The Ministry of Angels

 I love this scripture in Moroni 7:29-31 speaking of the ministry of angels

29 And because he hath done this, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men.

30 For behold, they are subject unto him, to minister according to the word of his command, showing themselves unto them of strong faith and a firm mind in every form of godliness.

31 And the office of their ministry is to call men unto repentance, and to fulfil and to do the work of the covenants of the Father, which he hath made unto the children of men, to prepare the way among the children of men, by declaring the word of Christ unto the chosen vessels of the Lord, that they may bear testimony of him.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained that the Book of Mormon reveals the reality of angels:
“I am convinced that one of the profound themes of the Book of Mormon is the role and prevalence and central participation of angels in the gospel story. …
“One of the things that will become more important in our lives the longer we live is the reality of angels, their work and their ministry. I refer here not alone to the angel Moroni but also to those more personal ministering angels who are with us and around us, empowered to help us and who do exactly that (see 3 Ne. 7:18; Moro. 7:29–32, 37; D&C 107:20). …
“I believe we need to speak of and believe in and bear testimony to the ministry of angels more than we sometimes do. They constitute one of God’s great methods of witnessing through the veil, and no document in all this world teaches that principle so clearly and so powerfully as does the Book of Mormon” (“For a Wise Purpose,” Ensign, Jan. 1996, 16–17).

Elder Bruce C. Hafen of the Seventy taught that angels still continue to minister to the children of man:
“The ministry of these unseen angels is among the most sublime forms of interaction between heaven and earth, powerfully expressing God’s concern for us and bestowing tangible assurance and spiritual sustenance upon those in great need. …
“When do the angels come? If we seek to be worthy, they are near us when we need them most” (“When Do the Angels Come?” Ensign, Apr. 1992, 12, 16).

In the Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith we learn that there are two types of angels; ministering spirits who are the spirits of just men made perfect. They are ministering servants who work in the spirit world but also have keys of power and knowledge to communicate to the Saints. They are ministering servants to those who have been sealed to eternal life and cant be viewed except with flaming fire and glory. (D&C 7:6-7, Heb 1:14) 

The second type of angels are those who have advanced higher in knowledge and power than the first and are translated or resurrected beings. They have flesh and bones and thus their light and glory are tabernacled.(TPJS, p 325-326, 162, 191)

In 2 Nephi 32 we learn that angels speak the words of Jesus Christ to us by the power of the Holy Ghost

2 Do ye not remember that I said unto you that after ye had received the Holy Ghost ye could speak with the tongue of angels? And now, how could ye speak with the tongue of angels save it were by the Holy Ghost? 

3 Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do. 

4 Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock; wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark.(2 Nephi 32:2-4)

     

Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained how the ministering of angels is also a part of the promises of the sacramental prayers:

 “These ordinances of the Aaronic Priesthood are also vital to the ministering of angels. …

 “… Angelic messages can be delivered by a voice or merely by thoughts or feelings communicated to the mind. …

“… Most angelic communications are felt or heard rather than seen. …

 “In general, the blessings of spiritual companionship and communication are available only to those who are clean. … Through the Aaronic Priesthood ordinances of baptism and the sacrament, we are cleansed of our sins and promised that if we keep our covenants we will always have His Spirit to be with us. I believe that promise not only refers to the Holy Ghost but also to the ministering of angels, for ‘angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ’ (2 Nephi 32:3). 

So it is that those who hold the Aaronic Priesthood open the door for all Church members who worthily partake of the sacrament to enjoy the companionship of the Spirit of the Lord __and the ministering of angels” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1998, 50–51; or Ensign, Nov. 1998, 38–39). Book of Mormon Institute Student Manual. The Sacrament and the Ministering of Angels (3 Nephi 18:6–7)

Jacob in the BoM testifies to the reality of angels in 7:5

“And he [Sherem]had hope to shake me from the faith, notwithstanding the many revelations and the many things which I had seen concerning these things; for I truly had seen angels, and they had ministered unto me. And also, I had heard the voice of the Lord speaking unto me in very word, from time to time; wherefore, I could not be shaken.”

Alma 32 Alma testifies that angels minister to men, women, and children;

23 And now, he imparteth his word by angels unto men, yea, not only men but women also. Now this is not all; little children do have words given unto them many times, which confound the wise and the learned.

The story of Elisha asking the Lord to open the eyes of his servant has always been a favourite of mine. They were surrounded by the King's soldiers, the servant was afraid but his eyes were opened and he saw concourses of angels and the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire (2 Kings 6:14-17)

Elder Faust, 1993

"If we are to hearken to the voice of the Spirit, we too must open our ears, turn the eye of faith to the source of the voice, and look steadfastly towards heaven. Be aware that there are invisible hosts watching over you even as they did Elisha of old." – James E. Faust | The Voice of the Spirit

In 2008 President Eyering testified;

"I know that the promise of angels to bear us up is real. Like that servant of Elisha, there are more with you than those you can see opposed to you. Some who are with you will be invisible to your mortal eyes." – Henry B. Eyring | O Ye That Embark

John Taylor once shared;

"God lives, and his eyes are over us, and his angels are round and about us, and they are more interested in us than we are in ourselves, ten thousand times, but we do not know it." – John Taylor | Journal of Discourses

In 2011 President Nelson reminded us;

“Remember, God’s holy angels are ever on call to help us. The Lord so declared: “I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.” What a promise! When we are faithful, He and His angels will help us.” (Face the Future with Faith)

Then in 2011 Pres Nelson said;

"And to each of you who has made temple covenants, I plead with you to seek—prayerfully and consistently—to understand temple covenants and ordinances. Spiritual doors will open. You will learn how to part the veil between heaven and earth, how to ask for God’s angels to attend you, and how better to receive direction from heaven. Your diligent efforts to do so will reinforce and strengthen your spiritual foundation". (The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation)

And in 2008 Elder Holland speaking of angels shared;

"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." – Jeffrey R. Holland | The Ministry of Angels

I have done as Elder Holland suggested in 2010 when he said, "Pray without ceasing. Ask for angels to help you."(Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul) and can testify of the comfort and guidance the Lord can give us through petitioning for our angels to help us.

President Joseph F. Smith declared: “When messengers are sent to minister to the inhabitants of this earth, they are not strangers, but from the ranks of our kindred [and] friends . . . . In like manner, our fathers and mothers, brothers, sisters, and friends who have passed away from this earth, having been faithful, and worthy to enjoy these rights and privileges, may have a mission given them to visit their relatives and friends upon the earth again, bringing from the divine presence messages of love, of warning, of reproof and instruction to those whom they had learned to love in the flesh.”

We are taught in the Doctrines of Salvation by Joseph Fielding Smith (1:128) that Jesus Christ holds the keys of resurrection and he was resurrected first. Joseph Fielding Smith explained that the first resurrection includes different time periods and events. The resurrection of the just are those with celestial bodies and shall inherit a celestial glory, these are they who are Christ's firstfruits and will be resurrected in the morning of this resurrection [or before the Millennium].

Book Of Mormon student manual chapter 20:

 I love that we learn in Moses 7:62 that before the millennium Zion is to be redeemed and angels and men are to be co-workers to establish this holy city.

“And righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten; his resurrection from the dead; yea, and also the resurrection of all men; and righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare, an Holy City, that my people may gird up their loins, and be looking forth for the time of my coming; for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem.”

“The Prophet Joseph Smith (1805–44) explained: “And now, I ask, how righteousness and truth are going to sweep the earth as with a flood? I will answer. Men and angels are to be co-workers in bringing to pass this great work, and Zion is to be prepared, even a new Jerusalem, for the elect that are to be gathered from the four quarters of the earth, and to be established an holy city” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 188–89; for

For this to happen our ancestors who are currently ministering servants will need to be resurrected. For those who have not yet had their temple work completed, I'm sure they are longing for that glorious blessing so they can participate as resurrected angels. I pray that we may qualify to participate with them in this great work so that a place will be prepared to receive our Saviour, our redeemer and King. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.