- Tongan-women-prepare-for-ground-breaking-service-for-Neiafu-Tonga-Temple-on-11-September-2021.
- Men-move-a-piano-in-preparation-for-the-ground-breaking-service-for-the-Neiafu-Tonga-Temple-on-11-September-2021.
- Elder-Inoke-Kupu,-Area-Seventy-in-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints,-discusses-with-others-preparations-for-the-ground-breaking-for-the-Neiafu-Tonga-Temple-on-11-September-2021.
- Seats-for-honoured-guests-at-the-Neiafu-Tonga-Temple-groundbreaking-on-11-September-2021.-Photo-credit-Tanya-Edwards.
- Moving-the-shovels-into-place-for-the-Neiafu-Tonga-Temple-groundbreaking-on-11-September-2021.--Photo-credit-Tanya-Edwards.
- Shovels-and-grass-preparation-for-Neiafu-Tonga-Temple-groundbreaking-on-11-September-2021.--Photo-credit-Tanya-Edwards.
- A rendering of the Neiafu Tonga Temple.
| 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 |
Members and friends of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the Tongan island of Vava'u are looking forward to ground being broken today (Saturday 11 September) for a new temple to be constructed in Neiafu.
The following comments were made by residents this week:
- ‘Uluaki Spencer Toki, 68, Tu’anuku – “I feel so blessed to be able to witness such an event in my life. Tonight is only the rehearsal and I can already feel how sacred this place is for the Neiafu, Vava’u Temple, so I cannot wait for the groundbreaking tomorrow, it would totally be a different experience.”
- ‘Alesi Otuafi, 19, Ha’alaufuli – “So far in preparation for the groundbreaking, I have been so emotional and in tune with the Holy Spirit, and because of this I am so ecstatic for the blessings the temple will give me and my family."
- Malakai Ika, 81, Hunga – “I am beyond grateful to my Father in Heaven for the opportunity to witness this in my lifetime, it is indeed a blessing not only for me and my family but as well as everyone else. This temple will be the light for the whole of Vava’u."
- Linda Matangi, 63, Ha’alaufuli – “I cannot describe the joy I feel in my heart, but for the past few days, the flashbacks of the days that we would prepare for the temple trips in Tongatapu keeps coming to me, the sacrifices we made were well worth it. As we prepare for the groundbreaking, it’s getting so surreal, and I cry tears of joy everytime I think about how far we have come.”
- Maleta’a Uaea, 50, Tu’anekivale – “I am just so happy to be alive at this time to witness the groundbreaking of our temple, beyond happy actually.”
- Taufa Havili Kaufusi, 38, Haateiho – “There is such a special spirit seeing all the preparation done here for tomorrow, I can just imagine the spirit that we will be feeling when tomorrow comes, I am just glad that I’ll be here to experience it.”