New Samoa Apia East Mission Marks Historic Milestone for Samoa

More than 160 years after missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints first arrived in Samoa, the existing Samoa Apia Mission will be divided into two missions on July 1, 2026, marking a new chapter in the Church’s history in the islands.

The new Samoa Apia East Mission will be led by President Adney Reid and Sister Tina Reid, who currently serve as leaders of the Samoa Apia Mission.
 

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“We are taught to minister one by one, and this new change will allow us to do that more effectively,” President and Sister Reid said. “We hope to spend more time with local leaders and identify ways we can reach individuals who are ready to come unto Christ.”

The new mission is being created from areas previously assigned to the Samoa Apia Mission. It will serve eastern Upolu and American Samoa, while the Samoa Apia West Mission will continue serving western Upolu and Savai’i.

The history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Samoa dates to 1863, when missionaries of the Church first arrived in the islands. The Samoa Mission was formally organized in 1888, and local members soon began serving missions and assuming leadership positions throughout the islands.

“For decades, Samoa has been a stronghold of faith where families are centered on the gospel, where young adults serve missions in large numbers, and where members faithfully support the work,” said Elder H. Jason Joseph, Area Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

He said the new mission will allow missionaries to focus on a smaller geographic area while creating additional opportunities for Samoan members to serve and lead in their communities.

“Missionaries don’t just teach, they serve,” Elder Joseph said. “I hope the Samoa Apia East Mission will mean more service projects, more help for families in need, and more Christlike love in villages.”

Missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are volunteers who serve full time for 18 to 24 months, sharing the teachings of Jesus Christ and serving in communities around the world. Following the example of the Saviour's personal ministry, missionaries teach and serve as Jesus Christ did, inviting all to come unto God the Father and to be like Him.

Today, more than 108,000 members belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across Samoa and American Samoa, with 214 congregations and 25 stakes. The region is home to the Apia Samoa Temple, and Church members also look forward to the dedication of the Pago Pago American Samoa Temple, which is currently under construction.

For President and Sister Reid, whose families have deep ties to Samoa and American Samoa, the creation of a new mission represents an important chapter in a story that spans generations.

President Reid’s family has a long history of Church leadership and service in American Samoa. His father, Eugene E. Reid, became the first Area Authority from American Samoa in 1995 and was part of a generation of local Church leaders who helped strengthen the Church throughout the islands.

Sister Reid’s family history is also closely connected to the Church’s history in Samoa. Her great-great grandfather, Opapo Fonoimoana, was a pioneering member of the Church in the Samoan Islands. His legacy is one example of the generations of faithful members who helped strengthen the Church throughout the region.

The Samoa Apia East Mission is one of five new missions being created across the Pacific following the Church’s October 2025 announcement of 55 new missions worldwide. Church leaders said the new missions will help strengthen local congregations and support missionary efforts throughout the region.

“It is an honor to be part of making history as a new mission within Samoa begins,” President and Sister Reid said. “We trust in the Lord with all our heart and know He will direct our paths as leaders of the new Samoa Apia East Mission.”