Leaders and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the territory are rejoicing over the announcement yesterday by Church President Russell Nelson that a new temple will be built in American Samoa.
President Nelson made the announcement yesterday at the conclusion of the 189th annual Church conference in Salt Lake City.
Play Audio
The other Pacific island where one of the eight new temples is to be built is Tonga.
Asked for a reaction to the good news, Elder Vincent Haleck, the only Samoan to become generak authortiy of the LDS Church said, “I was humbled and filled with gratitude to the Lord for inspiring His prophet to build a temple in American Samoa. It is an answer to the hopes and prayers of the Latter-day Saints in American Samoa.
“As you know, for many years our American Samoa Latter-day Saints traveled to Apia, Samoa, to attend the temple there. Now the Lord, through His prophet, has designated American Samoa as a future site of another one of His sacred temples to bless the lives of His children residing in American Samoa.”
Asked how significant having a temple here is for church members, he said, “For members of the church, a temple is the most sacred place of worship on the earth.
“It is unique from all other places of worship. It is designated as the only place where families can be united forever and where the most sacred gospel ordinances are performed. It is also a place where you can feel closer to the Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, a place of peace and revelation, a place where family relationships are strengthened, and a place to seek direction concerning life’s challenges.”
Elder Haleck said more detailed information on the temple will be coming from the First Presidency of the Church at a later date.
