Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Framing of the five archways featured in the portico of the Pago Pago American Samoa Temple has been completed. Crews have been building the concrete block walls of the temple and adjacent ancillary building for about a year, and framing of the upper walls is still ahead. The temple shares the same core plan as the nearby Neiafu Tonga Temple, which is also under construction.

A side view of the Pago Pago American Samoa Temple shows the progress being made on the portico at the front of the building. The majority of the structural walls are in place, but work continues on the upper walls, especially for the raised center section. The temple will feature a pitched roof to shed water from the regular rainstorms. The floor slab is being poured for the ancillary building.

Raindrops fall on the construction site of the Pago Pago American Samoa Temple where the reinforced concrete block frames for the temple are growing stronger and taller. The temple president, matron, and temple missionaries will live on site in a housing facility where a distribution center will also be located. Construction on the 17,000-square-foot temple began almost 11 months ago.

Billowy clouds drift over the construction site of the Pago Pago American Samoa Temple where the concrete block structural frames for the temple continue to rise. Pago Pago is the capital of the island territory, which consists of the inhabited islands of Tutuila, Tau, Olosega, Ofu, and Aunuu, and the uninhabited coral atoll named Rose Atoll. Swains Island, a distant inhabited coral atoll, is also part of American Samoa.

Rows of concrete block continue to be added for the structural walls of the Pago Pago American Samoa Temple under the beautiful blue skies and palm fronds of the South Pacific. An adjacent ancillary building will house supporting services such as a waiting area, distribution center, and apartments. Construction on the temple complex has been underway for eight months.

A photograph captured by the staff at Samoa News shows the concrete block being set for the structural walls of the Pago Pago American Samoa Temple. The adjoining stake center and gorgeous green-covered mountains are seen in the background. The temple will be first in American Samoa and the second in the Samoan Islands. The first, the Apia Samoa Temple, stands on the Samoan island of Upolu.

With a firm foundation in place, construction of the Pago Pago American Samoa Temple is moving above ground. Crews are setting rebar for concrete structural walls and retaining walls. Aggregate and landscaping rock sit in neat piles in staging areas on the property. Construction of the temple began five and a half months ago on October 30.

On Saturday, October 30, ground was broken for the Pago Pago American Samoa Temple—the second temple to be constructed in the Samoan Islands. Elder K. Brett Nattress of the Pacific Area presidency presided at the event. He was joined by other Church officials and local government leaders. The event was held at the temple site located next to the stake center for the Pago Pago American Samoa Central Stake in the Ottoville neighborhood of Pago Pago. It was also broadcast to the other stake centers on the island. In his remarks, Elder Nattress said: "As we symbolically turn the soil, let us turn our hearts to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Let us establish a firm foundation in our Savior, Jesus Christ."

The site of the future Pago Pago American Samoa Temple is being cleared ahead of next month's groundbreaking ceremony that was originally announced for Saturday, October 9, but has been delayed three weeks until Saturday, October 30, 2021. Elder K. Brett Nattress of the Pacific Area presidency will preside at the event. There are five stakes operating on the island of Tutuila—the most populous island of American Samoa.

On Saturday, October 9, 2021, Church leaders and invited guests will break ground for the Pago Pago American Samoa Temple. The 17,000-square-foot, single-story temple will be built on Ottoville Road next to the stake center for the Pago Pago Samoa Central Stake in Tafuna, American Samoa. The project will also include housing for the temple president, matron, and temple missionaries and a distribution center. The temple will be the first in the territory of American Samoa and the second in the Samoan Islands, joining the Apia Samoa Temple.

A grass field next to the Pago Pago Samoa Central Stake Center will be the location of the Pago Pago American Samoa Temple, announced by President Russell M. Nelson in the April 2019 General Conference. The single-level temple will be nearly 17,000 square feet and will share a site with housing for the temple president and matron and for temple missionaries. A distribution center will also be included in the project.