The LDS Church in Tonga

The LDS Church, (Siasi ʻo Sīsū Kalaisi ʻo e Kau Māʻoniʻoni ʻi he Ngaahi ʻAho Kimui Ní) was established in Tonga in 1891 and has a higher per-capita number of LDS than any other country in the world.  Missionaries will say it seems like Little Salt Lake City in relation to the ratio of membership.

1891-the first LDS missionaries arrived in Nuku’alofa and opened the Tonga district of the Samoa Mission.  
 
With only 6 converts and after just 6 years, the newly established mission was ordered to close. The missionaries then returned to Samoa in 1897.  “As Tamar Gordon commented there was ‘little popular incentive to join the new church which remained poor and unproven by Tongan standards.

Missionaries returned in 1907 and it was that return that the LDS Church grew continually and the Tonga mission became one of the most successful worldwide.
 
1916 – an independent Tongan Mission was established.
 
1920 – the church was well established in Vava’u, Ha’apai and Tongatapu with converts  of about 1000 believers.
 
The Mission’s activities in the following year, besides proselytising were concentrated on establishing schools.

Except for the president, all the American Missionaries left in 1940 because of the war. This allowed the local people to take over full leadership.

1946 was the year in which the first translation of the Book of Mormon was published, followed by copies of the Tongan translation of “Doctrines and Covenants” and “Pearl of great Price” in the year 1960.

Construction Missionaries became a workforce unheard of and churches and schools were built.  Liahona School Complex’s building started in 1949. Since then, it has always been among the biggest and best educational institutions in the kingdom of Tonga. 

One of its special attractions is its ability to send students on to BYU in Hawaii. This became significant since the 1960s when the education attraction was fully developed and made clear that the government of Tonga could not provide all the young people of the Kingdom Secondary education. The LDS Church then has experienced high annual growth rates with a peak of 2,261 convert baptized in 1984.

The current membership of the church is 60,680, which represents 57% of the population of Tonga.
As of year-end 2007, the LDS Church reported 54,281 members, 16 stakes, 125 wards, 39 branches, and one temple in Tonga.

 As quoted by "Tonga NET"

Across the street from Liahona campus is the Navu Chapel.  Like in the U.S. this building houses a stake office and three wards, following the same 9,11, &1 schedule.  See pictures below.

 

We visited the Mapelu Ward on August 3, our first Testimony Meeting, and yes it was all in Tongan and it actually was a treat to observe no wait time at the pulpit.  It appeared more wanted to testify and give witness than there was going to be time for.  The singing is incredible, the entire congregation sounds like a choir.  The saints are very good at harmonizing and singing with spirit and enjoyment.  The three hour block was a very rewarding experience, even in Tongan.

Since this visit we have been asked by the Mission President to attend the Nuku'alofa 10th Ward, an English speaking ward in the capital city 12 miles from Liahona, not because we don't speak Tongan, but because the ward is like an international ward and they really could use our experience and strength in the gospel; and we said "Yes, that is why we are missionaries, to serve."