LDS Tonga Temple rededicated
The temple, originally dedicated in 1983 by President Gordon B. Hinckley, had been closed since June 2006 for remodeling. It will serve more than 50,000 Latter-day Saints in the Kingdom of Tonga.
The dedication followed a successful three-week open house, attended by more than 40,000 people and launched when Tonga's king, His Majesty George Tupou V, addressed a gathering of 200 dignitaries on the campus of an LDS school, Liahona.
On Saturday evening, a program of singing and dancing was held in conjunction with the dedicatory events.
"This is a great, exciting occasion," said Elder Nelson, who presided at the event. "My feelings were captured in the very first words sung by the choir, 'Hallelujah,' which means praise to the Lord God Jesus. Tonight, we sing praises to God."
Elder Nelson, attending the event with his wife, Wendy Watson Nelson, offered greetings to the Royal family and church members from President Hinckley.
Tonga has the largest percentage of Latter-day Saints in any nation in the world. An estimated 46 percent of Tongans are LDS. The island kingdom houses 117 LDS chapels, two church high schools, six church middle schools and a temple. Of the 149 missionaries serving here, 135 are native Tongan.
"We are blessed here in Tonga," said Elder Sione M. Fineanganofo, an LDS Area Seventy "There is a chapel in almost every village in Tonga. We have the temple. We have a mission. What else do we need? We have everything in Tonga. Now we just need to remember to rededicate ourselves."
A large banner hanging across the road in front of the 18,000-square-foot temple shares that message in bold lettering: "Let's rededicate ourselves."
E-mail: sarah@desnews.com
Recent comments
Dear all,
To all my brothers and sisters in the Friendly Island.....
Nisa Fetu'u | July 30, 2008 at 4:39 p.m.
I AM HAPPY TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH AND BUILD MY TESTIMONIES...
ALINA HEMA | May 29, 2008 at 12:50 p.m.
I AM SO HAPPY FOR MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN TONGO,THEY ARE RICHLY...
KAREL, FROM JAMAICA W.I. | Jan. 18, 2008 at 10:30 a.m.
- Funds for new courthouse approved 1:48 a.m.
- Godfrey vetoes Ogden budget 1:48 a.m.
- Odd Fellows Hall move 1:47 a.m.
- 2 country groups to perform 1:47 a.m.
- Rumor has Boozer with Bulls 1:20 a.m.
- Jazz in back of line for free agents 1:19 a.m.
- Okur signs two-year extension 1:18 a.m.
- Marion to Mavs, Stackhouse to Griz 1:16 a.m.
- Price for redistricting plan challenged 1:04 a.m.
- Basketball campers learn service 1:02 a.m.
- Rumor has Boozer with Bulls
- Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
- Okur signs two-year extension
- Jazz in back of line for free agents
- Restaurant destroyed by fire
- A primer for the 6th Potter film
- Jazz won't meet Lopez on Europe trip
- Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
- MWC, WAC rushed into BCS
- 'The Story of R.C. Willey'
- Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
138 - Letters: Palin mistreated
136 - Teachers struggle with district cuts
134 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
122 - Rumor has Boozer with Bulls
82 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Moon landing: Let's hear from you
73 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
72 - Services bids farewell to Jackson
70 - Letters: Time for a revolution
69
As more and more dads are put out of work in this economy, I've been...
The photographs are mysterious, brooding, dark. They show dimples and...
Blazers get the unbalanced trade they seek while not signing Millsap away...
Ricky Bobby - THE JAZZ DO NOT WANT TO TAKE BACK EQUAL SALARIES. They want to...
Despite the fact that logging has all but stopped in the pacific northwest...
My understanding of what FAIR is trying to do, is to provide well thought out...
Jazz will resign Milsap. If they don't it will be ahuge mistake. First off,...
I was waiting for it to be burned on the big metal structure right by the...
Hey Ute fan... the Utes had a good season. And keep throwing that BCS bowl...
Tyrus Thomas is in the last year of his contract too so what is the point for...
CougarKeith, people don't know how to properly retire the flag, what they did...
It is just talk but since it was brought up: IF we can get Prizbilla &...


