The Church in Fiji
Though a small group of faithful Church members began worshipping together in Fiji in the 1930s, it was not until 1954 that missionaries officially arrived to preach. The Church eventually became an established presence across the island, and in 2000 a temple was dedicated in Suva.
History of the Church in Fiji
Although Latter-day Saint missionaries traveling throughout the South Pacific occasionally stopped in Fiji, no attempts were made to establish the Church among the Fijian people until 1924. That year, Mele Vea Inoke Tidboald Ashley, a Tongan convert, moved to Suva. Mele Vea maintained her strong faith in isolation, with only occasional contact with the Church until about 1947, when Cecil and Amely Smith began holding weekly Church meetings in their home.
This small group’s efforts to share the gospel built a nucleus of Church members in Suva long before missionaries arrived. In 1958, just four years after missionaries were assigned to Fiji, Church President David O. McKay dedicated a meetinghouse in Suva, and a district was organized. When government quotas limited non-Fijian missionaries allowed in the country, local member missionaries traveled throughout the islands to preach. By 1971, branches were established on the three largest Fijian islands.
In the 1970s, Fijian Saints began translation of the Book of Mormon and other Church materials into Fijian, established a home study seminary program, and opened several Church-operated schools throughout Fiji. By 1980, the Church was a recognized part of Fijian society, with government officials attending meetings. In 1983, the Suva Fiji Stake was organized.
In 2000, during a coup arising from racial tensions in Fiji, the Fiji Suva Temple was dedicated by Church President Gordon B. Hinckley. In 2016, shortly after a devastating cyclone made landfall, the refurbished temple was rededicated. Despite occasional political upheaval and natural disasters, a diverse group of Saints in Fiji have rejoiced together, being “all one in Christ” (Galatians 3:28).
Stories of Faith
More Areas of the Church
Notes
- Avant, Gerry. “Converts: Islands’ Pearls.” Church News, Oct. 16, 1983, 6.
- Avant, Gerry. “Fijian Family Stands as Measure of Growth.” Church News, Jan. 17, 1998, 6.
- Avant, Gerry. “Prophet Goes to Islands of Pacific.” Church News, Oct. 25, 1997, 3.
- Britsch, R. Lanier. Unto the Islands of the Sea: A History of the Latter-day Saints in the Pacific. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1986.
- “Elder Taniela B. Wakolo.” Newsroom. https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/elder-taniela-b-wakolo.
- “Fiji Mission Gets First Local Couple.” Church News, Mar. 11, 1984, 12.
- “‘Fortress of Faith’ Prompts Brotherhood and Tears.” Church News, June 24, 2000, 3.
- Grover, Cornell A. “Fiji Suva Mission: The First Years 1954–1959.” Church History Library, Salt Lake City.
- Hippolite-Wright, Debbie, et al. “Emma Lobendahn (Samoa and Fiji).” In “Olelo: Women of Faith Speak.” In Grant Underwood, ed., Pioneers in the Pacific: Memory, History, and Cultural Identity among the Latter-day Saints. Provo, Utah: Religious Studies Center, 2005, 76–77.
- Jacob, James and Mele Lesuthuma. “History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Fiji.” In Grant Underwood, ed., Pioneers in the Pacific. Provo, Utah: Religious Studies Center, 2005, 241–63. https://rsc.byu.edu/archived/pioneers-pacific/stories-and-histories/20-history-church-jesus-christ-latter-day-saints.
- Jarrard, Jack E. “Branch Is Really Cosmopolitan.” Church News, May 9, 1970, 10.
- Jarrard, Jack E. “Church Principles Changed Lives of Fijian Converts.” Church News, Apr. 18, 1970, 7.
- “LDS Technical College Celebrates 20th Anniversary.” Church News, Nov. 16, 1996, 10.
- Saunders, Shirleen Meek. “Fiji: Islands of Faith.” Tambuli, Feb. 1993, 32. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/1993/02/fiji-islands-of-faith.
- Suva Fiji Temple, publication for the occasion of the rededication of the Suva Fiji Temple, Feb. 21, 2016. https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets?id=3d8643b3-575c-47c8-b8e1-71a079aaa760&crate=0&index=0.
- “Suva Fiji Temple.” Church News, June 24, 2000, 6.
- Weaver, Sarah Jane. “Church Organizes to Help Fiji Heal after Cyclone Winston.” Church News, Mar. 4, 2016. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/church-organizes-to-help-fiji-heal-after-cyclone-winston.
- Weaver, Sarah Jane. “Church Stands as a Beacon in Fiji.” Church News, Jan. 12, 2017. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/church-stands-as-a-beacon-in-fiji.
- Weaver, Sarah Jane. “Looking Back 16 years.” Church News, Feb. 28, 2016, 6.
- Weaver, Sarah Jane. “Pacific Area Reaches Milestone with 100th Stake.” Church News, July 19, 1997, 3.
- Weaver, Sarah Jane. “Pioneer Member: Miracles Have Happened in Fiji.” Church News, July 3, 2016, 8–9.
- Weaver, Sarah Jane. “President Eyring Rededicates Suva Fiji Temple after Cyclone Winston Strikes.” Church News, Feb. 21, 2016. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/president-eyring-rededicates-suva-fiji-temple-after-cyclone-winston-strikes.