Original Angel Returns to Temple

Amidst excitement and enthusiasm, the refurbished, original statue of the angel Moroni was returned to the top of Aba, Nigeria Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, on Saturday 10^th March 2018. This exercise was part of the two-week maintenance program of the sacred building, which occurred between March 5 and March 19.

The refurbished figure is the original statue mounted on the temple when it was dedicated on August 7, 2005. Due to aging of the original statue, it had been removed and kept in storage six years ago.

Abba temple complex facilities manager, Obinna Fidelis Ohale, stated the angel Moroni statue replacement was deemed necessary as the previous statue had become worn and tarnished due to the effects of nature.

Decorative Finishes of Arizona USA, was engaged to oversee the refurbishment and mounting of statue on the Aba, Nigeria Temple. The company was represented by Mr. Gunnar Norton and his wife Brittney Tidwell. They arrived in Aba, Nigeria on March 6 and expressed gratitude to God for the privilege of this service.

The stored statue was uncrated, cleaned and taken through other repair procedures from March 6 through March 9. The processes included application of sizing and the careful placement of 23 karat gold leaf screens, measuring slightly above 3 by 3 inches, all over the large structure. Thereafter, a protective sealer was applied to provide durability for the finished work.

Prior to March 10, Chief Executive officer of Apofa Ventures, Ndulewe Francis and his workers had mounted a scaffolding fitted with a very efficient pulley system for the removal of the tarnished statue and mounting of the refurbished figure.

“We are excited to be given the opportunity to do this job. The experience is far more than a mere contract as far as we are concerned. This is a sacred duty,’’ said Mr. Francis.

The angel Moroni statue was mounted atop Aba, Nigeria Temple in a procedure that lasted for over four hours under a friendly weather condition. The workers seemed to have been provided with a pillar of cloud to shield them from the hot rays of the sun as they worked.

His Royal Highness, King Allwell Ndubueze Ujoatu, Eze Udo 2 of Mbutu Umuojima Autonomous Community and Secretary of the Osisioma Ngwa Council of Traditional Rulers, Abia State Nigeria, was in attendance to witness the event.

The King expressed his admiration of the statue and the replacement process. “I will tell others of what I have seen today,” he said. 

Aba, Nigeria North Stake President, Otuonye Justice Nwachinemere, thanked the King for attending the event and explained to him that Latter-day Saints do not worship the statue of Moroni, but rather show respect for the role he played in the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

President Nwachinemere told the King, "With the long trumpet in his mouth, the angel Moroni is beckoning all the world to come unto Christ’’.