American Samoa: Chronology

January 24, 1863 • Aunu‘u, SamoaKimo Pelio and Samuela Manoa became the first Latter-day Saint missionaries to preach in Samoa, after being called by Walter Murray Gibson in Hawaii. After some time passed with no word from Gibson, who was excommunicated for abuse of authority in 1864, and no further missionaries arrived to relieve them, both married and settled in Samoa.

June 3, 1876 • Tutuila, SamoaKimo Pelio died, leaving Samuela Manoa to continue holding Church meetings alone.

1882–83 • TutuilaManoa lost his hand in a fishing accident and could no longer lead Church meetings. During the 15 months he was at home recovering, most members on the island joined other churches.

June 21, 1888 • Aunu‘uMissionaries Joseph and Florence Dean, along with an infant son, arrived on the island Aunu‘u, where they met Samuela Manoa. Their arrival marked the official opening of the Samoan Mission.

June 25, 1888 • Aunu‘uMalaea became the first convert baptized after the opening of the Samoan Mission.

October 28, 1888 • Aunu‘uThe first meetinghouse constructed in Samoa was dedicated. The same day, a branch was organized, and the first Relief Society on the island was created, with Florence Dean as president and Leutuva as a counselor.

October 28, 1888 • Aunu‘uPologa was called as the first local missionary to serve in the Samoan Mission.

December 1888 • SamoaThe Samoan Mission bought a boat, which they named Faaaliga (Revelation).

February 14, 1891 • Fagali‘i, UpoluThe King of Samoa, Malietoa Laupepa, visited Church leaders in the mission home.

1890s • Pago Pago, Tutuila; Tuasivi, Savai‘i; Malaela, UpoluMissionaries replaced small school classes held in local meetinghouses with dedicated “central schools” where students could attend school full time.

1897 • SamoaChurch growth accelerated as missionaries began touring with a “magic lantern” show of images from Utah and Church headquarters, allowing people in Samoa to feel a clearer connection to the larger Church.

1898 • SamoaMembership in the Samoan Mission surpassed 1,000.

1900 • United States and GermanyThe American government formally annexed Tutuila, Aunu‘u, and other eastern Samoan islands, creating American Samoa. The German government formally annexed Upolu, Savai‘i, and other western Samoan islands, creating German Samoa. In 1914 German Samoa became Western Samoa when New Zealand assumed control of the western islands.

1903 • Salt Lake City, UtahThe Book of Mormon was published in Samoan.

May 30, 1903 • Mapusaga, American SamoaMapusaga was dedicated as a gathering place for the Saints in American Samoa.

1908 • Sauniatu, German SamoaWilliam A. Moody, president of the Samoan Mission, shifted the mission’s focus from gathering into colonies to rebuilding branches throughout the Samoan Islands.

1908 • Salt Lake CityThe first Samoan Latter-day Saint hymnal was published.

David O. McKay in Samoa

May 21–27, 1921 • American Samoa

Elder David O. McKay became the first Apostle to visit the Saints in American Samoa.

1927–34 • MapusagaFormer gathering places became education centers.

1938 • MapusagaThe first Boy Scout troop in the Samoan Islands was organized. Within a year, nine more troops sponsored by the Church were registered.

1942–45 • American SamoaAmerican Samoa served as a base of operations for the United States Armed Forces during World War II. Many Samoans, including Latter-day Saints, were displaced at various times by military activity. In 1943 the entire village of Mapusaga was relocated farther upland.

1951 • TutuilaAfter years of calling missionaries to preside over branches, new emphasis was placed on calling local members to lead branches. By November, 9 of 11 eleven branches in the Tutuila District had been reorganized, with branch members serving in all positions.

January 14, 1955 • TutuilaDavid O. McKay returned to American Samoa, this time as President of the Church, and met with Saints in Pago Pago and Mapusaga.

January 1962 • Western SamoaWestern Samoa became independent from New Zealand. The country’s name was officially changed to Samoa in 1997.

June 15, 1969 • MapusagaThe first stake in American Samoa was organized, with Patrick Peters as president and Opapo Afualo and John W. Welton as counselors.

April 1971 • Salt Lake CityPercy J. Rivers was called to be the patriarch for the Samoa Apia Mission. Previously, Samoan Saints had gone to Hawaii, New Zealand, or the United States to receive their patriarchal blessings.

1976 • American SamoaHome study and early-morning seminary classes began.

October 1977 • American SamoaPlans to construct a temple in Pago Pago were announced. Church leaders later announced a change of the temple site’s location to Apia, Western Samoa, which was more accessible for many Saints.

August 5–7, 1983 • Apia, Western SamoaThe Apia Samoa Temple was dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley of the First Presidency.

1985–91 • American SamoaChurch membership in American Samoa doubled, increasing from roughly 5,500 to roughly 11,000 members.

December 1991 • American and Western SamoaAfter Cyclone Val caused devastating damage to crops and infrastructure and destroyed thousands of homes throughout the Samoan Islands, the Church donated over 40 tons of food, emergency supplies, and building material.

August 15, 1995 • American SamoaEugene E. Reid became the first Area Authority (later Area Authority Seventy, then Area Seventy) from American Samoa.

July 9, 2003 • Apia, SamoaThe Apia Samoa Temple caught fire, and most of the building was destroyed.

July 30–31, 2005 • Pago Pago, American SamoaFour stakes celebrated the upcoming rededication of the Apia Samoa Temple through a cultural program titled “World-Wide Family under One Roof.” The next day, Sunday, thousands sat through a torrential rainstorm for a special fireside at which several choirs sang.

September 4, 2005 • ApiaFollowing reconstruction, the Apia Samoa Temple was rededicated.

September 2009 • American SamoaFour Saints in American Samoa died from the effects of a deadly earthquake and tsunami in the central Pacific Ocean. Church meetinghouses were used to shelter those who had lost homes.

Haleck portrait

April 2, 2011 • Salt Lake City

O. Vincent Haleck from American Samoa became the first General Authority called from the Samoan Islands.

April 7, 2019 • Salt Lake CityThe construction of a temple in Pago Pago, American Samoa, was announced.