Posted by:
schrodingerscat
(
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Date: October 04, 2020 04:16PM
https://www.sltrib.com/opinion/kirby/2020/10/04/robert-kirby-with-moroni/"With many Latter-day Saint temples now being built without the customary golden Angel Moroni statue being affixed to their tops, it’s a little unnerving to some traditionalists. Personally, I like it. Now I can imagine anything I want up there."
https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2020/10/02/statue-limitations-under/“While the Angel Moroni statue occupies a prominent place on many temples throughout the world — symbolizing the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ — it is not a requirement of temple design. Some temples may include the statue, while others may not,” it reads. “A temple’s design, both internal and external, is secondary to its primary purpose, which is for people to draw closer to God and his Son, Jesus Christ, by participating in sacred ceremonies that teach of God’s plan and unite families forever.”
Observers have noted that the escalating Moroni-less temple trend coincides with the leadership of President Russell M. Nelson, who took the reins of the 16.5 million-member Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in January 2018.
Since April 2018, the month of Nelson’s first General Conference as president, 43 temples have been announced. Of the 26 with available renderings, Andersen said, only five have Moroni statues.
Nelson famously has been pushing for members and media to use the church’s full name, rather than “Mormon” or “LDS,” as a way to emphasize the faith’s theological commitment to Jesus.
During the church’s conference last spring, he unveiled a new symbol for the church, which includes the Christus marble statue, carved by Danish Lutheran sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen."