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Lightning hits Oquirrh Mountain Temple
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We all do our part ... | 7:55 a.m. June 15, 2009
and Moroni did his. I hear it is common for them to get struck, but just not
common for it to blacken them that much.
Thank you | 8:00 a.m. June 15, 2009
I was there earlier that day (with the weaker storm) and I just wanted to thank
those that were there. I had a very enjoyable time there. Thank you.
Comments continue below
Ole | 8:04 a.m. June 15, 2009
If you live close by you can go look for yourself. (I doubt Scott was neither
confirming or denying the incident. He was probably in Church at the time!)
I take it as a wake up call, that I need to be in the temple on a regular basis to be protected from the 'storms' of the world. I'm excited to be a part of this temple district!
I take it as a wake up call, that I need to be in the temple on a regular basis to be protected from the 'storms' of the world. I'm excited to be a part of this temple district!
gold | 8:19 a.m. June 15, 2009
gold is a conducter, looks like black spray paint?
Plastic Moroni | 8:37 a.m. June 15, 2009
Gold??? That's not gold. It is spray painted fiberglass.
Pick and Choose | 8:39 a.m. June 15, 2009
So it was "Mother Nature" that struck Moroni with lightning rather
than God this time?
@ Anonymous 8:13 | 8:44 a.m. June 15, 2009
Agreed completely. Neither are a "sign from God." As Sigmund Freud
once said, "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar."
drill rig | 9:07 a.m. June 15, 2009
my drill rig was hit by lightning and it did'nt do anything like that but
i got shocked. if it is fiberglass it would have took a big chunk out of old
moroni you would think. maybe we'll never know oooooh!!! scary anint it
ooooooh.....
Chachi | 9:41 a.m. June 15, 2009
Most Angel Moroni statues are made of fiberglass, contain a lightning rod, and
covered in gold leaf. They tried gold paint once, but it didn't have the
same luster. You can see the rod protruding from Moroni's head in some of
these photos.
It will be interesting to see what the Church does about this. It's likely that this won't be the last time the temple is struck due to its location. Will they put up scaffolding to re-leaf the statue every time?
It will be interesting to see what the Church does about this. It's likely that this won't be the last time the temple is struck due to its location. Will they put up scaffolding to re-leaf the statue every time?
go to it | 10:06 a.m. June 15, 2009
All you anti-Mormon fans should be having a ball. Go to it folks.
Reader001 | 10:28 a.m. June 15, 2009
I was sitting on my porch and saw the bolt that hit the angel Moroni statue. It
was one heck of a storm that went through the area, bolts hitting all around.
That tower with the statue is going to be hit many more times, as it's the
highest point out there tied to ground. I would like to know what can be done
to prevent the actual statue from being damaged every time a storm like that
comes through. I can only assume that the gold leafing was in contact with the
rod, making it a more desirable path for the electrical conductivity... an error
in the manufacturing and design.
sarah jane | 10:29 a.m. June 15, 2009
No damage was done to the temple. Seems to be that the temple was protected by
Angel Moroni.
shoddy workmanship | 10:47 a.m. June 15, 2009
If the lightning rod were well grounded, the electricity would have gone
straight down a copper cable into the earth. The fact that it didn't is
pretty bad for the contractor and inspector. Since the steeple is made of
steel, and it's the highest structure for miles, it's going to get a
LOT of lightning.
When the rod is correctly connected, the electricity will do as it must. When it's not, it will also do as it must. It doesn't have a choice. The laws of lightning and buildings were discovered 250 years ago by Ben Franklin. From the picture, it looks like the bolt forked when it got to the statue and went through the head and the trumpet, and then down to ground.
I imagine the reason the gold changed color is because the gold leaf is so thin. The charge had to spread to the capacity of the conductor, and then also heated it. That might or might not melt the gold, but gold leaf is almost as thin as a single layer of molecules. The fiberglass resin underneath burned and the smoke damage to the leaf is what you see.
When the rod is correctly connected, the electricity will do as it must. When it's not, it will also do as it must. It doesn't have a choice. The laws of lightning and buildings were discovered 250 years ago by Ben Franklin. From the picture, it looks like the bolt forked when it got to the statue and went through the head and the trumpet, and then down to ground.
I imagine the reason the gold changed color is because the gold leaf is so thin. The charge had to spread to the capacity of the conductor, and then also heated it. That might or might not melt the gold, but gold leaf is almost as thin as a single layer of molecules. The fiberglass resin underneath burned and the smoke damage to the leaf is what you see.
Angel not grounded | 10:51 a.m. June 15, 2009
run a copper wire from the Angel to ground and no more lightening problems.
BobP | 10:59 a.m. June 15, 2009
I wonder if God was sending a message?
Looking for signs?? | 11:02 a.m. June 15, 2009
Are you looking for signs? Don't. This was lightening connecting to a metal
source. It happens. The damage will be repaired, and this type of thing may
happen again in the future. I'm glad the temple didn't catch on fire.
The rod did its job.
jackie | 11:05 a.m. June 15, 2009
Silly to say it is anything than what it is, a random act of nature. Our Moroni
here on the Toronto Temple was also hit a year or two ago, it was taken down.
repaired and put back. They get hit all the time just as any other high point in
a storm will, the CN Tower gets hit all the time.
BlueSun | 11:21 a.m. June 15, 2009
I love to read the comments...I guess many people like to muddy the waters...
Really, people, this is exactly what these "guys" were designed for...they are GIANT LIGHTNING RODS...any time you stick something that high up, it had better be grounded or you destroy your building...
Now THAT would have caused a stir...
"Mormon temple destroyed because they didn't put in a lightning rod" would have made a better headline, well, at least for some people reading this...
Really, people, this is exactly what these "guys" were designed for...they are GIANT LIGHTNING RODS...any time you stick something that high up, it had better be grounded or you destroy your building...
Now THAT would have caused a stir...
"Mormon temple destroyed because they didn't put in a lightning rod" would have made a better headline, well, at least for some people reading this...
SLC gal | 11:44 a.m. June 15, 2009
Shoot, my husband and I drove by there Saturday night - wrong time to go past
there. Not that I think it's cool Moroni got it, but that would have been
cool to see.
realist | 11:52 a.m. June 15, 2009
The idea that God uses lightning to express displeasure is not a Christian one.
At best it's Hellenized Christianity. It comes from Zeus, or Jupiter for
the Romans.
Zeus was the one who used lightning to punish mortals. When Christianity spread throughout the ancient world, it started adopting local beliefs into it to make it more palatable to locals. Greek mythology, as adopted by the Romans is the source for the idea of patron saints (different gods for different needs), purgatory (chaos), heaven above and hell (hades) below, and a God that uses lightning as a weapon.
Zeus was the one who used lightning to punish mortals. When Christianity spread throughout the ancient world, it started adopting local beliefs into it to make it more palatable to locals. Greek mythology, as adopted by the Romans is the source for the idea of patron saints (different gods for different needs), purgatory (chaos), heaven above and hell (hades) below, and a God that uses lightning as a weapon.
Comments better than the news | 11:59 a.m. June 15, 2009
These comments were hilarious, better than the news article. In light of the
previous comments, let me add my take. Looking at the pictures, I guess Moroni
is telling all of us, we should be willing to sacrifice our vanity for the good
work. Wink.
I am surprised ... | 12:06 p.m. June 15, 2009
That it didn't hit sooner when they let me through on the tour. :)
kenny | 12:19 p.m. June 15, 2009
The Lord requires His people to erect Temples for His purpose and that purpose
will be protected and safeguarded by his hand.The Lord did not say that His
temples will always be protected against acts of mother nature although we as
saints do pray that this will be so.That protection does come as we ask and He
chooses to grant.My guess is that if this building were to be distroyed in a
storm then it would be our requirement to rebuild another temple in its
place.
We ask our kids to obey us as parents. Even God has to "obey" His "mother" nature.
We ask our kids to obey us as parents. Even God has to "obey" His "mother" nature.
RE: Kenny | 12:31 p.m. June 15, 2009
"We ask our kids to obey us as parents. Even God has to "obey"
His "mother" nature."
HUH?
HUH?
Wow... | 12:33 p.m. June 15, 2009
I like the Freud comment. Sometimes a cigar is a cigar. Thanks for that!
Sometimes a storm is just a storm and lightning hits things. Just because the tree next to my house was hit by lightning doesn't mean that God was punishing my family by destroying our property.
Lightning hits Catholic/Protestant church bell towers in Germany on a regular basis. According to the logic of many of the people posting, they must be doing something wrong by God.
You people make me laugh. No wonder there's so much hate around here.
Sometimes a storm is just a storm and lightning hits things. Just because the tree next to my house was hit by lightning doesn't mean that God was punishing my family by destroying our property.
Lightning hits Catholic/Protestant church bell towers in Germany on a regular basis. According to the logic of many of the people posting, they must be doing something wrong by God.
You people make me laugh. No wonder there's so much hate around here.
kenny | 12:35 p.m. June 15, 2009
Reminds me of the song by Willie Nelson "Angel Flying Too Close To The
Ground"
kenny | 12:45 p.m. June 15, 2009
It means that Gods hand does not always stop the forces of mother nature. Sorry
that my brain confuses your thinking.
divine retribution? | 12:47 p.m. June 15, 2009
This is laughable that this is even news- or that it would shake someone's
faith, or that it would be used to shake someone's faith.
Reminds me of the scripture where the Lord says, "I will try the faith of my people." also reminds me of an Elder Talmage quote " the irreligious are naturally superstitious"...
p.s. rally caps don't work.
Reminds me of the scripture where the Lord says, "I will try the faith of my people." also reminds me of an Elder Talmage quote " the irreligious are naturally superstitious"...
p.s. rally caps don't work.
mbk | 12:47 p.m. June 15, 2009
this is news? Lightning has been hitting the jordan river and other temples for
decades. They are even designed to deal with this problem. Duh.
re: ole | 1:07 p.m. June 15, 2009
On your comment, "I take it as a wake up call, that I need to be in the
temple on a regular basis to be protected from the 'storms' of the
world. I'm excited to be a part of this temple district!"
You can't be serious can you? Do you really have that kind of magical thinking? Lightning strikes. It's part of nature. If you live your life by signs and wonders all the time, you're not really living your own life. You become a pawn of nature and circumstance. Isn't there a scripture or something that says that it's a foolish and vain person who seeketh signs?
You can't be serious can you? Do you really have that kind of magical thinking? Lightning strikes. It's part of nature. If you live your life by signs and wonders all the time, you're not really living your own life. You become a pawn of nature and circumstance. Isn't there a scripture or something that says that it's a foolish and vain person who seeketh signs?
swr | 1:19 p.m. June 15, 2009
Nah, it wouldn't be spontaneous combustion-that requires flammable or
combustible liquids.
This shows all the signs of static electricity. Thousands of lightening strikes, highest point for miles around, conductive air moisture content, etc.
Either that, or the gold leaf is molding.
But, let's not jump to hasty conclusions...
This shows all the signs of static electricity. Thousands of lightening strikes, highest point for miles around, conductive air moisture content, etc.
Either that, or the gold leaf is molding.
But, let's not jump to hasty conclusions...
rb | 1:30 p.m. June 15, 2009
Electricity - especially in the form of lightning - is fairly inpredictable.
There is an old saying to emphasis this variation in the kinds and types of strike - "lightning never strikes twice" [i.e., in the same way].
We design airplanes and buildings all the time to with stand lightning strikes.
The very fact that the entire spire did not crack and explode shows that the lightning protection worked, and the black on the outside is a mere surface flashing.
There is an old saying to emphasis this variation in the kinds and types of strike - "lightning never strikes twice" [i.e., in the same way].
We design airplanes and buildings all the time to with stand lightning strikes.
The very fact that the entire spire did not crack and explode shows that the lightning protection worked, and the black on the outside is a mere surface flashing.
JOHNJ | 1:39 p.m. June 15, 2009
Religion
Over the centuries, lightning in cultures was viewed as part of a deity or a deity in of itself. One of the most classic portrayals of this is of the Greek God Zeus. An ancient story is when Zeus was at war against Cronus and the Titans, he released his brothers, Hades and Poseidon, along with the Cyclopes. In turn, the Cyclopes gave Zeus the Thunderbolt as a weapon, which was near the beginning of Zeus himself. The thunderbolt became a popular symbol of Zeus and continues to be today.
So watch out for lightning I myself have had a few encounters with it.
Over the centuries, lightning in cultures was viewed as part of a deity or a deity in of itself. One of the most classic portrayals of this is of the Greek God Zeus. An ancient story is when Zeus was at war against Cronus and the Titans, he released his brothers, Hades and Poseidon, along with the Cyclopes. In turn, the Cyclopes gave Zeus the Thunderbolt as a weapon, which was near the beginning of Zeus himself. The thunderbolt became a popular symbol of Zeus and continues to be today.
So watch out for lightning I myself have had a few encounters with it.
Jon B. Holbrook | 3:09 p.m. June 15, 2009
Lightning also struck the steeple of the St. George Temple shortly after Brigham
Young passed away. The steeple caught fire and caused enough damage that the
steeple was replaced. Brother Brigham had wanted the steeple done to his
specifications and design. The architect for the St. George Temple had built the
steeple to his design and not Brother Brigham's. When the steeple was
replaced, it was built to the design that Brother Brigham desired. Could history
be repeating itself?
Red | 3:19 p.m. June 15, 2009
Reader00110:28: "I would like to know what can be done to prevent the
actual statue from being damaged"
The usual solution is lots of small "lightning rods" (they aren't, really, lightning rods; they're charge diffusers). Typically placed around the roof perimeter, they're plain rods a few feet tall.
Theory is (and, I understand, it usually works) that these harmlessly "bleed off" electric charges before they build up to a level that can cause a lightning strike.
The usual solution is lots of small "lightning rods" (they aren't, really, lightning rods; they're charge diffusers). Typically placed around the roof perimeter, they're plain rods a few feet tall.
Theory is (and, I understand, it usually works) that these harmlessly "bleed off" electric charges before they build up to a level that can cause a lightning strike.
Naruto | 3:39 p.m. June 15, 2009
"1.1 Jigawatts!"
RE:Naruto | 4:07 p.m. June 15, 2009
that's 1.21 Jigawatts get your facts straight
The Materials Scientist in Me | 7:34 p.m. June 15, 2009
If the fiberglass were rendered more electrically conductive (less resistant)
this might have been avoided. There are ways this can be accomplished.
Lucy | 8:36 p.m. June 15, 2009
Sorry about your temple.
Duh | 8:41 p.m. June 15, 2009
Wonderful, another DES NEWS posting that brings out the lunatics. I love
everytime they post something related to the mormon church. Heck look how a
little thing like a lightning strike could bring out the crazies on both sides.
Makes for hilarious reading, thats for sure.
xscribe | 10:23 p.m. June 15, 2009
Here's the problem, however: Most posters say this is nothing but Mother
Nature. But if there had been a fire and by circumstance the church was not
damaged, you can bet it would have been an act of god.
Doc | 10:49 p.m. June 15, 2009
Great Scott!!!
Re: xsribe | 11:00 p.m. June 15, 2009
Agreed, It only goes one way. All the stuff that looks good will be taken as an
act of God. If you try and point out the stuff that looks bad, even in jest,
people tend to prickle.
AMAZING! | 11:02 p.m. June 15, 2009
What amazes me that streams of people drove by to view the blackened portions of
Moroni. Seems that they are not sure how to productively and wisely use their
time. To waste gas, clog the roads and probably complain about the high cost of
gas is laughable. I would not even think to climb in my car and drive a few
miles to see something like that, unless I was already going to the temple for a
session.
Never let it happen again | 11:36 p.m. June 15, 2009
The church should give the good angel a 2 iron. Like they say, even god
can't hit a 2 iron.
Bexter | 1:07 a.m. June 16, 2009
Some of these people either need to proof read their comments or learn how to
spell... "Inpredictable" is not a word! I believe you meant
"Unpredictable". Don't comment on these boards if you don't
even know what the correct word is. It's extremely hilarious to read some
people's idea of English. It wouldn't hurt some of you to go take an
English course at your local community college.
Jigawatts? | 8:07 a.m. June 16, 2009
Oh, my gosh, people. it's GIGAWATTS. Dr. Brown was a scientist. He
certainly knew how to pronounce AND spell this word. BTW, it's the best
part of all the posts on this story.
Anonymous | 9:06 a.m. June 16, 2009
Too many excuses. We all know God works in mysterious ways. He has a way of
getting his point across to stiff necked people.
DF | 9:07 a.m. June 16, 2009
Matthew 5:44,45
44. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45. That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
I don't think He is standing around to watch where every lightning bolt is going to land. This is life. There is way too much being read into this. Go back to your corners and take a deep breath. Surely you have something better to do.
44. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45. That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
I don't think He is standing around to watch where every lightning bolt is going to land. This is life. There is way too much being read into this. Go back to your corners and take a deep breath. Surely you have something better to do.
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