The Salt Lake Temple is stronger on the five-year anniversary of Magna quake

SALT LAKE CITY — On March 18, 2020, a 5.7 magnitude earthquake knocked the trumpet out of the Angel Moroni’s hand atop the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Five years later, the church has nearly finished all of the seismic upgrades that were just getting started in 2020.

“The seismic work at the Salt Lake Temple is world class,” said Andy Kirby, the director of historic temple renovations. “It’s amazing engineering and construction, and it’s quite beautiful.”

Kirby told KSL TV that some of the technology they used in the upgrades didn’t exist just 10 years ago.

“That base isolator allows the Earth to move around the temple in an earthquake. Up to 10 feet in any direction. That technology didn’t exist before,” Kirby said.

Officials from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints estimate that all of the reconstruction work should be complete in late 2026. Officials have planned an open house celebration in 2027.

Bonneville International Corporation, the company that owns KSL NewsRadio, is a subsidiary of Deseret Management Corporation, which is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Other reading:

• Salt Lake Temple suffers minor damage due to earthquake
• Angel Moroni to be removed from Salt Lake Temple for renovations

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