Dreams

Opapo Fonoimoana — Visionary Dream of Missionaries

Published October 25, 2026 at 5:21 PM

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As a young man, Opapo Fonoimoana had a dream in which he saw two foreign missionaries enter his village, walk directly to his fale (hut), and sit down. Later, when two Latter-day Saint missionaries arrived at his home, he recognized them as the men from his dream. By his own account, the Spirit confirmed to him that their message was true, setting the stage for his conversion and subsequent service.

Fuller account of this event (as retold in Carl Fonoimoana, 'Opapo: The Power of His Faith,' in Voyages of Faith: Explorations in Mormon Pacific History):

The first significant event in Opapo’s life was a dream he had as a young man. In it, he saw two foreign missionaries come into his village, walk directly to his fale (hut), and sit down. That’s where the dream ended; but when two Latter-day Saint missionaries entered his house a few years later, he recognized them as the men in his dream, and the Spirit strongly confirmed to him that their message was true. The stage was set for this man to do a great work among his Samoan people.

Sources & References

Carl Fonoimoana, 'Opapo: The Power of His Faith,' in Voyages of Faith; BYU ScholarsArchive, 'Opapo -- Man of Miracles' (research confidence: high) Fuller account: Carl Fonoimoana, 'Opapo: The Power of His Faith,' in Voyages of Faith: Explorations in Mormon Pacific History https://byustudies.byu.edu/online-book/voyages-of-faith/opapo-the-power-of-his-faith

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Questions about this account

Who was involved in this account?
The account involves Opapo Fonoimoana, two unnamed missionaries. Each person named here also has a witness page collecting the other accounts involving them.
When did this account take place?
The account is set in the 1840s.
Where did this account take place?
It took place in Samoa.
What kind of miracle is this?
It is filed as a Dreams account reported in Samoa.
Where does this account come from?
Carl Fonoimoana, 'Opapo: The Power of His Faith,' in Voyages of Faith; BYU ScholarsArchive, 'Opapo -- Man of Miracles' (research confidence: high) Fuller account: Carl Fonoimoana, 'Opapo: The Power of His Faith,' in Voyages of Faith: Explorations in Mormon Pacific History. The full source citation appears in the Sources section below, with links to the original where available.

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