to 30, 1983. Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the new Apia Samoa Temple August 5, 1983, and rededicated it on September 4, 2005. The Apia Samoa Temple serves members from 20 stakes in American Samoa, and the islands of Upolu and Savai'i.

As of 2020, Meliula M. Fata is the temple president, with his wife, Pono, serving as temple matron.{{cite news |url= https://www.thechurchnews.com/callings/2020-03-19/read-about-these-5-new-temple-presidents-and-matrons-177426 |title=Read about these 5 new temple presidents and matrons |date= March 19, 2020 |newspaper= Church News }}

On July 9, 2003, a fire destroyed the temple.Swensen, Jason. [https://www.deseret.com/2003/7/10/19734327/samoan-temple-destroyed-by-fire "Samoan temple destroyed by fire"], Deseret News, 10 July 2003. Retrieved on 27 March 2020. Although the cause of the fire is unknown, it is believed to be construction related.[https://www.firehouse.com/photo-story/article/10551452/samoan-latterday-saint-temple-destroyed "Samoan Latter-Day Saint Temple Destroyed"], Firehouse, 11 July 2003. Retrieved on 27 March 2020. The fire occurred in the evening after workers had gone home. Firefighters from Faleolo International Airport were called in to help firemen from Apia fire station.[https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/26472 "Temple burns"], Samoa Observer, 15 September 2018. Retrieved on 27 March 2020.

One week later, on July 16, 2003, the First Presidency sent a letter to the people of the area telling them that the temple would be rebuilt. Three months later, on October 19, 2003, the site was rededicated and a groundbreaking ceremony was held. As part of the construction process, the church demolished a building on the property and built a new chapel across the street from the temple. On January 25, 2005, the angel Moroni statue that had survived the fire was placed on the spire of the new building.

The original and the rebuilt temple use a neotraditional design with a single spire, on a {{convert|2|acre|m2|adj=on}} site. The original temple was {{convert|14560|sqft|m2}}, but with the rebuilding the total floor area is now {{convert|18691|sqft|m2}}. The exterior of is finished with granite.

The temple has two ordinance rooms and two sealing rooms.

{{Location map+|Samoa|width=250|float=right|caption=Temples in the Samoan Islands
{{ubl

|1=File:{{LDSmap = Operating

|2=File:{{LDSmap = Under construction

|3=File:{{LDSmap = Announced

|4=File:{{LDSmap = Temporarily Closed

}}|places=

{{Location map~|Samoa|lat=-13.8381|long=-171.7831|position=top|mark={{Apia Temple|format=LDSmap}}|label=Apia|link=Apia Samoa Temple}}

{{Location map~|Samoa|lat=-14.3340|long=-170.7322|position=bottom|mark={{Pago Pago Temple|format=LDSmap}}|label=Pago Pago|link=Pago Pago Samoa Temple}}

{{Location map~|Samoa|lat=-13.6201|long=-172.4448|position=top|mark={{LDS Temple/Savai'i Samoa Temple|format=LDSmap}}|label=Savai'i|link=Savai'i Samoa Temple}}

}}

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• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Samoa

{{reflist}}

• {{commons category-inline|Apia Samoa Temple}}
• [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/details/apia-samoa-temple?lang=eng Apia Samoa Temple Official site]
• [https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/apia-samoa-temple/ Apia Samoa Temple] at ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org

{{LDS-Pacific|state=expanded}}

Category:Temples (LDS Church) completed in 1983

Category:Temples (LDS Church) completed in 2005

Category:Buildings and structures in Apia

Category:Religious buildings and structures in Samoa

Category:Rebuilt buildings and structures

Category:Temples (LDS Church) in Oceania

Category:The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Samoa

Category:1983 establishments in Samoa

Category:Burned buildings and structures