Papeete Tahiti Temple

The Papeete Tahiti Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia. The intent to build the temple was announced on April 2, 1980, by Church President Spencer W. Kimball during the church’s general conference. It is the first temple of the church in Tahiti^[1], and features a modern, single-spire design with French and Polynesian architectural influences, created by Church architect Emil B. Fetzer.

Papeete Tahiti Temple
Number	25
Dedication	27 October 1983, by Gordon B. Hinckley
Site	1.7 acres (0.69 ha)
Floor area	12,150 sq ft (1,129 m2)
Height	66 ft (20 m)
Official website • News & images
Church chronology
← Santiago Chile Temple Papeete Tahiti Temple → Mexico City Mexico Temple
Additional information
Announced	2 April 1980, by Spencer W. Kimball
Groundbreaking	13 February 1981, by Spencer W. Kimball
Open house	13–22 October 1983
Rededicated	12 November 2006, by L. Tom Perry
Designed by	Emil B. Fetzer
Location	Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia
Geographic coordinates	17°32′12″S 149°33′22″W
Exterior finish	Painted plaster over stucco
Temple design	Modern, single-spire design with influences of French and Polynesian cultures
Baptistries	1
Ordinance rooms	2 (Movie, stationary)
Sealing rooms	2
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A groundbreaking ceremony was held on February 13, 1981, presided over by President Kimball. The temple was originally completed and dedicated by Gordon B. Hinckley in October 1983, and underwent a major renovation from 2005 to 2006 that expanded its floor area and added new rooms before its rededication by L. Tom Perry. The temple grounds have hosted significant cultural events, including a large 2006 celebration attended by around 10,000 participants from multiple islands. As of 2024, the temple’s president and matron are Benjamin T. Sinjoux and Christine Sinjoux.

History

The temple was announced by Church President Spencer W. Kimball, with his counselors N. Eldon Tanner and Marion G. Romney, on April 2, 1980^[1]. At that same conference, six other temples were also announced, including locations in Buenos Aires, Santiago, Nuku‘alofa, Apia, Sydney, and Atlanta^[1].

The groundbreaking ceremony took place on February 13, 1981, presided over by President Kimball and attended by approximately 3,000 Church members^[1][2].A public open house was held from October 13 to October 22, 1983, drawing about 16,500 visitors^[1].

The temple dedication was held in six sessions from October 27 to October 29, 1983, with Gordon B. Hinckley, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, officiating. Around 2,500 people attended^[1][3].Originally built on a 1.7-acre site, the temple had two ordinance rooms and two sealing rooms, totaling 9,936 square feet, and featured a single-spire design by Emil B. Fetzer^[1][3].

The temple closed in August 2005 for renovations, reopening after an October 12–November 4, 2006 public open house that drew approximately 36,861 visitors^[1][3]. It was rededicated in two session on November 12, 2006, by L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, with about 10,000 attendees participating in person or via broadcast^[1][4].The rededication was preceded by a cultural celebration featuring traditional Tahitian dances, a procession of returned missionaries carrying flags of their countries of service, and a choir performance ^[1][5].

In 2009, the Church purchased adjacent land to expand the grounds, adding parking, gardens, and a straightened access road, which allowed the temple to be seen from the street more easily.^[5]

Design and Architecture

The temple’s design is of a single-spire, with architecture that blends European (French) and Polynesian design elements^[5][6]. The original design was by Emil B. Fetzer, with the local base building by Pierre Jean Picart Architects D.P.I.G., and renovation updates by Naylor Wentworth Lund Architects^[5][6].

Site

Situated on a 1.7-acre plot—5 acres including the adjacent meetinghouse—the temple grounds feature tropical gardens and palm trees^[5][6][7].

Exterior

The exterior is clad in stucco mixed with imported white sand, topped by a blue tile roof^[8] and a 66-foot spire with a gilded Angel Moroni statue^[6][5]. Stained-glass windows adorn the façade^[5]. Elements like carbuncle are used in the stained glass, and were added by Holdman Studios.^[9] Tom Holdman (owner of Holdman Studios) saw the carbuncle as reminiscent of a prophecy from Isaiah about temples in the Book of Mormon: “And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones”.^[9] Holdman attempts to incorporate agate into every temple he works on.^[9]

Interior

The interior includes a celestial room, two ordinance rooms, two sealing rooms, and a baptistry^[5][6]. The 2005–2006 renovation expanded the total floor area to 12,150 square feet, enlarged the baptistry and one sealing room, and added a bride’s room, waiting area, and office space^[1][3][5].

Renovations

The most extensive renovation began in August 2005^[1][5]. Over 2,000 square feet of space were added, along with a bride’s room, waiting area for non-patrons, expanded baptistry and sealing room, updated systems, and full redecoration^[1][5]. The renovated temple was reopened for public tours October 12–November 4, 2006, and rededicated November 12, 2006 by L. Tom Perry^[1][3].

Cultural and Community Impact

During the 2006 rededication, a cultural celebration attended by around 10,000 Latter-day Saints from Tahiti, the Cook Islands, and returned missionaries showcased traditional dances, flag processions, and a choir performance^[1][5].

Since its dedication in 1983, the Papeete Tahiti Temple has been credited by local leaders with strengthening families, increasing temple marriages, and influencing cultural practices among Latter-day Saints in French Polynesia^[8]. A family history center on the temple grounds also serves as a major resource for the region, preserving civil records and providing access to more than 1,400 rolls of genealogical microfilm, where many residents have come to prove heirship to properties and to trace their family trees.^[8]

Temple presidents and admittance

All temples of the Church are directed by a temple president and matron, who typically serve a three-year term.^[10]

The first president of the Papeete Tahiti Temple was Joseph Edmund Childers, who served alongside matron Doris Titaua Blakelock Childers from 1983 to 1987.^[11][12] As of 2024, the temple’s president and matron are Benjamin T. Sinjoux and Christine Sinjoux.^[10]

A public open house for the temple was held October 14–November 4, 2006 (excluding Sundays).^[1][6] The Papeete Tahiti Temple was dedicated by Church President Gordon B. Hinckley on October 27–29, 1983, in six sessions.^[1][13] Like all temples of the Church, the Papeete Tahiti Temple is considered a house of the Lord; once dedicated, it is not used for Sunday worship services,^[14] and admission is only available to Church members with a current temple recommend. Inside, members participate in marriage ceremonies (called sealings) and proxy baptisms for deceased ancestors.^[15] The temple has no visitors’ center on site.^[16]

See also

• Christianity portal
• Latter Day Saints portal

Yigo

Tarawa

Port Moresby

Port Vila

Suva

Nuku'alofa

Neiafu

Papeete

Hawaii

Samoan Islands

Australia

Temples in the Pacific Islands (edit)

• = Operating
• = Under construction
• = Announced
• = Temporarily Closed

• Comparison of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by geographic region
• Temple architecture (Latter-day Saints)
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in French Polynesia