Helaman 5 – Pray for Angels to Attend

Nephi and Lehi decide it is time to preach the word to the people because nothing else seemed to be working.  The people had become corrupted (v2).  They remembered the words of their father, Helaman.  He gave them counsel that is good for us today:

• Keep the commandments of God
• Declare the gospel (aka bear testimony often)
• Remember your names (For us, it is Christians)
• Remember the teachings of Christ and His goodness
• Do good works as did Jesus
• Do not boast
• Remember – Christ is the only way to be saved
• Remember Christ came to redeem the world

Nephi and Lehi had tremendous success among the Lamanites and baptized eight thousand people.  This is huge!  You would think that’s enough to protect them from being put in prison, but apparently the Lord wanted to put an exclamation point on their success.  They went into the land of Nephi and were taken by an army of the Lamanites and cast into prison (v21).  I have a note in my scriptures that what happens next is a temple experience. 

They were encircled about as if by fire yet they were not consumed (v23).  When they noticed this, their hearts gained courage for they saw that the Lamanites were powerless to harm them.  In this state, they bore testimony to the power that was protecting them and showing them as well that they were powerless to harm them.  If this wasn’t enough, those who were dissenters were overshadowed by darkness and an “awful solemn fear came upon them”.  Was it fear that created the darkness?  We’ve been told faith and fear cannot coexist.  Yet, because of their evil doings, fear could be all they would have at this point.

And now for the climax!  They heard a voice above the darkness telling them to repent.  The voice told them things that “cannot be uttered by man”.  What did it say?  It’s hard not to speculate.  In spite of the darkness, one Nephite who was a dissenter saw the faces of Nephi and Lehi shown like angels.  The Lamanites asked what they could do to have the darkness that was overshadowing them disperse.  (When we are in a state of darkness, do we usually have the presence of mind to ask someone what we can do to have the darkness removed?  Not usually.)  The dissenter Nephite said: “You must repent, and cry unto the voice, even until ye shall have faith in Christ, who was taught unto you by Alma, and Amulek, and Zeezrom; and when ye shall do this, the cloud of darkness shall be removed from overshadowing you (v41).  This is wise counsel to anyone who feels their life has become dark and not much to live for.   The people did as the dissenter Nephite told them, and the darkness dispersed!

Then a real tender mercy unfolds.  The heavens opened and angels came and ministered to them (v48).  I have a sticky note in my scriptures that gives me hope that my children could be taught by angels – perhaps their grandpa.  It is from Gospel Doctrine, pp. 435-37 Millet & McConkie BOM Commentary Vol. 3, p. 360:  They say “there are no angels who minister to this earth but those who do belong or have belonged to it” (D&C 130:5).  “In like manner (speaking of this experience) our fathers and mothers, brothers, sisters and friends who have passed away from the 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 message of love, of warning, of reproof and instruction, to those whom they had learned to love in the flesh.” 

I love this teaching, which makes me wonder if it would be appropriate for my dad (their grandpa) to minister to them.  Certainly it couldn’t hurt.  That said, when I am in distress or need of any kind, it would be appropriate to pray for angels to attend me.