Location
Route de Fautaua—Titioro
98716 Papeete, Tahiti
French Polynesia
Contact
Telephone: (689) 503-939
Facsimile: (689) 439-468
Distribution Services: (689) 545-777
Details
Announcement: 2 April 1980
Groundbreaking and Site Dedication: 13 February 1981 by Spencer W. Kimball
Public Open House: 13–22 October 1983
Dedication: 27–29 October 1983 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Public Open House: 14 October–4 November 2006
Rededication: 12 November 2006 by L. Tom Perry
Site: 1.7 acres.
Exterior Finish: Painted plaster over stucco using imported white sand.
Ordinance Rooms: Two ordinance rooms (stationary) and two sealing.
Total Floor Area: 12,150 square feet.
Temple Locale:
Located in the commune of Pirae in the urban area of Papeete—the capital of French Polynesia—the Papeete Tahiti Temple is characterized by its striking blue roof and meticulously manicured gardens. Visitors are welcome to stroll over the winding sidewalks of the temple grounds to admire the beautiful temple and its surrounding foliage.
Temple Facts:
The Papeete Tahiti Temple was the fifth temple built in Polynesia and the first built in French Polynesia.
Before the dedication of the Papeete Tahiti Temple, Tahitian members crossed 2,500 miles of the Pacific Ocean to attend the Hamilton New Zealand Temple.
Tahitian members were originally to be served by a regional temple in Pago Pago, American Samoa—over 1,400 miles from Papeete—announced in 1977. But in 1980, plans for a regional temple in the Pacific were replaced with plans for three smaller temples in Apia, Samoa; Nuku'alofa, Tonga; and Papeete, Tahiti.
Tahiti's second stake was organized just a year before the Papeete Tahiti Temple was dedicated.
When the Papeete Tahiti Temple opened its doors to the public for a 10-day open house, over 16,000 visitors toured the building.
Under the direction of President Spencer W. Kimball, President Gordon B. Hinckley, second counselor in the First Presidency, dedicated the Papeete Tahiti Temple over a three-day period in October 1983.
During the public open house that preceded the rededication of the Papeete Tahiti Temple, 36,800 people partook of the heavenly setting inside the renovated building.
The Papeete Tahiti Temple was closed in August 2005 for an extensive expansion and remodeling project. It was rededicated in November 2006—23 years afters its original dedication.
The grounds of the Papeete Tahiti Temple were expanded in 2009 after the Church acquired a large parcel of adjacent land, which permitted the addition of more parking and gardens, the straightening of the only access road, and a reconfiguration of the front entrance. These projects improved visibility of the temple as frontage along the main road greatly increased.
Temple History—Re-dedication:
In August 2005, the Papeete Tahiti Temple closed for 15 months to undergo an extensive renovation and expansion project. With over 2,000 additional square feet, new rooms were added to the temple including a bride's room, waiting room for non-patrons, and additional office space; the baptistry and one of the sealing rooms were both enlarged; the mechanical and electrical systems were overhauled; and the interior was completely redecorated. The renovation concluded with a spiritually charged public open house attended by 36,800 people.1
Following the open house, the temple's completion was solemnized in a grand weekend celebration commencing with a member meeting presided by Elder L. Tom Perry. He brought the greetings of 96-year-old President Gordon B. Hinckley, who enjoyed the services in Salt Lake City via satellite. Elder Perry addressed the gathering of thousands of saints in a stadium decorated with brightly colored plants and flowers donated by members. "As we try to do our part, in all righteousness," he said, "the Lord will bless us in all things. This is His work that we are praising."2
A spectacular cultural event followed, which climaxed with thousands of returned missionaries marching into the stadium to the stirring hymn "Called to Serve." In a grand display, the missionaries carried the flags of their countries of labor—a sitrring representation of the international influence of this island nation. And in a final grand gesture, a replica of the temple rose among them. Thousands of youth filled the field followed by several families and the new temple presidency dressed in white, crossing the field to the temple.3
Elder Perry rededicated the temple the next day—23 years after its original dedication—in two sessions attended by approximately 10,000 Tahitians from six stakes and three districts. Services were transmitted to local stakes centers and also broadcast via the Church satellite system to Salt Lake City, New Caledonia, and to the BYU-Hawaii campus. "The people are just wonderful," said Elder Perry. "There are not a friendlier people in all the earth than the people here in Tahiti."4
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1. Sarah Jane Weaver, "Tahitian temple, pearl of the Pacific," Church News 18 Nov. 2006: 3.
2. Sarah Jane Weaver, "Enjoy finer things of righteousness," Church News 18 Nov. 2006: 6.
3. Sarah Jane Weaver, "Marching forward," Church News 18 Nov. 2006: 8.
4. Sarah Jane Weaver, 3.