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The Nuku'alofa Tonga Temple (formerly the Tongan Temple) is the 25th constructed and 23rd operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It is located in the middle of Tonga's main island Tongatapu near Matangiake. The area where the temple is located is commonly known as Liahona, after the name of the church-owned high school there. The temple is several miles south of its namesake city, the capital Nukuʻalofa.
| Nuku'alofa Tonga Temple | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 The Nuku'alofa Tonga Temple | ||||
 | ||||
| Number | 23 | |||
| Dedication | 9 August 1983, by Gordon B. Hinckley | |||
| Site | 1.2 acres (0.49 ha) | |||
| Floor area | 21,184 sq ft (1,968.1 m2) | |||
| Official website • News & images | ||||
| Church chronology | ||||
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| Additional information | ||||
| Announced | 2 April 1980, by Spencer W. Kimball | |||
| Groundbreaking | 18 February 1981, by Spencer W. Kimball | |||
| Open house | 19–30 July 1983 | |||
| Rededicated | 4 November 2007, by Russell M. Nelson | |||
| Designed by | Emil B. Fetzer | |||
| Location | Nukuʻalofa, Tonga | |||
| Geographic coordinates | 21°9′45.21960″S 175°16′20.35200″W | |||
| Exterior finish | "R-wall" exterior finish and insulation system on concrete block; roof covered by split cedar shake shingles. | |||
| Baptistries | 1 | |||
| Ordinance rooms | 2 (Movie, stationary) | |||
| Sealing rooms | 3 | |||
| Clothing rental | Yes | |||
| Notes | The Tongan temple was rededicated 4 November 2007 following remodeling that began in June 2006.[1][2] | |||
| () | ||||
The temple is the only one in Tonga, and has a floor plan similar to other southern Pacific temples, including the Apia Samoa (rebuilt in 2005) and the Papeete Tahiti temples. It was built with a modern single-spire design, similar to the Bern Switzerland Temple and the London England Temple. Most of the construction work on the temple was done by labor missionaries from New Zealand and other South Pacific Islands.
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The Nuku'alofa Tonga Temple was announced on 2 April 1980, and dedicated on 9 August 1983 by Gordon B. Hinckley.[3][4] The temple was built on a 5-acre (20,000 m2) plot, has 2 ordinance rooms and 3 sealing rooms, and has a total floor area of 14,572 square feet (1,353.8 m2).
The temple was closed for renovation in July 2006. After completion, an open house was held September 29 to October 20, 2007, and the temple was rededicated on November 4, 2007 by Russell M. Nelson.[5][4]
After he was released as president of Brigham Young University-Hawaii in 2007, Eric B. Shumway became the temple president.[6]
In 2020, the Nuku'alofa Tonga Temple was closed in response to the coronavirus pandemic.[7]
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Temples in the Pacific Islands ()
= Operating
= Under construction
= Announced
= Temporarily Closed
- Eric B. Shumway, a former temple president
- Comparison of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by geographic region
- Temple architecture (Latter-day Saints)
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Tonga
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