Does the Oakland Temple have an angel Moroni?

Does the Oakland Temple have an angel Moroni?

Temple Hill

August 7, 2020

Oakland Temple

Out of the 168 standing Latter Day Saint Temples, the Oakland Temple is one of the eight that does not have a statue of Angel Moroni. These temples do not house Moroni due to building codes, cultural misconceptions, or the architectural designs won’t support the weight.

Who is Moroni?

Moroni is an iconic and inspirational figure in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is most known as a character from The Book of Mormon, who watched the demise of his people.

Moroni was the last author of The Book of Mormon, and he taught how people could turned to God to be saved. His writing is inspirational and is written for people today to learn and grow from.

Moroni and The Book of Mormon

The Angel Moroni is so iconic because it is symbolic of an event known in the Church as the Restoration, which means the truth is returning to the earth once more.

It is believed that years after his passing, Angel Moroni appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith and instructed him on how to receive The Book of Mormon.

Moroni continued to play the role of a mentor of the young prophet, Joseph Smith, as he would instruct him on how to handle the gold plates, on which the Book of Mormon was written.

As soon as the Book of Mormon was translated, Joseph returned the books to Angel Moroni and he ascended into heaven completing his lifelong work.

Moroni today

Today Moroni symbolically stands on the temples with his gold plates and trumpet for all to see, symbolizing the preaching of the word of God to all nations. Thus fulfilling the prophecy written in Revelations 14:6, ” And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.”

Temples and Moroni

The first angel to be on a temple was the Nauvoo Temple in January 1846 in a form of a weather vane. Years later the first statue of an angel was placed on top of the Salt Lake City Temple on April 6th, 1892.

Since then the angel has been recognized among the members of the Church as Angel Moroni. It has become a tradition for Moroni to be the beacon to all temples, inviting all to come closer to Christ.

Though the Oakland temple does not host an Angel Moroni, it still conveys that same hope and inspiration that comes from other temples. Many look upon the Oakland Temples as their guiding point and connection to Jesus Christ.