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    25 July 2025 - AUCKLAND, New Zealand
    News Story

    Why is the Church Doubling its Number of Temples in the South Pacific?

    There are 11 operating temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the South Pacific, with 11 more under construction or announced

    Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the South Pacific are awaiting the construction and opening of twice the number of Latter-day Saint temples in the area.

    The following countries and territories will receive their first Latter-day Saint temple: American Samoa, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu.

    Wellington-New-Zealand-Temple-Artist-Rendering
    Wellington-New-Zealand-Temple-Artist-Rendering
    A rendering of the Wellington New Zealand Temple.© 2025 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
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    Australia currently has five temples and two more announced. New Zealand has two, with a third, in Wellington, scheduled for a groundbreaking ceremony before construction begins.

    Second temples for Tonga and Samoa are being built, and a second for French Polynesia has been announced.

    These houses of the Lord are sacred places for Latter-day Saints to feel peace, receive divine inspiration, and grow closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

    Unlike Church meetinghouses — which are open to the public and used for weekly worship services, social activities, service projects, and more — temples are holy places where Latter-day Saints can participate in sacred ceremonies that help unite families for eternity and make commitments to follow the example of Jesus Christ and keep His commandments. After public open houses end, temples are dedicated to God, and then open to Latter-day Saints who are in good standing with the Church.

    This exponential increase in temples began when President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints became president in 2018. He has consistently emphasised the importance of temples and is paving the way for Latter-day Saints in every nation to be able to attend temples more regularly.

    “The temple is the gateway to the greatest blessings God has in store for each of us, for the temple is the only place on earth where we may receive all of the blessings promised to Abraham,” President Nelson said in an address to Latter-day Saints in April 2024. “That is why we are doing all within our power, under the direction of the Lord, to make the temple blessings more accessible to members of the Church.”

    Tonga-Temple-2
    Tonga-Temple-2
    Nuku'alofa Tonga Temple© 2025 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
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    Since becoming president, President Nelson has announced 200 temples worldwide — more than doubling the number of Latter-day Saint temples operating, under construction, or announced before 2018 (182 temples). Twelve of these 200 announced temples are in the South Pacific.

    “Regular worship in the house of the Lord increases our capacity for both virtue and charity. Thus, time in the temple increases our confidence before the Lord,” President Nelson said to Church members in April 2025. “Increased time in the temple will help us prepare for the Second Coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. We do not know the day or the hour of His coming. But I do know that the Lord is prompting me to urge us to get ready for that ‘great and dreadful day.’”

    When President Nelson was born, almost 101 years ago, there were only six operating temples in the Church of Jesus Christ worldwide.

    Construction work continues on the Port Moresby Papua New Guinea Temple.© 2025 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
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    Temples in the 11 following South Pacific locations are currently operating. Listed are the dates they were dedicated by a General Authority of the Church as a house of the Lord.

    • Hamilton, New Zealand: Announced 17 February 1955. Dedicated 20 April 1958. Rededicated 16 October 2022 after being renovated.
    • Apia, Samoa: Announced 15 October 1977. Dedicated 5 August 1983. Rededicated 4 September 2005 after being rebuilt.
    • Nuku’alofa, Tonga: Announced 2 April 1980. Dedicated 9 August 1983. Rededicated 4 November 2007 after being renovated.
    • Papeete, Tahiti: Announced 2 April 1980. Dedicated 27 October 1983. Rededicated 12 November 2006 after being renovated.
    • Sydney, Australia: Announced 2 April 1980. Dedicated 20 September 1984.
    • Adelaide, Australia: Announced 17 March 1999. Dedicated 15 June 2000. Currently closed for renovations.
    • Melbourne, Australia: Announced 30 October 1998. Dedicated 16 June 2000.
    • Suva, Fiji: Announced 7 May 1998. Dedicated 18 June 2000. Rededicated 21 February 2016 after being renovated.
    • Perth, Australia: Announced 11 June 1999. Dedicated 20 May 2001. Currently closed for renovations.
    • Brisbane, Australia: Announced 20 July 1998. Dedicated 15 June 2003.
    • Auckland, New Zealand: Announced 7 October 2018. Dedicated 13 April 2025.

    Temples in the 11 following South Pacific locations have been announced, some of which are currently under construction.

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