Over 40 missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints performed a service project at the Royal Palace in Nuku’alofa over the last few days as the Kingdom of Tonga prepares for next month's Coronation of Their Majesties King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u.
The week-long service project (9-16 June) included sanding and painting the Palace fence, as well as gardening inside the Palace grounds.
The service project was initiated by Prince Ata in preparation for the Coronation on 4 July 2015.
- Latter-day Saint missionaries Royal Palace fence in Nuku'alofa, Tonga
- Royal Palace gardens June 2015
- Missionaries and members Tonga Royal Palace June 2015
- Missionaries Tonga Royal Palace
- Missionaries Tonga Royal Palace 2
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
Local Church leaders of the Tonga Nuku’alofa Mission and Liahona Stake, President Leitoni Tupou and President Inoke Kupu, coordinated the combined effort involving local leaders, members and missionaries.
With the approval of Her Majesty, Queen Nanasipau’u, the beautification of the royal garden was also part of the service project.
“Many of the folks who work in the Palace repeatedly mentioned the beauty of our temple grounds," President Tupou said. "Her Majesty would like the palace to be as beautiful as the temple grounds."
He also mentioned Prince Ata’s presence at the Palace grounds with the volunteers since the beginning of the service project.
Latter-day Saint leaders, missionaries and other Church members will present gifts and well wishes known as the “hala” to His Majesty King Tupou VI at the Royal Palace on 24 June 2015 at 3pm.
Musical and cultural items will be performed by the Nuku’alofa North Stake Choir and students of the Church Middle Schools. Prince ‘Ata will share a spiritual thought.