Nearly one thousand members from the six congregations of the Upolu Samoa Faleasiu Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gathered on a recent Sunday evening for the dedication ceremony of a new meetinghouse in Faleasiu, Samoa.
Elder Meliula M. Fata, Area Seventy, offered the dedicatory prayer in which he designated the building for Church use and asked God to bless the structure and grounds. The program also included music and talks by church leaders.
The growing church membership in Faleasiu had overwhelmed the capacity of the old meetinghouse. Church leaders decided to build a new, larger chapel with a connected cultural hall that could be opened up for multi-congregational meetings such as this one.
The old chapel was remodelled into a multipurpose room and can now be configured into one or multiple rooms, as needed. Existing classrooms and offices in other wings of the old building were retained, and a new outdoor sports and activity area and a small missionary apartment were also constructed.
Church members met for a year and a half in the nearby Fasitoouta meetinghouse while construction went on.
Prior to offering the dedicatory prayer, Elder Fata encouraged the members to listen for and remember the blessings he would mention in it.
Later he spoke to the congregation about the importance of families. He had recently visited some children being cared for by the Victims Support group and was saddened by their stories. He said that not only should children listen to their parents, but that parents should listen to each other and to their children.
Stake President Price Sa’u reminded the audience of the words engraved on a stone marker on the outside wall of the new chapel: “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” “There is only one name on this building,” he said, “the name of our Lord and Saviour. We should therefore take care of and respect this house, because it is his.”
When Macinta Tesimale was asked what counsel she received from the meeting she responded, “To take care of our chapel and keep it clean!”
Malaeimi Semu was impressed with President Sa’u’s remarks on “…tithing and the law of sacrifice. There is a difference. Tithing only asks for 10% of your increase. But sacrifice is to give the everything: your life, your time, your talents. You give all to the Lord.”
A special children’s choir sang, “O le Atua Lo’u Tama” (I am a Child of God) in Samoan and English, and the adult choir sang, “Se Agelu mai Luga” (An Angel from On High), to commemorate the special event.
Sister Ponaivao Fata, wife of Elder Fata and a convert to the church, spoke about commitment to the gospel of Christ. “I liked when she said that after she was converted, she never turned around,” said Lomaga Mailo. “She learned that you need to give all to the Lord.”
“I thought Sister Fata’s talk was important because she talked about the way you dress, to be modest,” said Delaine Tesimale.
The chapel and cultural hall have high-ceilings, large windows and colours that give a spacious, light and airy feeling. The pulpit, rostrum and pews are finished in beautiful hardwood.
Available seating can be more than doubled by opening the folding doors between the chapel and the cultural hall.
The building also houses a new family history centre with computers and access to family history sites over the internet. It is open to people of all faiths interested in searching out their family history and genealogy. Volunteers staff the centre to assist those interested in learning more.
The complex also includes two outdoor combination basketball and volleyball courts.
The Church operates 17,000 meetinghouses world-wide and is building or expanding a new facility every working day of the week.
Whenever The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints constructs a new building there is a dedication ceremony held when it is finished. The purpose of this ceremony is to set aside the building for the work of God. A Latter-day Saint dedication ceremony includes a special prayer and generally also includes music and talks from Church leaders.
