The first member of the royal family of Tonga to join the LDS Church was Princess ‘Elisiva Fusipala Vaha’i, who was baptized in the 1980s. Later, her nephew, the King of Tonga's second son, joined the Church in 2015 despite opposition from his family. A report from Kaniva News even claimed that his Majesty warned the prince he could have some of his royal privileges revoked if he joined the LDS faith. However, recently the Tongan government made this new announcement:
King Tupou VI’s second son, Viliami ‘Unuaki-‘o-Tonga Mumui Lalaka-mo e-‘Eiki Tuku’aho is the lawful successor to the hereditary noble title and estate of Ata.
The announcement has been made in the government of Tonga gazette.
It said Viliami ‘Unuaki-‘o-Tonga Mumui Lalaka-mo e-‘Eiki Tuku’aho was entitled to the hereditary estate belonging “to the title to which he has succeeded together with the rents and profits thereof and all other rights and privileges attached to the title as from 25 September 2006.”
The king’s order comes after he sent former Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakanō and some royal guards to intervene in a baptism ceremony that would have made Prince Ata a Mormon three years ago.
The Prince drew back, but a year later he was baptised as a Mormon in Hawai‘i.