Who is the angel on top of Mormon temples and what does it signify?

Answer

That is the angel Moroni.

The final book in the Book of Mormon is called Moroni. Mormons believe that it was written by a man named Moroni who was the only faithful man in the Americas in his day. He buried the golden plates upon which the Book of Mormon was written.

Then, in 1820, this same Moroni came to Joseph Smith and, in the course of time, told him where to find the buried Book of Mormon.

Some more helpful information is that Mormons believe that angels are either resurrected beings or premortal beings. So, angels and man are the same basic creature, just in different states of being.

As for, "what does it signify", the angel Moroni is important because he is the one who showed Joseph Smith where to find the Golden Plates. Thus allowing the restoration of the gospel.

Answer

Moroni or Nephi

The angel Moroni story has also been changed since the first edition of the P.of G.P. was published in 1851. That edition said that the angel "Nephi" revealed the gold plates to Smith (p. 41). Other early Mormon sources which mention the angel Nephi are: The Millennial Star Vol III, pp. 53, 71 and Times and Seasons Vol. III pp. 749, 753. In the latter volume on page 710, Joseph Smith said, "This paper commences my editorial career. I alone stand responsible for it." Thus, if the angel's name is wrong, Smith is at fault. In 1853, Joseph's mother, Lucy Mack Smith, also said the angel's name was Nephi (Biographical Sketches, p. 79). Most Mormons today have never heard that the angel Nephi revealed the gold plates to Joseph Smith. But, Mormons assume the B. of M. must have come from God if an angel revealed it to Joseph Smith. However, the Bible warns that even "Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light" (II Cor. 11:14). The apostle Paul also said in Gal. 1:8, "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." Did Moroni (or Nephi) preach the same gospel that Paul did in Galatians and the other epistles? If Moroni did preach the same message as Paul did, we already had the message and therefore we do not need the B. of M. But, if Moroni preached a different gospel than Paul did, he is under the curse of Gal. 1:8-9.

B. of M.=Book of Mormon
P. of G.P.=Pearl of Great Price

Answer

The Salt Lake Tribune (May 4, 2002, p.C3) printed a picture of the original Nauvoo temple weather vane, which shows the Masonic symbol of the compass and square above the angel. Reporter Peggy Stack wrote:

"Every detail of the historic Nauvoo Temple was reconstructed [in the new Nauvoo temple] meticulously with one exception: the flying angel weather vane that graced the top of the 19th century Mormon edifice.

"In its place is the gold-leafed Angel Moroni, first used on the Salt Lake Temple,...

"Some speculate that the horizontal angel, with its compass and square, may be too closely associated with Masonic rituals for modern Mormons." (Salt Lake Tribune, May 4, 2002, p.C3)

http://www.utlm.org/onlineresources/masonicsymbolsandtheldstemple.htm

Mormon abridged the account of the people of Nephi from records written by Nephi and other prophets. These plates contained the true, and inspired account of God's dealings with these people over a 600 year period. Mormon wrote his edited account on gold plates. He included an account of the affairs of the Nephites and the wars in his life time. This is why the gold plates, when translated by the Prophet Joseph Smith and compiled into a book, was called the Book of Mormon. Mormon, just before his death handed the gold plates to his son, Moroni. Moroni witnessed the destruction of the people of Nephi and included an account of this with the gold plates. He placed the gold plates along with other items in a stone box he made in the ground and covered it with a large rock that was shaped to make it appear to be the top of a large boulder. On the 21st September, 1823, this same Moroni, over 1700 years after he placed the gold plates in the ground, appeared to Joseph Smith and told him of the buried plates. By the power of God working through Joseph Smith the gold plates were translated. Thus we have the Book of Mormon containing the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The statue of Moroni with the trumpet to his lips represents heralding the proclamation of the "everlasting gospel" to the nations of the earth. (See Rev. 14:6.) Let me finish with a word of wisdom; If you want to know the truth don't accept knowledge on face value, search it out for yourself, in faith, with an open mind, believing that the truth you pray for, you will receive.

First answer by Brjedi26. Last edit by Sheon. Contributor trust: 22 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 25 [recommend question]