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

Temple Facts

The Suva Fiji Temple was the first temple built in Melanesia.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Suva Fiji Temple was held on the same day as the groundbreaking ceremony for the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple.

Temple History

Before the dedication of the Suva Fiji Temple, the 12,000 members in four stakes currently living on the main island of Viti Levu and in two districts located on the nearby islands of Vanua Levu,Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu, traveled to temples in Tonga, Samoa or New Zealand. Now their own temple is located just minutes away near the Samabula Chapel. It is a scenic location not far from the downtown area of Suva, Fiji's capital. With views of the Pacific Ocean from three sides of the property, the land is located at one of the highest points in the city.

Elder Earl M. Monson of the Seventy presidency presided at the temple's groundbreaking services. "It will be a privilege for many of you to watch as the temple grows from where we are today to a beautiful structure on this scenic hillside," he said to those gathered at the event. He said the temple will stand as a reminder of the intention God has for families to be eternal. "It will be wonderful for mothers and fathers to be able to point to this temple and say that this is where we were sealed for eternity and their families will have a sense of peace and assurance that will help them through difficult times," he said.

Referring to the great era of temple building initiated by President Hinckley, Elder Monson continued: "In many ways we are preparing for the Second Coming of the Savior to the earth, but equally important is that we are preparing family members to meet Him. It is wonderful to know the steps to be taken on the strait and narrow path, defined by the Savior, that lead to eternal life, and to know how families and the temple are interlocked with them" (Church News, 22 May 1999).