The Salt Lake Temple is stronger on the 5-year anniversary of Magna quake

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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.

Angel Moroni is raised atop the Salt Lake Temple in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
Angel Moroni is raised atop the Salt Lake Temple in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. (Photo: Stuart Johnson, KSL-TV)

"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 ten 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.

Contributing: Alex Cabrero

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Becky Bruce, KSLBecky Bruce
Alex Cabrero, KSLAlex Cabrero
Alex Cabrero has been reporting for KSL since 2004. Alex has covered seven Olympics for KSL; 2008 Beijing, 2012 London, 2014 Sochi, 2016 Rio de Janeiro, 2018 PyeongChang, 2020 Tokyo, and 2022 Beijing. You can watch him weekdays on KSL 5 News at 4 p.m., 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.

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