A place where truly inspirational stories unfolded is the Kingdom of Tonga. Many of these are not yet well-known throughout the LDS Church.
The first two missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to serve in Tonga arrived in 1891, establishing the Tongan District of the Samoan Mission. These missionaries were Elders Brigham Smoot and Alva John Butler. They arrived at the northern-most cluster of islands called Vava’u and continued on to the city of Nuku’alofa on Tongatapu, the principal harbor of Tonga. They stepped off the boat at Nuku’alofa on July 15, 1891.
Finding food and lodging were instant challenges for the young elders. Initially, they were able to find lodging at a hotel, but this could only be short-term because the price was high and conditions were quite unfavorable. It wasn’t too long before Elders Smoot and Butler found a little cottage they could rent for $10 a month. The cottage was situated in the center of town near the wharf and government buildings— an ideal setting where the gospel could be preached. One of the elders recorded a time when they looked out the balcony window on the second floor to witness the king’s processional as it passed.
That extant structure still stands at the intersection of Taufa’ahau and Salote Roads in Nuku’alofa. It is privately owned, housing several different entities.
Kenneth R. Mays is a board member of the Mormon Historic Sites Foundation and has also been an instructor in the LDS Church’s Department of Seminaries and Institutes for more than 35 years.