Moroni (Book of Mormon figure and angel in Latter Day Saint belief)

Moroni is a principal figure in the Book of Mormon—the last Nephite prophet—and, in Latter Day Saint tradition, the angel who delivered the golden plates to Joseph Smith and is depicted atop many temples.

Moroni appears in the Book of Mormon as the final human custodian of the Nephite record. According to the text, he was the last surviving member of his people after widespread warfare and destruction, and he completed and preserved the sacred plates assembled by his father, the prophet Mormon. He is credited with adding final chapters and abridgements to the record that Latter Day Saints revere as scripture.

Role and narrative

Within the narrative, Moroni finishes his father's history, writes his own short account and a collection of sermons and admonitions, and buries the metal plates in a hill to keep them safe. Later Latter Day Saint tradition holds that Moroni, in an angelic form, appeared to the young American religious founder Joseph Smith and revealed the plates' location. Smith reported that he received the plates and translated them into English; that translation is published as the Book of Mormon.

Characteristics and symbolism

In Latter Day Saint belief the figure of Moroni combines roles: a mortal prophet and a posthumous angelic messenger. As an angel he is associated with restoration, revelation and the preservation of scripture. Many Latter Day Saint temples feature a statue of the angel Moroni, commonly gilded and often holding a trumpet to symbolize the proclamation of restored gospel teachings. These statues have become one of the most recognizable symbols associated with the movement.

Historical development and variations

Accounts of Moroni appear only in Latter Day Saint sources and traditions originating in the early 19th century. Different Latter Day Saint denominations and individual believers vary in emphasis: some stress his role strictly as a historical prophet, others emphasize his angelic mission. Scholarly discussion distinguishes the literary figure in the scripture from the later devotional and iconographic uses of his image.

Notable facts and cultural importance

Moroni is identified in scripture as the son of Mormon, the compiler of the Nephite record.
He is said to have hidden the plates and later delivered them to Joseph Smith in angelic form; that angelic visitation is central to Latter Day Saint accounts of the Restoration (angel).
The angel Moroni statue is a modern religious emblem, appearing on or near many Latter Day Saint temples worldwide.

Whether considered as a scriptural author, a heavenly messenger, or an architectural symbol, Moroni occupies a prominent place in Latter Day Saint history and identity, representing themes of covenant, witness, and the transmission of sacred texts.