Angels

From class by Laurel Lawrence

There are two types of angels:

1.     Ministering spirits, who are people who know and love us. They are not clothed in a body - they are either not yet born or deceased. 

a.      In the Pearl of Great Price, an angel talked to Adam. That angel had not yet been born.

b.     Moses 5 says the Gospel will be declared by holy angels not yet born.

c.      Deceased – Angel Gabriel (Noah) appeared to Mary and Zacharias.

d.     Joseph Smith appeared to Brigham Young

2.     Resurrected beings can appear in glory or can hide their glory.

a.       On the road to Emmaus, Christ hid his glory

b.      Moroni appeared glowing to Joseph Smith.

Be not afraid to entertain strangers because they may be angels.

Ministering spirits have no body; they are just light, but don’t have as much light – D&C 129

Michael (Adam) is the head angel or archangel. There has to be a leader, same as Elder Nelson is the head of the Quorum of the Twelve. Cherubim & Seraphim are ranks of angels.

Does everyone have a guardian angel? No, but when we need them they are sent.

Joseph F Smith was orphaned at 14.  Mary Fielding & Martha saw their deceased parents riding horses. Their heads were veiled to hide their glow.

It is a gift of the spirit to be able to see angels & ministering spirits – Moroni 10:14. We can receive the spiritual gift if we seek it.

Angels have special assignments to watch over children.

They watch over our children while we are at the temple.

We should keep our house clean so angels can visit. They will not go in unclean places.

David Whitmer wanted to take in Joseph Smith but had to finish his harvest work first. During the night the work got finished so he could leave 3 days sooner.

Martin Handcart company said sometimes they could feel angels pushing their carts.

Harold B Lee was in a plane and felt someone put hands on his head. When he landed they found he had suffered a brain hemorrhage, but was saved because of the blessing.

When Pat Holland (from book “On Earth As it is in Heaven”, was a child when her parents were called to serve in the temple. She had to care for her siblings. They were promised that “angels would come”. The grandmother came by once and as she was leaving, she ran over the baby, panicked and pulled back forward, running over her the 2^nd time. The baby was rushed (2 hours) to the hospital and lived. She remembered feeling the car being lifted off her.

When Lawrences were in Russia, she had a deep desire to study the history of the people. She looked and looked for a book in English of their history but couldn’t find one anywhere. One day, when Larry left she was home alone. She made sure all the doors were locked. They lived on the 7^th floor. She went to bed and in the morning found a book on the table, Concise history of Russia, in English.

When we take the Sacrament worthily, we are promised the right to the ministering of angels. The Aaronic Priesthood holds the keys to the ministering of angels.

Oaks said by patient covenant keeping, answers are revealed.