Another Angel Fly in the Midst of Heaven

Recently the Angel Moroni was put atop the Layton Utah temple which is currently under construction. Not every temple has a statue of Moroni on top of it, but many do and I love the symbolism behind it. John declared in his prophecy, “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” (Revelation 14:6). We understand that angel to be Moroni just as Elder Rasband declared recently: “Moroni was that angel. He saw our day as recorded in the Book of Mormon. In repeated appearances, he prepared Joseph Smith for his ministry, including the translation of the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.” Moroni is indeed flying in the midst of heaven atop many temples as he symbolically announces the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. The first scripture that he quoted to the young Joseph Smith was from Malachi including this one: “Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. He also quoted the next verse differently: And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers. If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming” (JSH 1:38-39). He was instrumental in helping tutor Joseph about the work of temples and this prophecy was indeed fulfilled less than ten years later when Elijah literally did come to the Kirtland Temple.

                Of course, when we think of Moroni we mostly likely first remember his role in the Book of Mormon and helping to bring that forth in the latter days. The Book of Mormon is a sign of the gathering and a key to bringing people to the fold of God. President Nelson taught, “The coming forth of the Book of Mormon is a tangible sign to the world that the Lord has commenced gathering Israel and fulfilling covenants He made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” He further declared in another address, “The Book of Mormon is central to this work. It declares the doctrine of the gathering. It causes people to learn about Jesus Christ, to believe His gospel, and to join His Church. In fact, if there were no Book of Mormon, the promised gathering of Israel would not occur.” And so Moroni was key in initiating the gather of scattered Israel by bringing forth the Book of Mormon to the boy prophet. And what is the purpose of gathering scattered Israel? Elder Bednar taught this: “The Prophet Joseph Smith declared that in all ages the divine purpose of gathering the people of God is to build temples so His children can receive the highest ordinances and thereby gain eternal life.” He continued, “This essential relationship between the principle of gathering and the building of temples is highlighted in the Book of Mormon.” Elder Bednar then quoted this scripture about the Lamanite converts taught by Ammon and his brethren: “Behold, the field was ripe, and blessed are ye, for ye did thrust in the sickle, and did reap with your might, yea, all the day long did ye labor; and behold the number of your sheaves! And they shall be gathered into the garners, that they are not wasted” (Alma 26:5). He explained, “The sheaves in this analogy represent newly baptized members of the Church. The garners are the holy temples. Elder Neal A. Maxwell explained: ‘Clearly, when we baptize, our eyes should gaze beyond the baptismal font to the holy temple. The great garner into which the sheaves should be gathered is the holy temple.’” Thus the purpose of gathering, the purpose of the Book of Mormon bringing people unto the fold of God is to ultimately bring them to the temple. So how fitting it is that Moroni sits on top of so many temples, beckoning us all to be gathered in safely through the Book of Mormon and ultimately to the garner of the House of the Lord.

                Moroni finished the Book of Mormon with this declaration: “I soon go to rest in the paradise of God, until my spirit and body shall again reunite, and I am brought forth triumphant through the air, to meet you before the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah, the Eternal Judge of both quick and dead. Amen.” I love that again we have the image of him in the air—he knew that he would be raised up from the dead, but this also reminds us that he is raised up in the air on top of temples to invite us all to literally come unto the Lord by entering His house. As we look at him atop the temple we should remember his invitation that beckons us to the House of the Lord: “Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ” (Moroni 10:32,34).