Most Mormon temples are topped by a statue of a male figure who is blowing a horn. Who is he?

The statue represents Moroni, the final writer of the Book of Mormon. He exists in Mormon writings and history in two forms: As a mortal man living in ancient times, and as an angel following his death.

In his mortal life, Moroni was the son of the prophet Mormon. When Moroni was young, his people, the Nephites, went to war against their long-time enemies, the Lamanites. The Nephites had once been a great nation that followed the teachings of God, but over time, they had become less righteous. Prophets had been promised by God that the civilization could not be destroyed as long as they kept the commandments, and over the years, they had been preserved from their enemies. Now, however, they had lost that protection, as few lived the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Large numbers were killed by the Lamanites, and in time, very few remained. Moroni’s father was killed, and soon, Moroni, only a teenager, was the last surviving Nephite. He went into hiding, because the Lamanites were determined to kill him. He had with him the only set of scriptures, which had been handed down from prophet to prophet. They contained the Biblical records the very first members of what later became the Nephites brought with them from Jerusalem around 600 BC, which was most likely approximately the Torah. It also contained the records that had been kept by each prophet in the Nephite community since that time. Those records had been made for the last days, not for the Nephites, and contained the information the Holy Ghost had instructed the prophets to keep that would benefit those preparing for the second coming of Christ.

Moroni spent his time abridging the records so they were a manageable size. He also added information of his own. When they were finally complete, he hid them in the Hill Cumorah, and fled. Many years later he slipped back into the city and retrieved the records. Surprised to realize he was alive, he added additional material to the records and once again fled. We don’t know what happened to him after that.

In the 1800s, another teenager named Joseph Smith wondered which church he should join. He found a scripture in the Bible that told him if he wanted to know the truth, he should ask God. (James 1:5) He decided to put it to the test and went into the woods near his home to pray. While doing so, God and Jesus Christ appeared to him, to personally answer his question. He was told not to join any of the churches, because none was completely accurate at this time.

Several years later, when he was older, he was visited by Moroni, now an angel. Moroni spent a number of years tutoring Joseph and preparing him to become the first prophet of the restored church. Eventually, Moroni showed Joseph where he had hidden the records, and in time, Joseph was considered worthy to take them. He removed them from the hill and began the process of translating them, through the spirit of God, into English.

It’s only fitting that Moroni, who was kept alive for the purpose of preserving and completing the records, would be allowed to lead the restoration process. These records are now published under the name of The Book of Mormon-Another Testament of Christ. They do not replace the Bible, but are an additional text which testifies of the Bible and of the Savior.

The story of Moroni is one of the most moving stories in the Book of Mormon. Imagine being the last righteous person in your world, and being kept alive for the gospel, but tangibly, to protect a book. He was often lonely and frightened, but was periodically ministered to by angels during his work.

It was Moroni who penned the promise that has led to millions of conversions to the Mormon Church:

4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

  5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

  6 And whatsoever thing is good is just and true; wherefore, nothing that is good denieth the Christ, but acknowledgeth that he is.

  7 And ye may know that he is, by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God; for he worketh by power, according to the faith of the children of men, the same today and tomorrow, and forever. (Moroni 10)

These verses teach people that they needn’t take anyone’s word for whether or not the Book of Mormon is true. The only testimony you can completely trust is God’s. Like Joseph Smith, anyone can pray and ask God if it’s true. Of course, it’s not likely God or Jesus will come in person, since most of us aren’t being prepared to lead a restoration, but God does answer sincerely asked prayers that are made in faith.

Today, Moroni sits atop the temples with a trumpet, proclaiming to the world the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth. He is a fitting choice for the honor because of his great sacrifices and his critical role in the restoration, both in ancient and modern times.