Billy Penn has some new company atop Philadelphia's skyline, in the form of an angel.
With little fanfare — locally, anyway; the event was
covered by some press in Salt Lake City — the massive Mormon Temple hit "a
significant milestone" in its four-year construction when an angel Moroni
statue was placed on the building's tallest spire Dec. 30.
The building, which is Philadelphia's first temple for
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is expected to be completed
later this year.
“Mormons in our area have been watching for this visible
highlight of the construction period,” said Elder Milan Kunz, a senior church
leader for the Philadelphia region, in a press release. “It indicates the
temple is nearing completion and it adds a new image to the skyline of the
city.”
The golden statue appears to be roughly eight feet tall,
and is blowing a long horn. It faces east on top of the taller of two spires.
The building is being constructed at 17th and Vine streets, situated along the
Ben Franklin Parkway.
The angel is an important figure in the Book of Mormon,
having appeared to the church's central figure, Joseph Smith, who is considered
a prophet. Moroni himself is portayed as a warrior-prophet in the religion's
holy book. Statues of Moroni are perched atop a vast majority of the world's
150 temples, according to the church.
Source: Philly.com
No comments:
Post a Comment