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Young people participate in a cultural celebration at the National Gymnasium in Suva, Fiji, on Friday, May 16, 2025, commemorating the 70th anniversary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Fiji.The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Suva celebrated the 70th anniversary of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Church’s arrival in the Fiji Islands on May 15-18, 2025.
Elder Taniela B. Wakolo, First Counselor in the Pacific Area Presidency, encouraged Fiji Church members to celebrate the milestone by expressing their devotion to Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
“There’s no better way of emulating the life of our Savior, Jesus Christ, than to go and willingly partake of the sacrament every Sunday, as well as go to the house of the Lord.
“I promise you, as you do so, it will be a memorable 70th anniversary, as well as a memorable way of preparing ourselves for the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Church in Fiji.”
Elder Paul B. Whippy, an Area Seventy, said, “This is truly a miracle that started with 14 members of the Church in 1954. Seventy years later, we have 24,000 members, and [the Church] continues to grow.”
The celebration started Thursday, May 15, at the Suva Fiji Temple on the main island of Viti Levu, where many Church members, young and old, joyfully participated in ordinances.
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Latter-day Saints leave after attending the Suva Fiji Temple on Thursday, May 15, 2025, as part of the 70th anniversary celebration of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Fiji.© 2025 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Fiji Temple President Meli Ulayawa Lesuma said, “The 15th of May is going to go down in history for the Suva Fiji Temple. The first time we were able to open from morning until evening, and we had [members from] all the four stakes here in Fiji participating.”
On Friday, May 16, the celebration moved to the National Gymnasium, where a program featuring hundreds of performers highlighted the many cultures of the South Pacific.
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Young people participate in a cultural celebration at the National Gymnasium in Suva, Fiji, on Friday, May 16, 2025, commemorating the 70th anniversary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Fiji.Church College Fiji hosted a sports and activity day on Saturday, May 17, which also included a military marching band.
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| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
Hundreds of Church members and friends gathered on Sunday, May 18, for a final devotional at the Vodafone Arena in downtown Suva. Choirs shared music, and attendees watched a historical video about the Church in Fiji, as well as a video message from Boyd Harris, one of two missionaries sent to Fiji from the Tonga Mission in 1954.
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
Elder John R. Higgins, an Area Seventy, encouraged all in attendance to strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ.
Elder Wakolo reminded attendees: “Honor every pioneer who has participated and who made the gospel of Jesus Christ a reality here in Fiji. We pay tribute to Saints in Tonga and Samoa and even in the US for helping us to be a nation, a nation where the Church of Jesus Christ is very well established.”
In recognizing the great strides the Church has made in Fiji, Elder Wakolo used the words of Church President Russell M. Nelson: “I pray that we will not miss the majesty of this moment! The Lord is indeed hastening His work.”
Recently, Church leaders and members were interviewed on national television programs about the 70th anniversary celebrations: