WELCOME TO TONGA!!!
Members: 51,568
Total Congregations: 157
Members have been in Tonga since the 1890s.
Church work in Tonga began in earnest on July 15, 1891, when the first missionaries arrived on the shores of Tonga. The missionaries were Brigham Smoot and Alva J. Butler, sent by the Samoan Mission President, William O. Lee. Upon arriving, the missionaries visited King Siaosi (George) Tubou and received permission to preach. They purchased property and erected a mission home and school and also purchased a boat to travel between islands. The first convert was Alipate, baptized July 15, 1892.
In 1907, two new missionaries named William O. Facer and Heber J. McKay arrived in Tonga and opened a school in Nieafu on the island of Vava'u and by 1908, there were 28 day students and 13 night students. Elder Facer later was stationed in Ha'alaufuli on the main island of Tongatapu on March 17, 1911, and by December 1912, a Church building and school had been completed and a conference organized. A mission for Tonga was organized July 8, 1916, and more missionaries soon arrived.
All overseas missionaries were called home during World War II, but many Latter-day Saint servicemen were stationed near Tonga and attended local meetings. During this period, and on other brief occasions when overseas missionaries were not able to enter the country, Tongan members served effectively in positions of leadership. After the war, the mission president called local missionaries in what became one of the most successful local missionary programs in the Church. Translation of the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ into Tongan in 1946 also helped strengthen the Church and created opportunities for members to share the gospel with their families and friends.
The progress of the Church on the islands has been assisted through the establishment of Latter-day Saint schools. Along with other Church institutions, the Makeke School was opened on Feb. 20, 1926. It was effective in helping the educational advancement of local Church members. A new educational complex, the Liahona High School, was opened in 1952. Its building in 1949 was the beginning of the Church's successful labor missionary program.
In August 1983, the Tonga Nuku'alofa Temple was dedicated. In 1991, members of the Church and other Tongans joined in celebrating the centennial of the Church in Tonga. Among the most significant parts of the lengthy celebration was a dance festival in which 3,000 youths performed for King Taufa'ahau Topou IV.
(Source: lds.org)
-> Tonga Church Schools
