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A significant event occurred on Tuesday with the removal of the ‘old statue’ and its replacement with a “new statue” on the spire of the Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, at Pesega.
The original statue was damaged during the earthquake of 29 September 2009.
Upon the arrival of the new statue last Wednesday, workmen began the process of erecting scaffolding to allow for the removal and installation of the new statue.
After unpacking the crate, they gently carried and hoisted the three meter, fiberglass and gold leaf statue up to the highest point, where it was then bolted into place.
The Original Statue which sat atop the first Samoan temple was slightly smoke-damaged in the fire of 2003.
 It was refurbished and then placed on the spire of the new temple that was dedicated in 2005.
The recent earthquake damage rendered the statue unusable and a replacement was ordered from Salt Lake City, Utah.
President Carl Fonoimoana, a counselor in the Temple Presidency, said one of the most common questions about the LDS Temple is
What is the statue on top?”
Many people assume that it is the Angel Gabriel, but few non-LDS people know that it is The Angel Moroni.
Moroni was a Prophet of old who - as an Angel – the Latter-Day Saints believe was sent by God to teach and prepare the Prophet Joseph Smith for the restoration of the Church and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ - in these latter-days.
“The statue of Angel Moroni is placed on Latter-Day Saint Temples because of the significance of the part he played in the preparation of the Prophet Joseph Smith, the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ in its fullness, and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon,” said Mr Fonoimoana.
It became common practice to place the Angel Moroni on LDS Temples dating back to 1893 when the first Angel Moroni statue was placed on the Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah, and it has become an unofficial symbol of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and is recognized throughout the world.
Latter-Day Saints consider Revelations 14:6 to be a reference to the Angel Moroni when John recorded, “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.”
The Church has 130 operating Temples around the world, with another eight under construction, and 13 announced to be built.
All but eight of these temples have the Angel Moroni perched upon the highest point. Back
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