Angels Among Us

Helaman 5:48

I want to make a comment about angels – the kind who attended Nephi, Lehi and the 300 people who were in the prison.

Verse 48: And now, when they heard this (a still, small voice, see v47) they cast up their eyes as if to behold from whence the voice came; and behold, they saw the heavens open; and angels came down out of heaven and ministered unto them.”

I have a note in my scriptures that reads:  “There never has been a gospel dispensation without the ministering of angels.  A people who cannot claim the ministering of angels cannot claim an everlasting gospel .  .  .  Without the ministering of angels and other forms of revelations, our theology would be like a body without a spirit.”  (Robert L. Millet and Joseph Fielding McConkie.  The Life Beyond. P.71)  Joseph Smith explained that “there are no angels who minister to this earth but those who do belong or have belong to it” (D&C 130:5).  Thus Pres. Joseph F. Smith observed: “When messengers are sent to minister to the inhabitants of this earth, they are not strangers, but from the ranks of our kindred, friends, and fellow-beings and fellow-servants.  The ancient prophets who died were those who came to visit their fellow creatures upon the earth.  They came to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; it was such beings – holy beings if you please – who waited upon the Savior and administered to him on the Mount .  .  .  “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 a message of love, of warning, of reproof and instruction, to those whom they had learned to love in the flesh.” Gospel Doctrine, pp. 435-37 (Millet & McConkie BofM Commentary, Vol3, p360)

Have we any idea how powerful this is in our personal lives?  I want to share an experience I’ve had in the last month.  It is quite personal because I don’t like to admit that I might be getting older and that there may be pains associated with that age that I just can’t fix.  I have been dealing with an extremely painful hip that has been shooting electrical shocks down my legs when it would be at its worst.  It doesn’t get that bad often, but when it does, it definitely stops me in my tracks.  Such was the case one night after I’d been asleep for a few hours.  I could not get comfortable.  I tried every possible energy tool I know of, and nothing seemed to be working. I finally said a prayer – this one different than anything I’ve ever prayed before.  I told Heavenly Father I didn’t expect him to “fix” this problem.  That for some reason I knew I was going through this trial and would He help me deal with it?  I told Heavenly Father I really needed to get a good night’s rest as I had a busy day coming up and there would not be time to rest.  Then the thought to ask for an angel to help me came.  I asked if my Dad could just come and put his hands on my hip to calm the pain that was shooting down my leg so that I could sleep.  I closed my prayer and rolled over.  The next thing I knew it was morning.  What a powerful experience!  Can this “tool” be over-used?  I have no idea; but I will say this: when I feel the need to call on an angel, I won’t hesitate.  The previous paragraph from my scriptures makes it clear there are angels waiting to minister to us.  Was that not ministering?  I believe firmly that my Dad did just exactly what I asked Heavenly Father to have him do.  I didn’t feel his hands, but I felt the result of his hands and was able to have the pain subside enough that I could sleep.  This was a life-changing lesson.

I know angels surround us.  They are there for us.  I know this is a gift from our Heavenly Father, and I am so very grateful for this knowledge.