A groundbreaking ceremony and site dedication were held on February 19, 1981, with church president Spencer W. Kimball giving the dedicatory prayer.

Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the new Apia Samoa Temple August 5, 1983, and rededicated it on September 4, 2005.

Firefighters from Faleolo International Airport were called in to help firemen from Apia fire station.

[6] One week later, on July 16, 2003, the First Presidency sent a letter to the people of the area telling them that the temple would be rebuilt.

As part of the construction process, the church demolished a building on the property and built a new chapel across the street from the temple.