Nuku'alofa Tonga Temple
Encyclopedia
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. 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 Nukualofa
.
The temple is the only to built in Tonga, and has floor plan similar to the other southern Pacific temples, the Apia Samoa Temple
(rebuilt in 2005) and the Papeete Tahiti Temple
. 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.
The Nuku'alofa Tonga Temple was announced on 2 April 1980, and dedicated on 9 August 1983 by Gordon B. Hinckley
. The temple was built on a 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) plot, has 2 ordinance rooms and 3 sealing rooms, and has a total floor area of 14572 square feet (1,353.8 m²).
The temple was closed for renovation in July 2006. An open house was held September 29 - October 20, 2007 and the temple was rededicated on November 4, 2007 by Russell M. Nelson
.
Temple (LDS Church)
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a temple is a building dedicated to be a House of the Lord, and they are considered by Church members to be the most sacred structures on earth. Upon completion, temples are usually open to the public for a short period of time...
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is located in the middle of Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
's main island Tongatapu
Tongatapu
Tongatapu is the main island of the Kingdom of Tonga and the location of its capital Nukualofa. It is located in Tonga's southern island group, to which it gives its name, and is the country's most populous island, with approximately 71,260 residents , 70.5% of the national population...
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 Nukualofa
Nukuʻalofa
Nukualofa is the capital of the Kingdom of Tonga. It is located on the north coast of the island of Tongatapu, in the southern most island group of Tonga.-Mythological origins:...
.
The temple is the only to built in Tonga, and has floor plan similar to the other southern Pacific temples, the Apia Samoa Temple
Apia Samoa Temple
The Apia Samoa Temple was the 24th constructed and 22nd operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was the first temple built in Samoa and the third to be built in Polynesia...
(rebuilt in 2005) and the Papeete Tahiti Temple
Papeete Tahiti Temple
The Papeete Tahiti Temple is the 27th constructed and 25th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located in the city of Papeete on the island of Tahiti in French Polynesia, it was built with a modern single-spire design....
. It was built with a modern single-spire design, similar to the Bern Switzerland Temple
Bern Switzerland Temple
The Bern Switzerland Temple is a temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Though the building is located in Münchenbuchsee, its postal address is assigned to the neighboring municipality of Zollikofen...
and the London England Temple
London England Temple
The London England Temple is the 12th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is located in Newchapel, Surrey, England....
. Most of the construction work on the temple was done by labor missionaries from New Zealand and other South Pacific Islands.
The Nuku'alofa Tonga Temple was announced on 2 April 1980, and dedicated on 9 August 1983 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon Bitner Hinckley was an American religious leader and author who served as the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 12, 1995 until his death...
. The temple was built on a 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) plot, has 2 ordinance rooms and 3 sealing rooms, and has a total floor area of 14572 square feet (1,353.8 m²).
The temple was closed for renovation in July 2006. An open house was held September 29 - October 20, 2007 and the temple was rededicated on November 4, 2007 by Russell M. Nelson
Russell M. Nelson
Russell Marion Nelson is a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and an internationally renowned cardiothoracic surgeon.-Medical career:...
.
See also
- 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
- Comparison of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsComparison of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsBelow is a chronological list of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with sortable columns. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a temple is a building dedicated to be a House of the Lord, and considered by church members to be the most sacred structures on earth...
- Temple architecture (Latter-day Saints)
External links
- Official LDS Nuku'alofa Tonga Temple page The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Official Site
- Nukuʻalofa Tonga Temple page at LDSChurchTemples.com