Tuesday, March 5, 2024

TRUE OR FALSE?


True or False?

Are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the only ones who can claim the title of being a Christian?

Answer: TRUE  
(according to Elder David A Bednar)




Transcript excerpt from the talk given by Elder David A. Bednar in January 2024 at a Regional Leadership Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah,

“This is what we are hoping,children and young people that hopefully will understand better.When we exercise our agency to understand the conditions of covenants, and we accept the conditions of the covenants, our agency is enlarged. When we are baptized, we covenant a willingness to take upon ourselves the name of Christ, always remember Him, and keep his commandments. What is our new family name after that? Christian. It cracks me up when people say we are not Christians. We are the only ones who by proper authority can lay claim to the title.”


Oh the irony, we dont like it when other Christians don't think we as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are Christains ... but accordingly to Elder Bednar, we don't think anyone else besides members of our Church have the authority to call themselves Christians. (or more spefically, have proper authority to claim the title of Christian"

 "It cracks me up when people say we are not Christians. We are the only ones who by proper authority can lay claim to the title."


In its most basic definition, a Christian is someone who is a follower of Jesus Christ. And we follow Christ by embodying both the beliefs of the Christian faith by believing in Jesus's life, death, and resurrection, and also by putting that faith into action as true disciples of Christ.  I think all Christains around the world would be offended that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints claim that are the ONLY ONE who by proper authority feel that can claim the title of Christain.

______________________________________

Addendum:

Speaking about claiming by proper authority. The Church has "reclaimed"  the Kirtland Temple as well as other sides previously owned by the Community of Christ. at the sum of 192,500,000.00 

LDS Church buys Kirtland Temple, historic Nauvoo buildings

from the local newspaper  LINK

"The overall purchase price, according to a fact sheet released Tuesday, was $192.5 million. It did not specify values for each property and item, but the expense would represent only a blip on the financial ledgers of the 17 million-member LDS Church, whose total wealth has been estimated at $265 billion."

Thursday, February 29, 2024

SOME SUGGESTIONS:

Happy Leap Day! An added day to our calendar that only comes around every four years.

It is almost as if we have an extra day today. So, how will you spend it?

Here is my to-do list today:

  • Try to not take offense from others.
  • Spend some time outside. 
  • Tell your wife you love her
  • Do a random act of kindness.
  • Don't speak ill of someone.
  • Forgive and /or tell someone you are so sorry. 
  • Eat something healthy. 

Sidenote:

Last week I was able to spend some much needed alone time up at Bear Lake. Getting out in nature in the early morning hours is one way I can deal with problems and chaos that occurs in my day to day life. Below are a few photos I took one morning. Each photo holds an important personal message to me. Appreciate my friend who pointed out the significance of a lamppost from CS Lewis', Narnia.

"The lamp-post symbolized direction and finding their way home. Winter in Narnia symbolizes death, since it is always winter when the White Witch reigns. Then when the snow begins melting, it is clear that the spell is fading and Aslan has returned."





Tuesday, February 13, 2024

SADNESS


Photo taken yesterday, February 12, 2024.


Yesterday, I took my daughter to the Provo Temple. It was the very last Monday that the Provo Temple will ever be open. It will be demolished in the coming days. The last day that the Provo Temple officially closes is next Saturday on the 24th of February. 

The Provo Temple has alot significance for me. I am so sad that Church is going to demolish it. It was in this Temple that I memorized much of the Endowment during the long 2 month when I was in the Missionary Training Center. I went every week. 

After the completion of the Provo Temple in 1972, Hugh Nibley also made weekly temple attendance a priority, not out of a sense of duty, but out of a sincere desire to learn. I think it was Nibley who said that the Provo Temple was his favorite Temple. I read somewhere the following: 

In ancient times, God called a prophet named Moses to lead his people through the wilderness. They carried their temple with them and called it the tabernacle. Inside it, God spoke to Moses face to face. When Moses went in to speak to the Lord, "the cloudy pillar descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses" "And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night."
Exodus 13:21. 

The Provo Temple was designed to refer to this symbolism, to represent both the cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night.


The top two floors have a corridor circling around the entire building, whose inspiration came from a park surrounded by an elliptical roadway in Copenhagen, Denmark. This design provides an easier flow of patrons and makes it almost impossible to get lost.

As I was leaving the Temple yesterday, the sun was coming up over the mountains. I appreciated the symbolism of the Angel Moroni on top of the Temple facing directly southeast at the rising sun. 



After the demolition of the Provo Temple, a new one will built. Not on the same foundation as the current Temple but on a whole new foundation that will be farther to the West closer to the street. The property will be flattened out, so the patrons will no longer have to ascend up a hill to get the Temple. It will be an easy, flat path. 

This a rendering of the new Provo Temple. We have lost so much symbolism, including the symbolic Angel Moroni pointing eastward to the rising sun. 




Tuesday, January 23, 2024

THE NEW HALL OF THE PROPHETS:

Royalty and prominent public figures often commissioned skilled artists to create oil portraits as a means of preserving their image and projecting a sense of power, authority, and prestige. These portraits were displayed in palaces, public spaces and museums. The use of oil paintings for prominent figures  became a symbol of status and self importance.

On the upper floor of the LDS Conference Center across from the Salt Lake Temple is a long hallway and large room where the oil paintings of past Church leaders have always been on display.  I think it was referred to the Hallway of the Prophets. The below photo was taken before President Nelson became the President of the Church.   



However,  all of those painting have now been taken down. Below is a photo of what the Hall of the Prophets looks like today. Empty.




Soon after President Nelson became the Prophet, all of these old paintings were taken down and put into storage. 

Instead, on the main floor of the Conference Center hangs a large oil portraiture of  President Russell M Nelson and the other living apostles. Along side the oil paintings is a large  mural of Jesus Christ and his disciples. 




No longer is there any competing oil paintings of past Church leaders. The new motto that living prophets are more important than dead prophets that we hear now in General Conference come from quotes like this: “unlike vintage comic books and classic cars, prophetic teachings do not become more valuable with age. That is why we should not seek to use the words of past prophets to dismiss the teachings of living prophets"

I think there have been more oil paintings made of President Nelson then any other President of the Church. Here a few photos and the place where they are on display. One hangs in the Church Art Museum, one in the Conference Center, one in the Upper room of the Salt Lake Temple and 

 






And a few more:



______________________

President Nelson's sixth anniversary of being the President of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was last week. Nelson was sustained and set apart as the 17th President and prophet on Sunday, January 14, 2018, in the upper room of the Salt Lake Temple.

Photo of President Nelson with framed photos of his two wives (one deceased) behind him. 
_______________________________________________________________


In this week's Church News, there was an "About the Church" new story with the headline:

  "President Russell M. Nelson's sixth anniversary 
as church president and prophet led other chuch leaders to share 
the leadership lessons they've learned from him"



I clicked on the article and read all of the quotes from the Apostles and the General Relief Society Presidency. Below are a few samples of praise they said about President Nelson


"When he walks into a room, that room immediately feels brighter."
President Henry B Eyring
...

"He is probably the most gentle and kind leader I have ever worked with, realizing that I have worked with among the most gentle and kind men and women on the earth... we treasure in God’s spokesman.”
President Jeffrey R Holland
...

"President Nelson is the embodiment of the spiritual qualities described by King Benjamin in his teachings about faithful servants. President Nelson knows our Master, even Jesus Christ, is not a stranger to Him."
Elder David A Bednar
...

"...as bowed his head to pray, all his words were spoken in near perfect Portuguese, not just the grammar but also the native Brazilian accent. The leaders and members there were astonished. The Spirit of the Lord was potent, and many cried with joy.
Elder Neil L Anderson
...

“President Nelson has prepared himself to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. He knows who presides at the head of this Church. He knows how to receive revelation. He is bold in following the Lord’s direction.”
Elder Ronald A Rasband
...

“He fearlessly corrected the way we have acquiesced in omitting the full, correct name of the Church"
President Dallin H Oaks
...

"His leadership is sure and steady because his primary audience is the Lord Jesus Christ. "
Elder Dale G Renlund
...

"His loving arms are always open, extended, outstretched and encircling to everyone he meets, and he focuses on the goodness in people rather than their shortcomings or weaknesses"
Elder Ulisses Soares

...

“One of the greatest blessings and privileges of my life has been the opportunity to meet personally with President Nelson. I hope to emulate him in some small measure.”
President Camille N Johnson
...

"Through the Prophet’s genuine love and belief in me, I have come to know more about the character of my Heavenly Father and Savior and Their love for me. I know Them better and love Them better because of President Nelson."
Sister Kristin M Yee
...


In my opinion, we’ve gone overboard with our praise and reverence for the church’s prophet. 

According to two researchers working independently (Christian Anderson and Quentin Spencer), mentions of  President Russell M. Nelson occur twice as often as for any previous president of the church. LINK. When speakers mention the current leader’s name as often as the Savior’s, it’s no longer clear just who it is we’re supposed to be worshipping."

Loving the prophet and the apostles more shouldn’t be our goal; loving God is the goal.

---------------------------

Sidenote:

NARCISSISM:
Excessive interest in or admiration of oneself.
Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental health condition in which people have an unreasonably high sense of their own importance. They need and seek too much attention and want people to admire them.


Tuesday, January 16, 2024

TWO MAJOR (SHOCKING) ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE LDS CHURCH -

ANNOUNCEMENT 01:
THE CHURCH WILL ONLY FLY THE RECOGNIZED FLAGS OF THE UN (United Nations) :


"Beginning Saturday, January 6, 2024, several plaza areas on Temple Square will begin reopening, including the plaza by the Church Office Building,. On the east side of Temple Square, the plaza areas will fully reopen for public access. On the plaza near the Church Office Building, there are 92 flag poles. The flags, which will be raised at a later date, will be one of several art installations symbolizing the global nature of the Church and its commitment to be a friend to all."

"Throughout the year, the Church will fly all of the flags of officially-recognized United Nations countries. The flag oval begins at the plaza’s northwest corner with the flag of the United States. From there, 91 additional flags will rotate every three months. The flags will be placed in alphabetical order, according to the English name of the country, and will always be illuminated."



Here is a photo of the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Just like the newly renovated Temple Square, the  plaza of the UN building has an oval shaped plaza with flag poles that also only fly  the recognized UN countries flags.




I did a google search for all the different flags around the world. I found that there are 254 country flags in total. Here is the website: https://flagpedia.net/index

I highlighted in yellow all of the flags that the LDS Church will NOT fly on the Church Office Building Plaza because they are NOT recognized by the United Nations. 


For those who might want to learn more about the United Nations and the LDS connection, watch this video, LINK: https://rumble.com/vvt2zm-global-lds-church.html

___________________________

ANNOUNCEMENT 02:

THE CHURCH HIRES NEW DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL COMMUNICATION: 

https://www.deseret.com/2024/1/9/24032002/latter-day-saint-leaders-hire-new-managing-director-for-church-communication

The new director of global communications for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Aaron Sherinian.The managing director of Church Communication is a trusted communication advisor to the church’s senior leadership, including the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and works under their direction. Sherinian will oversee several teams within the department: media relations; government, community, and interfaith relations; international area relations; reputation management; channel management; and messaging.

Aaron Sherinian recent past working experience is:

United Nations Foundation 
Chief Communications and Marketing Officer
Jan 2009 - Jun 2017
Phillip Morris (Parent Company of Malboro cigarettes)
Vice President  of Global Communications 
2018 - October 2021






However, what is probably more disturbing is his political and social issues views. Here are some screen shots of his social media posts. He is pro LGBTQ, supports Gay marriage, transgender rights and the trans community. See below

AND HE IS NOW HEAD  OF ALL OF THE CHURCH PUBLIC RELATIONS and COMMUNICATIONS.  UNBELIEVABLE.  














Friday, January 5, 2024

BAPTISM AND MARRIAGE - Two Sacred Ordinances

Happy New Year! 2024!

Two significant events took place this past week that my wife and I both witnessed. These beautiful  experiences involved two separate couples.

First, we participated in a baptism of both a husband and wife that was performed in Jordan River.   A few days, my wife and I witnessed a beautiful wedding of my neice and her now husband.

Both a marriage and a baptism are sacred ordinances. They both are symbolic of a new life. Prior to the baptisms in the Jordan River, two mallard ducks, a male and female couple, flew into the spot where the baptism was to take place. I took a quick photo for me to remember the beautiful event. 



 The statement that we often hear the wife or husband will say in a GOOD marriage is:

 "My spouse is my better half"

-------------------

However in a GREAT marriage, the wife or husband will say:

"My spouse is my other half, who makes me better"

....

I realize that there are alot of marriages out there that are in disrepair and need of alot of help. Some marriages might be beyond fixing. In marriage is so important to remember that it is not about WHO is right.. it is all about WHAT is right. The following quotes contain some great questions to evaluate your marriage: 

"Are the two of you, together, better than what each of you are alone? Is your marriage a source of joy, of happiness, of contentment, of companionship? The Lord told them to multiply and replenish the earth. Do you find within your family relationship that there’s joy and rejoicing and happiness as a consequence of the environment that you and your wife put together?"

Is your relationship… As a woman, is your relationship in the image of God? Is there godliness about the way in which you and your husband interact? If you had to reckon whether or not someone, looking at the two of you, would see within you the image of God, would they do so?"

Friday, December 22, 2023

2023 WINTER SOLSTICE

Spectacular Color, Perfect Weather, Gold Sunlight
 A few photos from this mornings earlysunrise hike with friends observing the Winter Solstice as we usher in the return of increased light from the darkest of nights.








Sidenote: 
In the last blogpost, I shared some quotes about Men of God. I am blessed to be friends with many. I share a few thoughts about Women of God. I am so blessed to be married to one.


"Empowered by wisdom, a woman becomes a fierce protector of the innocent, using her strength to battle the evils of this world and her compassion to heal the scars left in its wake."

"A woman's strength is not a weapon against men but a shield for the innocent. With wisdom as her sword and compassion as her armor, she stands resolute against the brutality that seeks to harm the vulnerable."

"A truly empowered woman builds bridges instead of burning them, understanding that manipulation and revenge are shadows that diminish the light of genuine strength."



Tuesday, November 28, 2023

MEN OF GOD - Virtuous and Righteous

Photo taken by my friend on a hikewith him this fall on top of Sunset Peak
of the sunrise over looking Lake Katherine.


But thou, O man of God....
follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, 
love, patience, meekness.
I Timothy 6:11



Below are a few beautiful quotes on how to be Men of God should treat women. Not only Men of God be righteous but virtuous as well.

"True strength is not in how much force you can exert, but in how much love you can show. Abusing women is a betrayal of both strength and the divine."

"Real men of God lift others up with their words and actions, they do not use their power to oppress or harm. Abuse is a corruption of the sacred trust placed in spiritual leaders."

"A man who claims to walk in the light of God should never cast a shadow of abuse on those around him, especially the women who deserve love and respect."

"To harm and demean those who are vulnerable is not the path of righteousness. Men of God should be champions of compassion, not perpetrators of cruelty."

"Abuse is a contradiction to the teachings of love and kindness. Those who claim to be messengers of God must first embody the message of empathy and understanding."

"Real men of God protect the vulnerable, they don't prey on them."

"The true measure of a man is not in his calling, but in how he treats those he calls his family and friends."

"Real men of God confront their demons, they don't inflict them on others."

"A man who abuses a woman tarnishes not only her spirit but also the very essence of his claim to godliness. True spirituality is a beacon of light, not a weapon of harm."


"In the eyes of the divine, there is no justification for the abuse of women. Those who claim godliness while perpetrating harm are hypocrites, not men of God."

_________________________________________________

Sidenote:

Last Sunday I  gave a talk in church. Below is the following parable that I shared..

“Once upon a time, there was a small turkey village. Every Sunday morning , all the turkeys would walk together to church. One Sunday, after the turkeys settled into their pews, the preacher delivered a sermon about a lost truth that the turkeys had forgotten. This restored truth was that turkeys can fly. The preacher showed the turkeys how this was to be done. He taught them to spread their wings and then soar like eagles. While they were singing the closing hymn, an extraordinary sight unfolded – all the turkeys rose from their seats, extended their wings, and gracefully soared above the pews. After an amazing flight accompanied by beautiful singing, the turkeys concluded with a closing prayer. After the prayer, the turkeys stood up and walked back home.


Unfortunately, there are too many turkeys still walking around that know how to fly. We need to step it up and fly like the eagles.

----------------------------



Friday, November 10, 2023

CONTINUATION OF SEED

 This blogpost is dedicated to my brother and his wife. 

Man and woman together, as the image of God, are potentially infinite through their descendants. In a very real sense, through their posterity, Adam and Eve are still here. Although all will die, all will also endure throughout ages of mortality, like God, by multiplying to replenish the earth. Adam and Eve became in the image of God. This is at the core of redemption, the core of the work of God. This is what it means for God to complete His work and to have the continuation of the seeds.

Therefore the marriage covenant is needed for all those who would likewise seek to obtain from me the right to continue their seed into eternity, for only through marriage can Thrones and Kingdoms be established. 

Continuation of Seed from the Glossary of Gospel Terms.

------------------

Photos taken at sunset last night on Antelope Island on November 9, 2023.







Thursday, November 9, 2023

MAKING A SACRED LIFE

The below "vision" is part of a talk given in a recent Sacrament Meeting in Holladay, Utah that my family attended. The speaker is a good friend of mine and gave me permission to post it. His name appears at the end of the excerpt from his talk. 




The hill and the tree

I’d like us to have a vision together. 

Please picture this in your mind as vividly as you can while I describe it. Imagine a tall and barren hill rising out of a desolate plain. Maybe it was once green and alive, but it has been wasted. Scorched by the sun, blasted by the wind, every living thing now avoids it. Walking to the top of the hill, you can see the lifeless sun-baked land stretching in every direction. Standing at the top you find the stump of a tree, already ancient when it was cut down many years ago. On the flat top of the weathered stump you see thousands of tightly packed rings.

Something draws your eye down to the roots: you see a tiny sprout beginning to shoot out, growing upward, unfolding its first deep green leaves in the sun. The stem continues climbing, knee high, waist high, now overhead. It doesn’t pause as it begins to set branches, which stretch out in broad tracery, budding, blossoming, and finally bursting with leaves. As the branches rise overhead it casts a pleasant dappled shade, cooler and more comfortable than in the full sun.

You feel the ground tremble under your feet and look down. You see that as the shoot has grown into a new tree, its roots have bored deeply down into the ground; and where they cracked the stone under the hill you see water rise and overflow, pouring out from under the thick roots. You touch the water. It is cool, and crystal clear, alive in the play of sunlight. You bring a cupped hand to your mouth and drink. It is sweet, and your thirst is gone. As you watch, the water continues to bubble up, flowing away from the tree in four streams to the north, east, south, and west. At first each stream disappears quickly into the empty soil, but as more water flows the stream extends further and further down the hill.

Now looking at the edge of the stream, you see tiny delicate blades of grass spring up. A carpet of green spreads across the hill as the water fills the soil, and amidst the growing grass you see bursts of color as penstemon, paintbrush, poppy, monkshood, goldenrod, and yarrow explode with an array of other wildflowers. As the water pools here and there on its winding course you hear the first croak of frogs, the splash of jumping fish, and the songs of birds.

When the water reaches the plain below you see that it carries with it this explosion of life, the grass and flowers dancing in the breeze. Here and there in the new grasslands the seeds of ancient trees awaken and take root, bringing stands of forest out of the prairie. Between the trunks you catch a glimpse of a doe with her fawn jumping lightly on mossy soil. All around you is a symphony of life.

You turn back to the tree in wonder at its power of resurrection and see that while the blossoms fall in snowy spirals there are radiant fruits growing. Each one seems to catch the white sunlight and glows as the branches grow heavy and bow. You reach up as a branch seems to reach down to you; you pick the fruit and eat, and you are filled, and you are alive.


Holiness, wholeness, and healing

That is a vision of healing, and of things becoming whole again. And there is an interesting secret buried in those words. The words “heal” and “whole” come from the same ancient root heilig. That same root gives us our word “holy.” That which is healed and made whole is also made holy. To make something holy is to set it in its proper order, devoted to its highest purpose, to make it most enduringly and intensely real and alive.



…[This vision] is many things, but one of those things is a vision of what you are called to become through the grace of Christ. If you receive God’s baptism of fire you will then have a well of living water flowing out from your belly, making your life holy, a living sacrifice, a sacred garden in a world of stone. What could you possibly spend your life doing that is more meaningful than that?


10.15.2023 The Sacrifice of all Things: Making a Sacred Life | Bob Sonntag
____________________






Monday, October 16, 2023

RING OF FIRE - RED IN THE MORNING, SAILORS WARNING (2023 Solar Eclipse)

Here are a few photos of the Solar Eclipse that I took on Saturday in Central Utah that occurred on October 14, 2023. It was spectular to witness the totality. 

There is an old adage that says:

Red sky at night, sailor's delight,
Red sky at morning, sailors take warning.

We know this old saying has been around for some time. It might have some truth to it. In Matthew 16: 2-3, Jesus replied to the Pharisees and Sadducees that wanted to "test" him by asking Jesus to show them a sign from heaven.  He said "When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast. You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times."

How many of us are interpreting the signs of the times that are appearing in the heavens.

When we were driving south early in the morning to observe the eclipse, the sky was flaming red. I couldn't help but think that it was foreshadowing or portent of the "Ring of Fire" we would witness a few hours later. Here a photo of the sky with the Payson Temple at the base of the mountains at the bottom of the photo. 




Here is the location we witness the eclipse. Meadows Hot Springs just south of Filmore that used to be the capital of Utah.












Tuesday, October 3, 2023

CHEAP IMITATION OF THE ORIGINAL

Last week just before General Conference, the Church released more updated photos of the Salt Lake Temple. Below is one of those photos which highlights one of the newly built spires that are the crown jewels of the Temple. I am sure is it not finalized and hopefully they adhere at least a granite rock to this metal riveted façade. In my opinion this looks like a cheap imitation of the original Temple spires. It looks like something I would see at an Ivory Home construction site or even worse, a new ornamentation I would see being built on a casino in Vegas. 


I don't think this is even close to what the pioneers built or even an attempt to preserve the integrity of the beautiful granite temple that took the Saints 40 years to build.

---------------------------------------

HISTORICAL INFORMATION OF THE ORIGINAL TEMPLE SPIRES:

The construction of the original temple spires, like the rest of the temple, was a remarkable engineering feat considering the time and resources available. The six spires are the spectacular visual culmination of the building as well as a symbol of the heavenly aspirations to reconnect with Heaven. The spires were fine pieces of architectural artwork. 


The construction of the Salt Lake Temple, including its spires, required a great deal of labor, skill, and dedication. It is a testament to the faith and determination of the early pioneers and craftsmen who built it and continues to be a symbol of the LDS Church's heritage and beliefs.

Here is a general overview of how the original temple spires were constructed:
  • Materials: The spires were built out of granite stone. Granite blocks were quarried from Little Cottonwood Canyon  and then transported to the construction site. These blocks were often massive, with some weighing several tons. Skilled stone masons and craftsmen worked on carving and shaping the granite blocks into the desired shapes for the spires. This required precision and attention to detail
  • Hoisting and Placement: Cranes and hoists were used to lift the granite blocks into place. The stones were carefully positioned to create the intricate designs and details of the spires.
  • Decorative Elements: The spires feature decorative elements, including pinnacles, statues, and other ornate designs. These were also carved from granite and placed on the spires to enhance their aesthetic appeal.
  • Finishing Touches: Once the spires were constructed, the final finishing touches were added, including cleaning and polishing the granite and ensuring that all elements were secure.


The six spires of the temple represent the power of the priesthood. The three spires on the east side are a little higher than those on the west: they represent the Melchizedek, or "higher priesthood", and the Aaronic, or "preparatory priesthood" respectively.


TRAGIC CHANGES:

The renovation of the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was announced by President Russell M. Nelson on April 19, 2019, during the church's General Conference. President Nelson revealed plans for a significant renovation project that would modernize and "preserve" the historic temple.

The renovation of the Salt Lake Temple  officially began on December 29, 2019, with a groundbreaking ceremony that marked the start of the extensive renovation project. The ceremony was attended by church leaders and officials and marked the beginning of the significant renovation and restoration effort for this historic and iconic temple.

Three months later, Salt Lake City experienced an earthquake on March 18, 2020. The earthquake, which had a magnitude of 5.7, was felt in the Salt Lake City area and resulted in minor damage to the temple and other buildings in the vicinity.  One of the most significant and symbolic results of the earthquake caused the trumpet held by the Angel Moroni statue to detach and fall to the ground. This earthquake was a significant event for the temple, as it marked the first time in the temple's history that the Angel Moroni statue lost a part of its trumpet. 

Photo of the Angel Moroni no longer holding the trumpet after the earthquake.


Here we are now 3 1/2 years later replacing the beautiful original granite temple spires.