The Mystery Angel on LDS Temples

04 August

“Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the LORD in Zion? is not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities?” Jeremiah 8:19

 Over the next week or so we’ll be taking a look at statements LDS Church leaders have made about some of the carved images plastered on walls of their temples, both inside and out.

Today we’re looking at their crown jewel, if you will, that being Moroni, their angel of light.

The reason for our look at this is because of the conflicting messages I kept coming across while researching info for something totally unrelated. The subtle inconsistencies about Moroni’s place in Mormonism soon became blatant contradictions.

While it may seem inconsequential, we believe there’s more to the story in the contradictory messages the Church puts out. And we have no doubt they do this on purpose.

So who is Moroni anyway? Was this from God, or man? As you’ll see in their publications their story is all over the board…

We’re wondering why it seems liked they were flying by the seat of their pants with the decision of Moroni gracing the tops of LDS temples. They know they’re tricking people. You can read a plethora of articles about the importance of Moroni on our site – see

Moroni the Angel of Light for more info.

Check out the few stories we pulled while gathering info –

Question:

Was the angel on top of the temples always meant to be Moroni? We’ve listed several clippings from articles that deny, and confirm, the angel has always been Moroni. We’re leaving it to the reader to decide.

One thing is certain. If the Church can’t make up its mind, how are their members supposed to make sense of it?

This wouldn’t be such a big deal if the Church wasn’t so adamant about making sure members know the only place salvation is found is in the building that’s adorned with their gold-leafed angel…whoever that is.

Don’t forget to pray for these dear people!

With Love in Christ;

Michelle

1 Cor 1:18

1978 New Era Says Yes

New Era, “The Salt Lake Temple,” June 1978 “The gold-plated sculpture of Moroni that surmounts the east central tower is symbolic of the restoration of the gospel in this dispensation…” — Dean R. Zimmerman

1999 Nauvoo Temple Report Says Yes

THE WEATHER VANE ANGEL “A weather vane was placed on top of the tower. William Weeks made a sketch of the weather vane… A contemporary description indicated that it was a “representation of an angel in his priestly robes with a book of Mormon in one hand and a trumpet in the other which [was] over laid with gold” (Perrigrine Sessions Journal, 30 Jan 1846, Church Archives). …

The angel, flying in an horizontal position, represented the “angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel” (D&C 133:36; cf. Rev, 14:6). Traditionally, Latter-day Saints have identified this angel as Moroni. …” — Lisle Brown, March 1999

2000 Liahona Says No

Liahona, ‘I Saw Another Angel Fly,’ August 2000 “The Salt Lake Temple, dedicated in 1893, was the first temple topped with an angel formally identified as Moroni.” — J. Michael Hunter

2009 New Era Unclear

“The Nauvoo Temple’s weathervane… was unique—an angel, in a horizontal position as if in flight, holding an open book with one hand and a horn pressed to its lips with the other. This was the first angel to appear atop an LDS temple. …

Non-LDS sculptor Cyrus Dallin was asked to create an ornament for the central spire of the Salt Lake Temple. While he was searching LDS scriptures for inspiration, the concept of the figure of the angel Moroni was born. To Dallin, Moroni symbolized the restoration of the gospel, and since his placement atop the Salt Lake Temple, the golden figure of an angel in flowing robes with a long horn pressed to his lips has become one of the Church’s most recognized symbols..”

2013 Deseret News Says No

20 little-known facts about Mormon temples’ Angel Moroni statues

“The Nauvoo Illinois Temple.
This was the first LDS temple to have an angel atop the holy building.
It was dedicated in 1846 and was said to have had a horizontal angel attached to the lightning rod in the form of a weathervane.
While this was the first angel to top an LDS temple, it was not specified as being the Angel Moroni.” — Sarah Petersen, Deseret News, November 27, 2013

2014 Herald Extra Says No

The many styles and changes of Angel Moroni on LDS temples “For those wondering, yes, the original Nauvoo Temple in Illinois did have a weathervane that depicted an angel installed on its roof, but the angel was never recognized as Moroni. …

Boyd Petersen, program coordinator for Mormon Studies at Utah Valley University, observed that in the 19th century Mormons used many symbols to illustrate messages of Mormonism such as sunstones, stars and beehives — all of which can be found on the Salt Lake Temple. As time has moved forward the church has used fewer symbols on the exterior of its temples.

“Moroni’s statue is one of the last symbols to survive, I believe partially because he is so clearly representational,” Petersen said. “It is Moroni’s visit that began what Mormons believe is a restoration of Christ’s church. So Moroni reminds church members of this inaugural event of LDS Church history. “But he also symbolizes the call to take the good news of the gospel to the world.””— Billy Hesterman, April  1, 2014

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