The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Tonga
Encyclopedia
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) (Tongan
: Siasi ʻo Sīsū Kalaisi ʻo e Kau Māʻoniʻoni ʻi he Ngaahi ʻAho Kimui Ní or Siasi Māmonga) was established in Tonga
in 1891. According to the LDS Church, Tonga has a higher per-capita number of Latter-day Saints than any other country in the world.
, 125 wards, 39 branches, 1 mission
, and 1 temple
in Tonga. The claimed membership total represents approximately 46% of the population of the kingdom.
In 1996, the LDS Church reported about a third of the Tonga's population to be members. However, according to 1996 census data, 14% of the population self-identified as Latter-day Saints at the time. LDS Church membership statistics are different from self-reported statistics mainly because the LDS Church does not remove an individual’s name from its membership rolls based on inactivity in the church.
in Tonga arrived in Tonga on July 15, 1891, Tonga was part of the church's Samoan Mission. On July 8, 1916, the Tongan Mission was organized. The mission at the time included much of the South Pacific. The mission was renamed the Tonga Mission on June 10, 1970. On July 23, 1971, the Tonga Mission was divided and the Fiji Mission was created from it. The Tonga Mission was renamed the Tonga Nuku'alofa Mission on June 20, 1974.
was dedicated in 1983 and was rededicated in 2007.
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Tongan language
Tongan is an Austronesian language spoken in Tonga. It has around 200,000 speakers and is a national language of Tonga. It is a VSO language.-Related languages:...
: Siasi ʻo Sīsū Kalaisi ʻo e Kau Māʻoniʻoni ʻi he Ngaahi ʻAho Kimui Ní or Siasi Māmonga) was established in 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...
in 1891. According to the LDS Church, Tonga has a higher per-capita number of Latter-day Saints than any other country in the world.
Membership
As of year-end 2007, the LDS Church reported 54,281 members, 16 stakes, 2 districtsDistrict (LDS Church)
A district of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative unit composed of a number of congregations called branches. A district is a subdivision of a mission of the church and in many ways is analogous to a stake of the church. The leader of a district is the...
, 125 wards, 39 branches, 1 mission
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
, and 1 temple
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...
in Tonga. The claimed membership total represents approximately 46% of the population of the kingdom.
In 1996, the LDS Church reported about a third of the Tonga's population to be members. However, according to 1996 census data, 14% of the population self-identified as Latter-day Saints at the time. LDS Church membership statistics are different from self-reported statistics mainly because the LDS Church does not remove an individual’s name from its membership rolls based on inactivity in the church.
Missions
When the first LDS Church missionariesMissionary (LDS Church)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
in Tonga arrived in Tonga on July 15, 1891, Tonga was part of the church's Samoan Mission. On July 8, 1916, the Tongan Mission was organized. The mission at the time included much of the South Pacific. The mission was renamed the Tonga Mission on June 10, 1970. On July 23, 1971, the Tonga Mission was divided and the Fiji Mission was created from it. The Tonga Mission was renamed the Tonga Nuku'alofa Mission on June 20, 1974.
Temples
The church's Nuku'alofa Tonga TempleNuku'alofa Tonga Temple
The Nuku'alofa Tonga 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...
was dedicated in 1983 and was rededicated in 2007.
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External links
- New Zealand/Pacific Islands LDS Newsroom
- LDS Church News: Country information: Tonga
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Official Site (New Zealand/Pacific Islands)