The Angel Moroni Statues

The golden statue of the Angel Moroni has become the most universally recognized architectural symbol of the Latter-day Saint faith. Placed atop the spires of most operating temples, the statue depicts the ancient American prophet Moroni sounding a trumpet, symbolizing the restoration of the gospel and the preaching of it to all the world. While not an object of worship, the gleaming figure serves as a soaring reminder of the faith's central message and an invitation to look heavenward.

The tradition began in 1893 when Cyrus E. Dallin, a world-renowned sculptor who was not a member of the Church, was commissioned to create the crowning figure for the Salt Lake Temple. Dallin originally suggested an angel, an idea that resonated deeply with Church leaders. Since then, several different designs of the statue have been sculpted by artists like Torleif S. Knaphus, Millard F. Malin, Avard Fairbanks, and Karl Quilter. For example, the Jordan River Utah Temple uniqueness features a statue sculpted by Avard Fairbanks holding the gold plates in his left arm, while the Idaho Falls Temple originally had no statue and received one crafted by Torleif S. Knaphus decades after its dedication.

Most modern Angel Moroni statues are cast in fiberglass and covered in gold leaf, making them lightweight yet durable against the elements. They are typically equipped with lightning rods to protect the temple structures. While the majority of temples feature the statue, some—like the St. George Utah Temple and the Logan Utah Temple—do not, preserving their original historic rooflines. In recent years, the Church has built some new temples without the statue, reflecting a return to varied architectural styles depending on the local setting.