Auckland LDS temple opens: A sacred space for Pacific Latter-day Saints faithful

It’s church, like you’ve never seen it before.

Pacific members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are welcoming the opening of the new Auckland temple.

“This is really, really significant”, says Elder Taniela Wakolo (Fiji), a member of the church’s Pacific Area Presidency.

“When it is announced by the prophet or president of the church, everyone rejoices, because how significant and how meaningful the house of the Lord is.”

Temples are considered the most sacred place of worship, and the country’s 117,909 members would previously have to travel to Hamilton to participate in baptism and wedding ceremonies, known as ordinances.

Precious Tusega (Faleatiu, Tuanai, Satupa’itea, Sasina) says it’s special but also convenient.

“To call this place home and to have the temple here in my backyard is such a blessing, and it's just going to be so empowering for us to have it here in our backyard and help us spiritually grow.”

Precious Tusega says family is a key part of the Church of Jesus Christ. Photo/PMN News/Khalia Strong

Pacific connection

Missionaries established churches across the region as far back as 1899, and Tonga now has the world's highest number of Latter-day Saints per capita.

Tusega says many Pacific communities in Aotearoa New Zealand resonate with the church’s teachings.

“Everything in this church and the teachings are centred on families, and as Pacific people, we are a collective always, and so it just strengthens that bond, and we become a family all in Christ.”

Elder Wakolo says there are similar values in the region that closely align with the faith.

The pool used for baptisms. Photo/Supplied

“You go around the Pacific Islands, and even in our land here in Aotearoa, and you go to Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu, there are so many customs and traditions that are gospel-centric.

“We love each other, we care for each other, that's what this is about. And you bring in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and help inject that love so that it's not only temporal, not only ending in this life, but it is eternal.”

Construction on the 4.6-hectare site has taken six years, and project manager Oscar Lawrence has much more in the pipeline.

“We started in 2018 when it was first announced in October, and our design team, we had our final meeting on Friday, and there were tears.

Elder Taniela Wakolo says many Pacific values align with the Church of Jesus Christ. Photo/PMN News/Khalia Strong

“From here, I'm also working on the Pago Pago American Sāmoan temple, the Vava’u Tonga temple, we're about to start the construction of the Wellington temple in New Zealand, and we've started designing the Savai’i Sāmoa temple.”

The Auckland temple is open for public viewing for four weeks from 27 February. After the building is dedicated in April, it will be for members only.

Wakolo says this is a rare opportunity for non-members.

“We invite you, haere mai, haere mai, and come and see the house of the Lord because you will not have another opportunity until maybe fifty, sixty or seventy years from today.”

The sealing room, where couples are married in this life, and the afterlife. Photo/Supplied