NEW YORK — A statue of the Angel Moroni was placed on the Manhattan New York Temple Oct. 9 as hundreds of spectators looked on.
The new temple, which was dedicated June 13, 2004, by President Gordon B. Hinckley, comprises the first, second, fifth and sixth floors of an existing Church building. A meetinghouse comprises the third and fourth floors. With the new statue of the Angel Moroni, the distance from the ground to the top of the statue is 144 feet.
Speaking with the Church News, Manhattan temple President John Stone described seeing the Angel Moroni statue atop the sacred edifice as a "wonderful feeling."
To look up "from the Lincoln Center and see Moroni shimmering in the sun, proclaiming the restoration of the gospel right in the heart of New York City, you think back in Church history of the challenges the missionaries had in preaching the gospel in New York," President Stone said. "(Now) you see an angel here. . . . It's a miracle."
Continuing, he said "New Yorkers are endlessly curious." He said many neighbors come by and ask about the statue of the Angel Moroni. "Nobody made fun. One guy said, 'Oh cool.' "
The temple president said patrons are making use of the temple, with some 330 coming on Saturdays, and approximately 100 on weekdays. The Manhattan New York Temple district includes approximately 42,000 members in parts of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
He advises those coming to the temple to make appointments as clothing facilities are limited. The hours are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from noon to the last session at 8 p.m. On Thursdays and Saturdays, the first session is at 6 a.m. and the last is at 6 p.m.
President Stone is excited and pleased at seeing the statue now atop the temple. "It's beautiful. I had to take another look this morning," he said.
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