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BYUH students share the announcement of Tarawa Kiribati Temple is an answer to prayers

A group of more than 30 Kiribati people smile together for a photo in their Sunday best outside on the sand with palm trees behind them.
Church members in Kiribati gather together in Kiribati. During the first four months of 2019, five new branches of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were created on outer islands in Kiribati.
Photo by the Church Gospel Media Library

At the close of the October 2020 general conference, President Russell M. Nelson announced a new temple to be built in Kiribati. BYU–Hawaii students from Kiribati and those who served there described the announcement as an answer to prayers.

Reactions to the announcement 

Beiarung Timon, a senior from Kiribati majoring in accounting, said, "I couldn't believe it. I repeated the announcement over and over again to make sure I heard it right. I was overwhelmed with the greatest news ever, and I cried and cried because I know God is mindful of me and my people."

Gideon Nabuti, a senior from Kiribati majoring in political science, said he was "overwhelmed with joy" upon hearing the announcement. "I can strongly feel the love of our Heavenly Father and His son, not only to the saints of Kiribati but to other saints from neighboring countries such as Tuvalu."

He said the announcement blessed every Church member in Kiribati and the nation itself. "Kiribati will be blessed as the house of the Lord is built on its soil," Nabuti said.

As a returned missionary from the Marshall Islands/Kiribati Mission, Tifaga Faanunu, a freshman from Samoa majoring in information technology, said he was both speechless and humbled by the announcement. "I thought to myself all those long bike rides, hot weather, rice and fish, and hard lessons paid off well. I'm excited and definitely will be there to witness the opening."

According to an article in the Church Newsroom, the efforts of more than 100 proselyting missionaries and Church members in Kiribati are helping the Church grow at an accelerated rate.

President John Larkin of the Marshall Islands / Kiribati Mission said in the article that five new branches of the Church were created in outer islands in Kiribati during the first four months of 2019 alone.

Both Tommy Tuman, a freshman from Papua New Guinea majoring in political science, and Kahiamaikalani Walker, a sophomore from Hawaii majoring in mathematics, served in the Marshall Islands/Kiribati Mission. At the time of the announcement, the two were together at a mission reunion party.

Walker said when they heard the announcement, they "ran around and jumped for joy, realizing our mission finally completed its goal of having a temple."

Tuman said the news humbled him. He added, "Upon hearing the great news, we all screamed and jumped about the announcement made by our beloved Prophet, Russell M. Nelson."

All in God's timing

Nabuti said members of the Church in Kiribati usually travel to Fiji to attend the temple. The cost and time of travel for these members are significant sacrifices, but Nabuti said the sacrifices they make to go to the temple are nothing compared to the blessings.

"Every family who returns after their temple trip usually shares how blessed they are to have been able to enter the House of the Lord. ... Imagine the excitement now. In a few years, they will have their own. There will be no more struggling trying to go to Fiji."

Nabuti added, "The Lord surely provides a way [so] all His saints may be able to participate in all of the sacred ordinances inside the temple."

Beeto Ieru, a junior from Kiribati majoring in biomedical science, said he was "blown away" by the announcement. Growing up, Ieru awaited the day a temple would come to his home island. However, Ieru said the rising waters threatening the island made him doubt a temple would ever be built there.

"After the announcement, I had to remind myself God works in mysterious ways. He would do what He has to do to have His children on earth receive the fullness of the gospel regardless of any circumstance they are facing."

Reei Temakei, a sophomore from Kiribati majoring in social work, expressed gratitude for the announcement's timing. "I had so many questions about the future and this pandemic. Hearing the news of a temple to be built on my home island strengthened my faith. ... God really is mindful of us in the islands."

An answer to prayers 

Kiribati people of all ages gather in a home with mats smiling together.
In 2019, there were over 22,000 Church members in Kiribati (21% of the total population), in two stakes and two districts.
Photo by the Church Gospel Media Library

The Kiribati people's faith and hard work has blessed them, Faanunu said. "I just can't imagine how much of the spirit they will feel and the joy when they open the doors of the temple. They have fought the good fight and kept the faith. I'm just grateful the Lord has heard the prayers of these people."

Faanunu expressed his love for the people of Kiribati and said he was grateful for the opportunity he had to serve them.

"With God, nothing is impossible," Timon said. As she reflected on the announcement, Timon said she was reminded of her prayer, asking Heavenly Father to make her one of his temple workers. "Who knows? Having our temple might be an answer. I don't know. All I know is that this temple will bless thousands of Kiribati."

Ieru said the temple will mean a lot for his people. It will enable members of the Church in Kiribati to do what they have always wanted to do. "To get their families sealed for eternity, do temple work, receive temple endowments and, most importantly, have the house of the Lord established in Kiribati."