Church Plans to Rebuild Temple in Samoa
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced plans to rebuild its temple in Apia, Samoa, after it was destroyed in a July 9 fire.
No one was injured in the blaze in the 14,000-square-foot structure, the first in the religious body’s history to be destroyed by fire. Dedicated in 1983, the temple had been undergoing renovation and expansion.
Church officials predict it will take about six months to design a new temple and about 18 to 24 months to construct it. The proposed structure would have more than 16,000 square feet and include a sprinkler system.
The temple, used for special ceremonies rather than weekly services, has served American Samoa and the two Samoan islands of Upolu and Savi’i.
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