Karl Quilter: Mormon Artist

Karl Quilter was a sculptor who created the angel Moroni statue that adorns the top of many Latter-day Saint temples. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In 1978 the Church commissioned Quilter to fashion a new angel Moroni statue. Together Quilter and LaVar Wallgren developed a process of casting fiberglass that made it possible to create lightweight statues less expensively. Quilter and Wallgren constructed two original molds, one for a 10-foot statue and the other for a 7-foot statue. The resulting statues weighed about 350 pounds. Their designs for the Moroni statue allowed for size variation to accommodate the different temple sizes.

Quilter also crafted many of the oxen featured in the temple baptismal fonts, the memorial for the Daughters of Utah Pioneers near the Utah State Capitol, and the life-size nativity scenes displayed on many Latter-day Saint temple grounds during the Christmas season.

He continued to sculpt until he died unexpectedly on November 27, 2013. He was 84. Quilter was devoted to his wife, eight children, and more than 80 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Quilter studied sculpture and industrial design at the University of Utah, where he was mentored by Avard Fairbanks. Quilter experimented with casting sculptures in fiberglass, rather than traditionally used bronze or other metals. His use of fiberglass on the Moroni statues made them easier to transport and mount.

In addition to his work for the Church of Jesus Christ, he also worked as a seminary teacher and temple worker.