Church News - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Teens share feelings about temple fire

Published: Saturday, July 19, 2003

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APIA, Samoa — In the wake of the fire that destroyed the Apia Samoa Temple, Corinne S. Ola, a typing instructor at the Church College of Western Samoa, asked her teenage students to write their feelings about the temple. Following are excerpts from some of their responses:

"I was so shocked to see the temple on fire. At that time, I felt tears coming down my cheeks. . . . I could hear a lot of murmurings from a lot of people. I turned to one of my teachers from school that was at the scene and asked her why the temple was on fire. She answered me in four words, 'To Test Our Faith.'"

— Shane Faasipa, 16

"When I heard the temple was burning, I did not believe it. When I saw it with my own eyes, I felt so sad and also angry. People were there trying to help, people were crying, people were scared. My testimony of the true Church remains strong."

— Benson Atulia, 16

"I ran to my room and prayed to Heavenly Father to stop the fire. It started to rain but not strong enough to put out the fire. I pray that another temple will be built."

— Rebecca Sua, 17