Angels

Angels are of course, an intriguing subject.  In the world at large, we often portray them as beings with large wings and halo's over their heads, as if they were quite a different species than us.  We speak of guardian angels that protect people.  We even make movies about them...as far back as the Christmas classic "It's a Wonderful Life."  What is an angel really?  Do we really have guardian angels?  Is all of this simply a figment of our individual or collective imaginations?  Perhaps some of the ideas we have about angels are a bit far-fetched, but angels truly are real beings with real interests in our lives.  As Elder Jeffrey R. Holland once taught:

"From the beginning down through the dispensations, God has used angels as His emissaries in conveying love and concern for His children...Usually such beings are not seen. Sometimes they are. But seen or unseen they are always near. Sometimes their assignments are very grand and have significance for the whole world. Sometimes the messages are more private. Occasionally the angelic purpose is to warn. But most often it is to comfort, to provide some form of merciful attention, guidance in difficult times. When in Lehi’s dream he found himself in a frightening place, “a dark and dreary waste,” as he described it, he was met by an angel, “a man … dressed in a white robe; … he spake unto me,” Lehi said, “and bade me follow him.” ⁷ Lehi did follow him to safety and ultimately to the path of salvation."

"In the course of life all of us spend time in “dark and dreary” places, wildernesses, circumstances of sorrow or fear or discouragement. Our present day is filled with global distress over financial crises, energy problems, terrorist attacks, and natural calamities...But I testify that angels are still sent to help us, even as they were sent to help Adam and Eve, to help the prophets, and indeed to help the Savior of the world Himself. Matthew records in his gospel that after Satan had tempted Christ in the wilderness “angels came and ministered unto him.” ⁸ Even the Son of God, a God Himself, had need for heavenly comfort during His sojourn in mortality. And so such ministrations will be to the righteous until the end of time." https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/10/the-ministry-of-angels?lang=eng

What are these angels?  Who are they?  Are they mortal or immortal?  Are they merely spirits or physical beings?  When do they come to us, if they do at all?  The Book of Mormon is replete with references to angels.  Elder Holland mentioned the angel that guided Lehi through a dark and dreary waste.  Nephi boldly taught that "Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ (2 Nephi 32:3)."  The prophet Moroni quoted his prophet-father Mormon regarding angels in Moroni 7 and explained that they do the work of the Father, and that they testify of Christ.  Elder Holland continued in his same address referenced earlier to discourse on angels:

"...when we speak of those who are instruments in the hand of God, we are reminded that not all angels are from the other side of the veil. Some of them we walk with and talk with—here, now, every day. Some of them reside in our own neighborhoods. Some of them gave birth to us, and in my case, one of them consented to marry me. Indeed heaven never seems closer than when we see the love of God manifested in the kindness and devotion of people so good and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mind."

Abraham Lincoln would agree with Elder Holland, as he once said, "all that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother."  We all owe much to our angel mothers.  I know I do.  My angel mother has been that for me, for our family, and for all those that she comes into contact with.  She has lifted and served in unbelievable ways.

If you have ever wanted to see angels in action, the week of Brooklyn's passing brought them out in numbers.  Two of them spoke at Brooklyn's funeral a couple of weeks ago.  My Mom and Layton stood up and taught powerfully of God's plan of salvation for His children.  They spoke by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is how angels teach/speak (2 Nephi 32:3). 

Other angels were in action as they brought food and words of comfort to my family.  One angel invited another angel to paint a picture of little Brooklyn being held by the Savior.





So many angels showed their love and kindness, demonstrating God's love through their kind actions.

Besides the mortal angels that bless our lives so frequently, President George Q. Cannon also taught that, “There is not one of us but what God’s love has been expended upon. There is not one of us that He has not cared for and caressed. There is not one of us that He has not desired to save, and that He has not devised means to save. There is not one of us that He has not given His angels charge concerning. We may be insignificant and contemptible in our own eyes, and in the eyes of others, but the truth remains that we are the children of God, and that He has actually given His angels—invisible beings of power and might—charge concerning us, and they watch over us and have us in their keeping.”

These angels include family members who have passed, as Elder Russel M. Nelson taught, "As a special witness of Jesus Christ, I testify that He lives! I also testify that the veil of death is very thin. I know by experiences too sacred to relate that those who have gone before are not strangers to leaders of this Church. To us and to you, our loved ones may be just as close as the next room—separated only by the doors of death."https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1992/04/doors-of-death?lang=eng

Elder Holland also taught that "When doubt or difficulty come, do not be afraid to ask for help. If we want it...humbly and honestly...we can get it. The scriptures phrase such earnest desire as being of “real intent,” pursued “with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God.” I testify that in response to that kind of importuning, God will send help from both sides of the veil to strengthen our belief."https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/lord-i-believe?lang=eng

The angelic help from the world of spirits includes family members:
"Brothers and sisters, one of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path—the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders, friends. All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel. Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are. Truly the Redeemer of us all said: “I will not leave you comfortless: [My Father and] I will come to you [and abide with you].”" https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/04/none-were-with-him?lang=eng

I share my fervent witness that these things are true, and echo Elder Bruce C. Hafen's words about angels and when they come.  After citing many examples, both ancient and modern, Elder Hafen writes the following:
"When do the angels come? If we seek to be worthy, they are near us when we need them most."

This is true.  Angels have been there to bear us up in the most difficult moments of our lives.  Our Heavenly Father's love is what brings these angels to our aid.  I am grateful to have felt the power of angels in my life, both mortal and immortal, and invite all of us to keep our spiritual senses aware so that we can recognize their presence more often.