Tonga
Click here for the Pacific Newsroom
68,305
Total Church Membership
Population vs. Church Members
21
Stakes
175
Congregations
21
FamilySearch Centers
1
Temples
2
Missions |
History
On July 15, 1891, Brigham Smoot and Alva Butler, the first Latter-day Saint missionaries in Tonga, arrived in Nuku‘alofa. News of their arrival spread quickly, and the following day they found audience with King George Tupou I. The king graciously listened as the missionaries’ translator read the Articles of Faith in Tongan. Despite having recently created the Free Church of Tonga, the king granted the missionaries permission to preach in the country. With little success, however, the mission closed in 1897, having baptized fewer than 15 people.
Ten years later, missionaries organized a school in Neiafu, where one member lived, and began preaching throughout the islands. In the century since then, the Church has organized dozens of schools throughout Tonga. Today, seven of those schools (five middle schools and two high schools) continue to operate. Generations of Latter-day Saints have shared both skills from their education and the message of the restored gospel in their communities, and many thousands of Tongans have joined the Church. Today, more than half the population of Tonga are members of the Church.
Saints in Tonga have shown exceptional faith and diligence in living the gospel, exemplifying the scriptural call to “cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; … to see the salvation of God” (Doctrine and Covenants 123:17). The history of the Church in Tonga is filled with faithful members who have trusted in God, accepted His commands, and worked faithfully to build the Church in their homeland.
For Journalist Use Only
Richard Hunter
New Zealand
Phone: 64(9)488-5572
Mobile: 64-21-240-7804
Africa
Total Church Membership
736,701
Members
2,476
Congregations
Missions
39Missions
FamilySearch Centers
Temples
5Temples
Asia
Total Church Membership
1,259,094
Members
2,110
Congregations
Missions
45Missions
FamilySearch Centers
Temples
8Temples
Europe
Total Church Membership
500,239
Members
1,350
Congregations
Missions
34Missions
FamilySearch Centers
Temples
14Temples
North America
Total Church Membership
9,489,479
Members
18,476
Congregations
Missions
174Missions
FamilySearch Centers
Temples
112Temples
Oceania (Pacific)
Total Church Membership
587,462
Members
1,301
Congregations
Missions
18Missions
FamilySearch Centers
Temples
10Temples
South America
Total Church Membership
4,232,425
Members
5,602
Congregations