Angels - What More Can We Learn and Apply?
For Angels Discussion:
Cherubim - https://rsc.byu.edu/things-which-my-father-saw/strait-narrow-path-covenant-path-discipleship-leading-tree-life (Footnote 20 is interesting)
On December 19th, 2024, President Jeffrey Holland posted a brief message on his Instagram and Facebook accounts about "the attendance of angels."
President Jeffrey R. Holland . . . “I’m impressed with the continuing role and relationship of angels in the Nativity scene, and on through the Savior’s life. If I count right, there are at least 8 or 9 references to the angels attending the Savior’s birth and childhood, his Nativity scene, and immediately thereafter. And, there are, by my count, 10 examples through the rest of the Savior’s life where angels are visibly ministering. I have no way, nor do you have anyway, to count the invisible attendance of angels. But the Hebrew definition of angel is ministering spirit. Now, in the Church, we know that they can also be embodied spirits. But in any case they are ministers administering is a good current word in our activity in the church, male and female. So consider not only the immediate attendance of angels surrounding the baby, surrounding Joseph and Mary, the 8 or 9 times I mentioned.
Consider the other appearances of angels not the least of which was the angel, and this seems to be in a solo performance, the same angel every time. Directing and guiding Joseph to Mary, Mary in the first place, and you know that story on through the awakening of Joseph in the night to leave and go to Egypt and get out of the danger and what is called the slaughter of the innocents. Those reassurances are to me very heartening, and then the reference from the Savior, saying, “Verily, verily, Verily I say unto you the heavens open and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man. My point to you today is that it is not only on the Son of Man, It’s on us. We ought to believe in angels, we ought to believe in miracles. We ought to believe in the work on the other side of the veil. So many distractions in a telestial world here, the lives we live so busily, yet on the other side of the veil, they are not distracted. There are scores of angels, your families, your predecessors, and progenitors watching out to you, ministering to you, and providing angelic protection, care, and nurturing. Whether the sweet scene of the Nativity or the safety and direction of fleeing Egypt, coming back and going to Nazareth, or staying in Jerusalem. Please, this Christmas, believe in angels. And believe in them forever. Because they are working with us. Perhaps if we had more faith, more devotion, and a little more commitment, we would see the hand of angels more and more in our lives. They are there. Trust and believe in them. Invite them to be there. We shouldn’t be oblivious to the fact that God sends angels to direct our lives, to bless our lives, to care for our lives, not just at Christmas but always.”
Group Discussion
The printing of the Book of Mormon took seven months. It would have taken 17-18 months to print or produce the Book of Mormon. They had to have angelic help to get the project done in record time. Moroni probably right there helping.
The Holy Spirit guides and protects - angels physically do something
A vision of her mother holding her grandson, who was suffering - She specifically asks for her late mom’s help.
We need to be better at knowing the difference between the Holy Ghost and ministering angels
“My angels will surround” us - Hold onto the promise that the angels will bear us up
Story of the young guy stabbed in his home - woke up to see stripling warriors surrounding his hospital bed
When her girls are in trouble, she asks for her mother to help them
Wendy Watson Nelson says we need to ask specifically for the help of a deceased ancestor. Why? Can’t they see we need help?
When an acquaintance passed away suddenly, a friend needed consoling and was visited— “I don’t have time to keep visiting you.” This indicates there is much to do on the other side, and possibly permission is needed for them to help us.
When a spouse dies, some don’t ever have any visits or feelings or their presence at all. Some have the gift of recognizing spirits, while others don’t
20 years, her mom has been gone. She was to go to her 1st-grade nephew’s Christmas party, and she decided not to attend. She received a message in her mother’s voice, “You know where you need to be; he has been waiting for you,” so she went to his school party.
Makes sense that it’s your mom; you would listen to her more than possibly a nudge from the Holy Ghost
Nephew—needed to be someplace he didn’t want to be at. Called down the powers of heaven for every deceased ancestor to help. Nephew came into the building, and it appeared he wasn’t even touching the ground when he walked in. He was supported by grandparents, et al, and he didn’t know it.
Do we feel their presence more when we are doing something we did with them - a shared experience? Most likely. She feels peace when they are present, and something doesn’t last long - a personal plea or - no, she’s grown, too.
We see the bigger picture, but we are who we are in the next life
Some say those who passed on are as if they are in the next room—just doing different work and checking in when needed
Are we fearful of aliens? No, we know there is life outside Earth - invites her mom through her prayers - and requests that God send her for help
“Please tell my dad or my mom that I love him or her”
“The Strait and Narrow Path: The Covenant Path of Discipleship Leading to the Tree of Life” by Aaron P. Schade - Footnote 20: “The earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory” (Articles of Faith 1:10). Much could be said about the covenantal implications of the cherubim guarding the path leading back to the tree of life. This does factor into the visions of the tree of life in the Book of Mormon but cannot be discussed in this short paper. For a good discussion on the topic, see Parry, The Cherubim, 26–27, which describes the nature and relationship of the Garden of Eden, temples, and ritual in returning to partake of the tree of life: “The primary mission of the cherubim, together with the flaming sword, was to serve as guardians of the path that leads to the tree of life. . . . All three components—holding to the rod of iron, overcoming the world, and gestures of approach—are obligatory for those who wish to approach the tree of life and partake of its fruits. One may not choose one component and ignore the other two. . . . In sum, God established safeguards to protect the path to his tree of life. Primarily these are the cherubim and the flaming, revolving sword. When one attempts to travel the path without authorization, he or she will be cut down by the sword and/or burned by the sword’s flame. To obtain proper authorization to travel the path, one must hold to the rod of iron, or grasp the word of God, overcome the world, and so live to become one who is allowed entry into the sacred temple of the Lord.” Subsequently, “it has been suggested by numerous Latter-day Saint scholars that the Garden of Eden was the first temple, inasmuch as it was there that God first revealed himself to man. In addition to this similarity, the Garden of Eden may have possessed a number of other features similar to later temples, thus serving as the great archetype of the House of the Lord.” Cobin T. Volluz, “Lehi’s Dream of the Tree of Life: Springboard to Prophecy,” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 2, no. 2 (1993): 14–38. The earthly temple has also been linked to replicating the Garden of Eden, an archetype of the earthly temple, thus providing a “linkage between the garden in Genesis 2–3 and the spiritual experience of the Temple.” T. Stordalen, Echoes of Eden, 309. See also Draper, Opening the Seven Seals, 241, for a discussion on Revelation 22 and the celestial city, where the throne of God is found, designated as the new Eden and in whose midst the tree of life stands.
In Opening the Seven Seals, Richard D. Draper writes: “Note that the tree stands alone. It has no competition. The tree of good and evil has ceased to exist because the inhabitants of the city, knowing good from evil, have spurned all evil and eternally choose the good. In consequence the cherubim, placed to guard the tree of life, have been removed, allowing God’s people to eat freely of the fruit. . .
Jesus was attended by an angel - Michael
Moroni’s role in the - was it his assignment - yes
Book of Mormon printing - angels were working to help make it happen
The meteor shower after Parley Pratt preached — heavens were communicating about our Savior - Suddenly, at about 10 p.m., the heavens exploded as thousands of meteors shot across the night sky. Parley P. Pratt wrote: “…to our great astonishment all the firmament seemed enveloped in splendid fireworks, as if every star in the broad expanse had been hurled from its course, and sent lawless through the wilds of ether. Thousands of bright meteors were shooting through space in every direction, with long trains of light following in their course. This lasted for several hours, and was only closed by the dawn of the rising sun. Every heart was filled with joy at this majestic display of signs and wonders, showing the near approach of the coming of the Son of God.” Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, 103.
Guardian or ministering angels - we are tapping into this topic as a church more than we used to - we are learning to incorporate angels into our topics and lives -
President Holland and Wendy Watson Nelson really brought angels to the forefront
Clarus and language - Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are constant. The Holy Ghost is strong at times—but isn’t he always there?
It’s us; we are the problem if the Holy Ghost isn’t present. We check out.
The Spirit doesn’t withdraw; we do, or we check out.
Haven’t relied on angels as much as I could — it is a privilege that we need to access more often
Ninefold of the Celestial Hierarchy:
Principalities Definition - Oxford Dictionary
“(in traditional Christian angelology) the fifth-highest order of the ninefold celestial hierarchy.” Oxford Reference. https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100346109
Three divisions of angelic beings (each comprising three orders) in the ninefold celestial system described in a 4th-century work formerly attributed to Dionysius the Areopagite
Highest orders: Seraphim · Cherubim · Thrones · Middle orders. Dominions · Virtues · Powers · Lowest orders. Principalities · Archangels · Angels.
Seraphim
Doctrine & Covenants 38:1 Thus saith the Lord your God, even Jesus Christ, the Great I Am, Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the same which looked upon the wide expanse of eternity, and all the seraphic hosts of heaven, before the world was made;
Book of Mormon - 2 Nephi 16:2 and 6
Bible Dictionary: Seraphim in Isaiah
Probably fiery beings. Angelic beings mentioned in the account of Isaiah’s vision (Isa. 6:2). They are represented as winged and partly human in form. They are attendants in Jehovah’s court, the ministers of the heavenly sanctuary, joining in adoration before the throne.
Figures representing heavenly creatures, the exact form being unknown. They are found in the Holy of Holies, on the Mercy Seat of the Ark (Ex. 25:18, 22; 1 Kgs. 6:23–28; Heb. 9:5), and in the visions of Ezekiel (Ezek. 10; 11:22). In the account of the Fall, cherubim are represented as keeping “the way of the tree of life” (Gen. 3:24).
Principalities
According to The Etymologies of Isidore of Seville, the Principalities (Latin: principatus), also translated as "Princedoms" and "Rulers", from the Greek archai, pl. of archē (see Greek root in Eph 3:10), are the angels that guide and protect nations, or groups of peoples, and institutions such as the Church. The Principalities preside over the bands of angels and charge them with fulfilling the divine ministry.
Study Helps - Topical Guide: Principality
your principalities shall come down, Jer. 13:18.
nor principalities, nor powers, Rom. 8:38.
Far above all principality, and power, Eph. 1:21.
now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known … the manifold wisdom of God, Eph. 3:10.
not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, Eph. 6:12.
principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, Col. 1:16.
head of all principality and power, Col. 2:10.
having spoiled principalities and powers, Col. 2:15.
Put them in mind to be subject to principalities, Titus 3:1.
principalities and powers, shall be revealed, D&C 121:29.
principalities … not by me … shall be thrown down, D&C 132:13.
shall inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, D&C 132:19.
Jesus certainly participated in the creation of all created things—but He worked with preexisting chaotic materials. The angelic ranks of "thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers" were also created by Christ, for these beings did not assume their angelic status or form without divine creative power, even though some aspect of their "intelligence" pre-dated God's creative acts in their behalf.
Angels are of various types and perform a variety of functions to implement the work of the Lord on earth. They exist as a part of the whole family in heaven. All people, including angels, are the offspring of God. There are several types and kinds of beings, in various stages of progression, whom the Lord has used as angels in varying circumstances.
Same site, Jerry C. Giles:
Dionysius, who purports the existence of nine angelic orders called choirs, one of which is called archangels. In the literature of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, an archangel is a chief angel, holding a position of priesthood authority in the heavenly hierarchy. Discussion of specific positions or functions in the celestial hierarchy beyond the scriptures cited above is conjectural.
Angels in Encyclopedia of Mormonism by Oscar W. McConkie.
https://archive.bookofmormoncentral.org/node/534
An angelic government within the Kingdom of Heaven?
Doctrine and Covenants 132:19
“and shall inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths” - possibly an order of angels