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"As if from the dust" here at Blogger has made the jump over to Wordpress. There is still alot of work to be done at the new site and we are doing it as quickly as possible but don't be shy to come over now. We hope our new home will be much improved from our beginning here at Blogger. So come on over and check us out and then return regularly. Feel free to contact us through the other site with problems you may encounter. The new URL is...

www.fromthedust.org

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Moroni-from Nephite Prophet to a Statue

Moroni was an ancient Nephite prophet who lived in the Americas around 400 AD. As the last of the Nephite prophets and son of Mormon, (the prophet that abridged the records and hence the title The Book of “Mormon”) he hid away the records, which now constitute The Book of Mormon, until their coming forth to Joseph Smith in the 1820’s.

In modern times the Angel Moroni, as a resurrected being, played a large role in The Restoration of the gospel through the prophet Joseph Smith. Moroni made numerous appearances to Joseph in which he taught him many important things from the scriptures and essentially prepared him for his future mission. More specifically he prepared him to bring forth The Book of Mormon in the latter days. Moroni as the last prophet who was in charge (or in other words “held the keys of the Book of Mormon” see D&C 27:5) of The BOM only logically was the one who would deliver and eventually take back the plates from which the BOM was translated. Moroni without doubt played an essential role in the restoration of the gospel and The BOM to the entire world. As noted by many prophets since then, his role fulfilled the prophecy in Revelations 14:6 that states:

“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.”



Palmyra Temple

Many other ancient prophets appeared (references are scattered throughout church history) to Joseph Smith to prepare and tutor him for the important work that lay ahead of him but Moroni seems to have played a more prominent, or at the very least a more noted or recorded role. This is very apparent today as Moroni remains a very visible part of The LDS Church as a statue representing him sits atop many of The LDS Temples that are beginning to dot the globe. (For information on the importance and purpose of LDS Temples see: Purpose of LDS Temples )

Moroni first appeared atop the Nauvoo temple in Nauvoo, Illinois in the United States. This statue of Moroni actually had Moroni in horizontal fashion holding a trumpet and an open Book of Mormon with a robe and a cap on. Similarly the original plan for the Salt Lake Temple was to have two horizontal Moroni’s similar to the one at Nauvoo before it was decided that one vertical Moroni would be put atop the east center tower. (picture here ) Since then most temples throughout the world have been adorned with a vertical angel Moroni with trumpet in hand.


Trumpet

Moroni’s trumpet has several different applications and meanings. One is the fact that the angel as mentioned in Revelations comes declaring (or trumpeting) the arrival of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Another is the fact that we ourselves are to “trumpet” or declare the good tidings of great joy that the gospel and more specifically the Atonement of Jesus Christ offers us. This is even more pertinent when we realize how much the temple points us to Christ’s atonement. Another meaning is in the fact that Moroni is a preparer or messenger of the second coming of Christ and is thus trumpeting or heralding his return to the Earth. He is doing so because the gospel has been restored and the house of Israel is again being gathered so that they may participate in the ordinances of the gospel and again enter into a covenant relationship with our Father in Heaven.

Clothing

Moroni is often depicted as wearing a robe and sometimes with a cap or crown. Joseph Smith similarly described the appearance of Moroni as wearing “a robe of most exquisite whiteness.” Symbolically speaking, robes can signify righteousness as is often shown through the scriptures. While crowns are often given to those who overcome and gain exaltation. Without further explanation it is apparent that his clothing is both symbolic and significant.

East

One thing I have found very interesting is that not all statues of the angel Moroni face East as I had previously thought. The idea of facing East is also based in the scriptures as there are references to the fact that Christ will come from the East as the sun riseth. (The Sun can be seen as a type or symbol of Christ, rising in the East and overcoming the dark.) Furthermore, for early Christians East was a symbolic direction and represented among other things: light (the sun) and life (plants grow because of sunlight). (It is fascinating to note that Muslims pray facing Mecca. Therefore, they can pray facing East, West etc Mecca is one of their most holy sites and they position themselves so as to face that direction. It is interesting to note the importance across religions of certain directions and their attached symbolism. They face Mecca while Christians believe that Christ will come out of the East. It seems to me that the similarity is that of turning towards God and showing Him that you are willing to submit to His will in all things. By physically turning toward Him it could be argued that you also show Him you remember Him in all things. Islam, in Arabic, actually means submission or surrender.)

Intersting facts about Angel Moroni Statues

A website called http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/ has a section entitled “interesting facts” and part of it includes facts about the Angel Moroni. Some things of note:

The following temples have statues of Moroni that do not face East:

Unlike most temples, the Seattle Washington Temple, Nauvoo Illinois Temple, and Taipei Taiwan Temple all have angel Moroni statues facing west.
Does anyone know why this is? Is there a meaning behind this? Any references to this?

There are even temples without the statue of the angel Moroni, a few of which are the ones that can be described as being patterned after Solomon’s temple (ie. Hawaii, Cardston, Alberta, Mesa Arizona etc)

Temples without an Angel Moroni:

Nine (9) temples do not have an angel Moroni. They are the St. George Utah, Logan Utah, Manti Utah, Laie Hawaii, Cardston Alberta, Mesa Arizona, Hamilton New Zealand, London England, and Oakland California Temples.

Temples with the angel Moroni holding gold plates:

Los Angeles California Temple, Washington D.C. Temple, Seattle Washington Temple, Jordan River Utah Temple, and México City México Temple.


Sources:
Ldschurchtemples.com
Symbols in Stone by Matthew B. Brown and Paul Thomas Smith
Moroni burying plates from: http://www.artbulla.com/images/My%20Pictures/moroni_hide.jpg
Horizontal Moroni: http://users.marshall.edu/~brown/nauvoo/nt-dwvane.html

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Indian Christians persecuted

I am a firm believer that coincidences aren’t always just coincidences but rather that there is a higher power or force that seems to put people and things in the right place at the right time. I recently posted about the LDS Church in India and since then have had numerous little “coincidences” involving the country of India and the LDS Church or India and the Christian religion in general.

Here are a few of these events that have occurred since writing the post about the LDS Church in India. At church this past week the missionaries just happened to bring an Indian family to church. I was able to more easily carry on a conversation with them about Indian geography and about how the LDS Church is just beginning to grow in their own country. Hopefully I can accompany the missionaries on an appointment or two and help this family come unto Christ. That same day the missionaries called me to pick up another man investigating the church so that he could attend the dedication of our new Stake Center. If you guessed that he was from India then you guessed right. Again I was able to converse with this person so much easier since I had just read about his country. Another example occurred at my brother-in-law’s baby blessing. While there I saw numerous members that appeared to be of Indian descent. I had to leave early but was later told that in the testimony meeting that an Indian man got up and spoke very kindly of my wife’s grandfather who had served a mission in India and had baptized this man’s wife.

One last example happened today as I read the National Post for the first time in months and found the following article: Father Raymond J. De Souza: The sad plight of India's flock. The article is about Christians in India and the persecution that they are now facing. It is an intriguing article and sheds some light on some of the issues that may face the LDS Church in the future as it begins to establish itself there and more people of India convert to the gospel. It further helped me to understand the cultural and religious background of India a little better and helps me put the advancement of the LDS Church in context within the bigger picture. Without doubt there must be opposition in all things but similarly I know that the work will roll forth.

I don’t know what (if anything) all these events happening means to me, but I find it more than coincidental that they are happening so recently after I posted on Indian Mormons. I am working on more posts involving converts from India, the growth of the church, my wife’s grandpa’s mission etc. I hope I can have some impact on anyone in the world who is seeking the truth because I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only one with the priesthood authority to adminsiter the saving ordinances necessary for salvation for all of God's children.

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