The multi-million tala Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple will be built on a five-and-a-half-acre site located next to the Don Bosco College and Vocational Technical Center in Fataloa, a subarea of Salelologa village on the southeastern edge of Savai’i.

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced the construction of the Savai'i Samoa Temple almost six months ago.

Church President Russel M. Nelson announced a temple for Savai’i on 1 October 2023 among 20 new locations for temples.

Matini Lapana, an LDS proud member who has lived in Savaii for over 50 years, stated in an interview that this is a dream come true for the people of Savaii, particularly the younger generations.

“We have longed for a temple to be erected in Savaii because it will substantially strengthen our covenants with our Lord,” he said.

“Our youth are often the target of negative influences from the outside world, so I believe that having the Lord's house within reach will encourage and impact them more to think and act morally. This great revelation from our leaders will be beneficial to the next generation.

Brother Lapana went on to say that this will also assist the members by saving money and time in arranging sessions at the Apia Temple in Upolu, as well as for a good purpose.

“The arrangements of getting from Savaii to Upolu are somehow difficult, and we often have to cancel because certain members don't have enough money to cover all expenses and the distance between the islands wears us out," he said.

“It will be the best feeling ever to have a temple close to where we live and accessible to our everyday visions. I am aware of and have seen many blessings bestowed upon our family and all church members who have served and entered the sacred house of the Lord.

“The residents of Savaii, and particularly those in our ward, Tapuelele 1st, are appreciative of the Church President and Leaders for this wonderful opportunity, which will allow us to conduct gospel ordinances for our families and further the widely held belief that families are eternal and can be reunited in eternity.

This will be the country’s second temple, following the Apia Samoa Temple, which was dedicated in 1983. After a fire destroyed the temple in 2003 during renovations, it was rebuilt and rededicated in 2005.

Missionaries first taught the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in the Samoan Islands in 1863, with a formal mission organised in 1888.

In 1962, Samoa became one of the first countries outside the United States to have an organised stake; 12 years later, it became the first country organised entirely into stakes, with no small districts.

Today, nearly 88,000 Latter-day Saints comprising 165 congregations reside in Samoa.