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Salt Lake Temple sustains minor damage as 5.7 magnitude earthquake hits Utah

The Angel Moroni statue atop the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stands with its trumpet missing after an earthquake in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. Credit: Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
The Salt Lake Temple will close on Dec. 29 for extensive renovations. Photographed in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019. Credit: Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
The trumpet of the Angel Moroni statue on top of the Salt Lake temple fell during Wednesday morning’s earthquake. Credit: KSL-TV
Trees are removed to give construction crews access to excavate around the Salt Lake Temple for a major renovation. Credit: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
A rendering of the Salt Lake Temple’s base isolation system. Credit: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
The Temple Square South Visitors’ Center and portions of the square’s south wall are being demolished to give construction crews access to excavate around the Salt Lake Temple for a major renovation, Friday, Jan. 17, 2020. Credit: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Statues on Temple Square are removed to be placed in storage in preparation for renovation on the Salt Lake Temple. Credit: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Trees are removed to give construction crews access to excavate around the Salt Lake Temple for a major renovation. Credit: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.

A 5.7 magnitude earthquake rattled Utah on Wednesday morning, March 18. The epicenter was about four miles northeast of Magna, a city about 14 miles from Salt Lake City, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Minor damage occurred to the Salt Lake Temple, which is undergoing renovation and a seismic upgrade. The trumpet on the Angel Moroni statue on top of the temple fell, and some of the temple’s smaller spire stones were displaced, said Church spokesman Daniel Woodruff in a statement.

The trumpet of the Angel Moroni statue on top of the Salt Lake temple fell during Wednesday morning’s earthquake.
The Angel Moroni statue on top of the Salt Lake temple fell during Wednesday morning’s earthquake. | Credit: KSL-TV

“No workers were injured,” Woodruff said. “Crews on the job site have been sent home for the day, and a full assessment is underway to determine needs going forward.

“This event emphasizes why this project is so necessary to preserve this historic building and create a safer environment for all our patrons and visitors.”

All Church headquarters facilities are closed until further notice to evaluate the safety of the buildings. No injuries have been reported to Church employees, Woodruff said.

Read more about the earthquake on Deseret.com.

The Angel Moroni statue atop the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stands with its trumpet missing after a 5.7 magnitude earthquake centered in Magna hit on Wednesday, March 18, 2020.
The Angel Moroni statue atop the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stands with its trumpet missing after a 5.7 magnitude earthquake centered in Magna hit on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. | Credit: Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
The Angel Moroni statue atop the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints lost its trumpet after a 5.7 magnitude earthquake centered in Magna hit early on Wednesday, March 18, 2020.
The Angel Moroni statue atop the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints lost its trumpet after a 5.7 magnitude earthquake centered in Magna hit early on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. | Credit: Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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