I have been pondering and researching the ministering of angels for quite some time now.
I have had numerous dreams about them which includes my step-father whom I'm sealed to.
I know Heavenly Father is sending me a message and when I look to our leaders I hear and see the exact same message, that's how I know for sure it's real. The message is be prepared to receive ministering angels.
In May 2024 I chose to teach a Relief Society lesson sharing the doctrine and principles I have learnt. The sisters were most engaged and also keen to learn of this topic, they mentioned they had never had a lesson about this before. I thought, considering what our leaders are saying, that it was time.
In April 2024 Pres Nelson stated:
“Priesthood keys restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith make it possible for every covenant-keeping man and woman to enjoy incredible personal spiritual privileges. Here again, there is much we can learn from the sacred history of the Kirtland Temple.
This list of attributes(D&C 109) is much more than a description of a temple. It is a promise about what will happen to those who serve and worship in the house of the Lord. They can expect to receive answers to prayer, personal revelation, greater faith, strength, comfort, increased knowledge, and increased power.
Time in the temple will help you to think celestial and to catch a vision of who you really are, who you can become, and the kind of life you can have forever. Regular temple worship will enhance the way you see yourself and how you fit into God’s magnificent plan. I promise you that.
We are also promised that in the temple we may “receive a fulness of the Holy Ghost.” Imagine what that promise means in terms of having the heavens open for each earnest seeker of eternal truth. (If you don't know what the fullness of the Holy Ghost is, I invite you to research it. There is a definite connection between that blessing and ministering angels. PS look in chapter 43: Doctrine and Covenants 109:15 student manual)
We are instructed that all who worship in the temple will have the power of God and angels having “charge over them.”
This is the third time Pres Nelson has used this scripture in General Conference since becoming President, the other times was in 2019 speaking directly to the Sisters;
Pres Nelson Spiritual Treasures 2019
"And Satan certainly does not want you to understand that every time you worthily serve and worship in the temple, you leave armed with God’s power and with His angels having “charge over” you." (D&C 109:22)
And
In 2021 President Nelson taught that, “The temple lies at the center of strengthening our faith and spiritual fortitude because the Savior and His doctrine are the very heart of the temple.”
“… as we keep our covenants, He endows us with His healing, strengthening power (see Doctrine and Covenants 109:15, 22). And oh, how we will need His power in the days ahead.” (President Nelson, The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation. 2021)
Pres Holland, April 2024; “We need to believe in angels and miracles and the promises of the holy priesthood.” (Motions of a Hidden Fire, April 2024)
Moroni 7:29-39
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.
32 And by so doing, the Lord God prepareth the way that the residue of men may have faith in Christ, that the Holy Ghost may have place in their hearts, according to the power thereof; and after this manner bringeth to pass the Father, the covenants which he hath made unto the children of men.
33 And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me.
34 And he hath said: Repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, and have faith in me, that ye may be saved.
35 And now, my beloved brethren, if this be the case that these things are true which I have spoken unto you, and God will show unto you, with power and great glory at the last day, that they are true, and if they are true has the day of miracles ceased?
36 Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved?
37 Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain.
38 For no man can be saved, according to the words of Christ, save they shall have faith in his name; wherefore, if these things have ceased, then has faith ceased also; and awful is the state of man, for they are as though there had been no redemption made.
39 But behold, my beloved brethren, I judge better things of you, for I judge that ye have faith in Christ because of your meekness; for if ye have not faith in him then ye are not fit to be numbered among the people of his church.
Elder Shayne Bowan of the Seventy, April 2024; “Many today say that miracles no longer exist, that angels are fictional, and that the heavens are closed. I testify that miracles have not ceased, angels are among us, and the heavens are truly open.”
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren [and sisters], have miracles ceased because Christ hath ascended into heaven? … “… Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men.” Moroni 7:27, 29
“The Lord revealed this truth to His servants: “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.D&C 84:88 I witness that miracles have not ceased, angels are among us, and the heavens are open. And oh, how open they are!” (Miracles, Angels and Priesthood Power, April 2024)
Back to Pres Nelson’s April 2024 talk “Understanding the spiritual privileges made possible in the temple is vital to each of us today.”
Then he asked these questions for us to consider;
How much does it increase your confidence to know that, as an endowed woman or man armed with the power of God, you do not have to face life alone? What courage does it give you to know that angels really will help you?
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.”
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).
Elder Boyd K. Packer "If you will keep your body in a worthy, receptive circumstance, you will be prompted, even have angels attend you." – (The Instrument of Your Mind and the Foundation of Your Character, 2003)
How do angels minister to us?
2 Nephi 32:3
"Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, (meaning therefore if you want to hear the words of angels) 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."
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)
How do they qualify to be ministering angels?
They are just men made perfect
In D&C 76:50-70 we learn about the resurrection of the just, just men made perfect are those who qualify for exaltation.They have received the new and everlasting covenant which is their temple work.
D&C 129 teaches there are three grand keys by which the correct nature of ministering angels and spirits may be distinguished.
Ask him to shake your hand:
If he is resurrected being he will shake your hand
If he is a ministering spirit he will ignore your hand and give his message
If he is a deceiving spirit he will go to shake your hand and you will not feel it
How do we qualify to have angels minister to us?
We need to rend the veil of unbelief!
In the Lectures on faith we read faith is maintained by these three principles:
God cannot lie
God never changes
God is no respecter of persons
There is a pattern maintained in the scriptures where participants are invited to remember past Prophets and the miracles rendered.
To rend the veil of unbelief is to know the covenants that God has made to us(through the Prophets) and believe they will come to pass.
Ether 4:13-15
13 Come unto me, O ye Gentiles, and I will show unto you the greater things, the knowledge which is hid up because of unbelief.
14 Come unto me, O ye house of Israel, and it shall be made manifest unto you how great things the Father hath laid up for you, from the foundation of the world; and it hath not come unto you, because of unbelief.
15 Behold, when ye shall rend that veil of unbelief which doth cause you to remain in your awful state of wickedness, and hardness of heart, and blindness of mind, then shall the great and marvelous things which have been hid up from the foundation of the world from you—yea, when ye shall call upon the Father in my name, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then shall ye know that the Father hath remembered the covenant which he made unto your fathers, O house of Israel.
Who are THE fathers the Lord made promises to? (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob)
JSH 1:39 He shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers. If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming.
Notice THE fathers are different to THEIR fathers
What are the promises made to the fathers?
Pres Nelson "We as children of the covenant are highly favored. In our hearts have been planted the promises made to Fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Lord has said: “Ye are lawful heirs, according to the flesh, and have been hid from the world with Christ in God. … “Therefore, blessed are ye if ye continue in my goodness, a light unto the Gentiles, and through this priesthood, a savior unto my people Israel.” This life is the time to prepare for salvation and exaltation. In God’s eternal plan, salvation is an individual matter; exaltation is a family matter." (Salvation and Exaltation, April 2007)
A Saviour unto my people Israel = a Saviour on Mount Zion
One of the promises is that through us(Ephraim) we shall be like a Saviour unto the Lord's people, we are Saviours as we do their temple work.
As we do their temple work we are also enabling our ancestors to qualify to become angels so they can help us in return. We help them and they help us.
Pres Holland: “We need to believe in angels and miracles and the promises of the holy priesthood. We need to believe in the gift of the Holy Ghost, the influence of good families and friends, and the power of the pure love of Christ. We need to believe in revelation and prophets, seers, and revelators and President Russell M. Nelson. We need to believe that with prayer and pleading and personal righteousness, we really can ascend to “Mount Zion, … the city of the living God, the heavenly place, the holiest of all.” (Motions of a Hidden Fire, 2024)
What more can we learn of these promises made to covenant Israel?
Pres Nelson: “As you study your scriptures during the next six months, I encourage you to make a list of all that the Lord has promised He will do for covenant Israel[Jacob]. I think you will be astounded! Ponder these promises. Talk about them with your family and friends. Then live and watch for these promises to be fulfilled in your own life.” (Let God Prevail, Oct 2020)
3 Nephi 20:22 And behold, this people will I establish in this land, unto the fulfilling of the covenant which I made with your father Jacob; and it shall be a New Jerusalem. And the powers of heaven shall be in the midst of this people; yea, even I will be in the midst of you.
Article of Faith 10: We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
Moses 7:62 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.
Institute manual: Moses 7:62. “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 more on the latter-day Zion [the New Jerusalem], see 3 Nephi 20:22; 21:20–25; Ether 13:2–8; D&C 45:65–71; 57:1–3)
Pres Nelson: “Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again. We will see miraculous indications that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, preside over this Church in majesty and glory.” (Revelation for the Church, 2018)
I know as we do our temple work we will receive strength and power and qualify for angels to minister to us and help us prepare for the Second Coming. As we do our temple work angels(our ancestors) can qualify and men and angels can be co-workers in the literal gathering and establishment of Zion the New Jerusalem which happens in the lead up to the Second Coming. We both need to qualify to participate, we qualify through obedience, knowledge and commitment to our temple covenants. I know of the reality of angels and the ever increasing need to to believe in them, especially to help us in the lead up to the Second Coming, I invite you to believe the same and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment