Decades of waiting and praying for their own temple became a mere memory Saturday when ground was turned at the site where the Church ofJesus Christ of Latter day Saints will build the Pago Pago American Samoa Temple.
There were tears of joy among the packed crowd selected to attend the groundbreaking at the Ottoville Stake Center.
Government leaders including Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga with First Lady Ella, Senate President Tuaolo Manaia and Mrs Fruean, House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale and Mrs Ale , and High Chief Pulu Ae Ae Jr., reoresenting Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata were joined by leaders of other church denominations in the territory.
Elder Brett Nattress, Pacific Area presidency presided at a ceremony inside the Ottoville Stake Center prior to the ground breaking. Elder Faapito Auapaau, Area Seventy conducted the ceremony.
Reflecting the LDS Church’s emphasis on youth, a young church member, Joalin Young, was chosen to speak about the significance of the temple to her.
Ms Young clearly moved the aasembly when she talked about her longing to have her non-church member father baptized so her family Can be sealed in the Temple one day.
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Vaitinasa Dr Salu Hunkin gave a brief history of the church from the arrival of Hawaiian missionaries on the island of Aunuu in 1863 to today. The LDS Church has 16,490 members or 39% of the territory’s population.
Elder Vince Haleck, Emeritus General Authority, recalled the disappointment 40 years ago when the decision was made to change the location of a temple for the Samoan islands from American Samoa to Samoa. Since then the Saints in American Samoa have had to travel to the Temple in Apia at great sacrifice because of their faith.
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Elder Brett Nattress said the American Samoa Temple delivers a promise made by the Lord to His people.
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LDS Church officials, the youth, government and leaders of other churches turned the soil at the empty lot next to the Ottoville Stake Center where the temple will be built by contractor, Westland Construction, from Utah. It is to be completed in three years.
