Triple Combinations Available in Tongan and Haitian

For the first time, Tongan- and Haitian-speaking members of the Church will have a triple combination in their own language.

An estimated 80,000 Tongan-speaking and 14,000 Haitian-speaking members will benefit from the triple combination, which contains the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, and the Guide to the Scriptures.

New Church maps, photos, and Church chronology are also included in the triple combination, said Tod Harris, manager of scripture translation.

The Book of Mormon in Tongan has been available since 1946, and the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price since 1959, but the publication of the triple combination marks the first time that all three books have been bound together into one volume, said Kai Andersen, secretary of the Scriptures Committee.

Although the Book of Mormon in Haitian has been available since 1999, the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price were not available until the release of the triple combination, Brother Andersen said.

Both the Tongan and Haitian triple combinations include an updated translation of the Book of Mormon with footnotes.

Teams of translators, reviewers, and ecclesiastical leaders work together to translate the scriptures into a chosen language, Brother Harris said, and the length of time it takes to do that varies.

Members have been encouraged by the First Presidency of the Church to acquire their own scriptures to be used for regular study, Church meetings, and assignments.