PAPEETE, Tahiti — The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced a public open house for the newly remodeled Papeete Tahiti Temple.
The open house began on Saturday, 14 October 2006, and will continue through Saturday, 4 November 2006, excluding Sundays. Tours of the temple are available on Monday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Reservations are not required.
“We are so grateful that the members of the Church in Tahiti are once more able to enter the house of the Lord and participate in the sacred ceremonies that take place there,” says Elder Spencer J. Condie, President of the New Zealand/Pacific Islands Area of the Church. “The temple will help to cement their faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ and encourage our members to continue making a positive contribution to their communities throughout French Polynesia.”
Latter-day Saint temples differ from the Church’s meetinghouses or chapels where members meet for Sunday worship services. Temples are considered “houses of the Lord” where Christ’s teachings are reaffirmed through marriage, baptism and other ordinances that unite families for eternity.
In the temple, Church members learn more about the purpose of life and strengthen their commitment to serve Jesus Christ and their fellowmen.
Following the open house, the temple will be formally rededicated on Sunday, 12 November 2006. Two dedicatory sessions will be held to accommodate Latter-day Saints in the area who will be served by the temple.
The Papeete Tahiti Temple was originally dedicated in 1983 as the 25th operating temple of the Church. One of four temples in the Pacific Islands, the rededicated temple will serve approximately 21,000 Latter-day Saints in French Polynesia. Located a short distance from the center of Papeete, it is one of 123 operating temples internationally, with 11 more under construction.
The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints — one of the fastest-growing Christian faiths
— has a worldwide membership of more than 12 million. Latter-day
Saint missionaries were first sent to Tahiti in 1843.