Angels and Earthquakes

Earthquakes

On most of the statues, fiberglass and metal, the statue and the trumpet are two separate pieces. This has led to some problems when earthquakes have struck.

Santiago Chile

1985

On 3 March 1985 an earthquake measuring about 8.0 shook The Santiago Area. Power and other utilities were shut down throughout the city. At the Santiago Temple, dedicated just 3 years prior, the only damage was that it shook loose some plaster on the interior walls of the temple and tossed the trumpet for the Angel Statue into a flower bed below. The trumpet was reattached using a firetruck and re-secured.[1]Rae Olson, personal account submission to LDS-GEMS, via “Santiago Chile Temple”, crockettclan.org; “earthquake.” the Church News, 01 March 2010. Retrieved November 23, 2020

2010

On 27 February 2010, an earthquake pulled the trumpet out of the hand of the Angel Moroni statue again.[2]Weaver, Sarah Jane., & Taylor, Scott., “LDS missionaries safe, accounted for in areas affected by earthquake,” Deseret News, 28 February 2010,  Retrieved November 23, 2020 Due to the need to occasionally refurbish the gold leaf on the statues and a remodel to the temple completed just 4 years prior, this was most likely not the same statue from the 1985 earthquake. The temple itself was left unharmed. This time the trumpet, worth probably about 60 dollars in materials, was apparently stolen, and had to be replaced.

Santiago Chile (top,) Apia Samoa (second from top,) Tokyo Japan (third,) and Salt Lake Temples have each had difficulty with earthquakes.

Apia Samoa

The Apia Samoa Temple lost the trumpet from its Moroni during an earthquake and a tsunami on 29 September 2009. No damage was done to the recently rebuilt temple; however, the statue lost its trumpet.[3]Swensen, Jason. “Quake, Tsunami Take Samoan Members’ Lives.” Church News, Deseret News, 4 June 2018, The trumpet itself was, according to at least on local account, stolen by someone who must have figured the gold could be easily recovered.[4]Matthew. “Adaptation.” Matt’s Samoa Blog, 20 Dec. 2009. Whether true or not, the statue was replaced in February of the following year.[5]Observer News, 11 February 2010.

Tokyo Japan

2005

The Tokyo Japan Temple lost its trumpet during an earthquake in 2005.[6]Anderson, Taylor B. Trumpetless Angel, Tokyo Japan, 23 July 2005. Email from the Missionary’s mother to Rick Satterfield.

2011

In the March 2011 Japan earthquake, the Tokyo Temple Moroni rotated 90 degrees clockwise, causing the statue to face in line with the front door.[7]“Some Missionaries Not Accounted for in Japan,” abc4.com

Cebu City Philippines

During the 15 October 2013 earthquake in the Philippines, the Cebu City Temple Angel Moroni statue turned 90 degrees as well.[8]Walch, Tad, “LDS missionaries ran to safety during quake in Philippines,” Deseret News, 16 October 2013.

Both the Cebu City Philippines Temple and the Tokyo Japan Temple have since had the statue returned to its original placement.

Due to these incidents, newer Angel Moroni statues have the trumpet bolted to the right hand through the palm.

Salt Lake

Making headlines through the whole world, the Salt Lake Angel Moroni lost its trumpet during an early morning earthquake on 18 March 2020. The 5.2 earthquake, not only caused the trumpet to fall, but the spire tops on most of the other 5 spires broke loose and shifted. The temple was in the early stages of a year’s long renovation, and removal of the spire tops had been planned for the late stages. The earthquake necessitated their early removal instead.

The trumpet landed in top set of parapets for the center east spire. It was badly twisted in the fall.

Chapter 5 Navigation

←Gold Leaf and Angel Replacements

Tragedy and Return→

References

References
↑1 Rae Olson, personal account submission to LDS-GEMS, via “Santiago Chile Temple”, crockettclan.org; “earthquake.” the Church News, 01 March 2010. Retrieved November 23, 2020
↑2 Weaver, Sarah Jane., & Taylor, Scott., “LDS missionaries safe, accounted for in areas affected by earthquake,” Deseret News, 28 February 2010,  Retrieved November 23, 2020
↑3 Swensen, Jason. “Quake, Tsunami Take Samoan Members’ Lives.” Church News, Deseret News, 4 June 2018,
↑4 Matthew. “Adaptation.” Matt’s Samoa Blog, 20 Dec. 2009.
↑5 Observer News, 11 February 2010.
↑6 Anderson, Taylor B. Trumpetless Angel, Tokyo Japan, 23 July 2005. Email from the Missionary’s mother to Rick Satterfield.
↑7 “Some Missionaries Not Accounted for in Japan,” abc4.com
↑8 Walch, Tad, “LDS missionaries ran to safety during quake in Philippines,” Deseret News, 16 October 2013.