Sunday, June 8, 2014

Declare These Things Part 3: Angels: Temple

I grouped this thread into three parts. .

In the temple ceremony as originally performed, the man Adam and the woman Eve were promised they would receive, from time to time, true messengers. It is clear to those who participated that there were no mortal sources who could claim they were “true messengers.” The original ceremony universally depicted mortal men as false ministers. The only source of true messengers is God or angels sent by Him. The true messengers He sent came directly from God and delivered only His instruction. They were depicted as angels. Even so, any angel claiming to have such a message was not be accepted until they were first tested to determine they bore correct signs of truth and light (see D&C 129:4-8). We have scriptures that warn us Satan can transform himself to seem as an angel of light. (2 Cor. 11:14). It took Michael to come and detect the false angel of light that appeared to Joseph Smith. (JSH) The full meaning of that warning has been lost by almost everyone. False messengers always imitate the true ones, claiming to be what they are not. They seek, of course, to deceive the very elect if it is possible. (Matt 24:22-28). The temple ceremony confirmed angles were intended as God’s authorized means to minister to men, women and children. (Alma 32:23). The temple tells us to look for true messengers sent by Him, bearing signs and tokens, have hidden knowledge, who will inform us in the way of truth and light. As originally portrayed, these angelic ministers would become the exclusive conduit through which the Lord would give us guidance and instruction. Angels are sent to declare the conditions of repentance to you if you seek redemption. Then when you repent, you are brought to the presence of the Son. It is only through Christ, not men, that you obtain forgiveness of sin, and the promise of eternal glory. (Hel. 5:10-11)
Elder Bednar, "Patterns of Light" beginning at 2:40 , on the youtube video (Just search google for it).
"You may have an occasion where you fail to say your morning prayers, and you all of a sudden hear the voice of your mother, who when you were a small boy would say, 'say your morning prayers, remember to say your evening prayers'.  
Why would God send an Angel to deliver that message to you?, when the HG can bring back to you the recollection or remembrance of your angel mother reminding you to pray- the effect is the same. Everything that invites and entices to do good comes from God." 
 "Why would God send an Angel to deliver that message to you?" It seems out of place to me, like its forced. He could make the same point without minimizing the appearance of angels.
If you read the scriptures or the book of Mormon, the purpose of angels have nothing to do with reminding someone of anything. But what is the importance of angels? Why not teach us what their purpose is? If angels are important to our salvation why ignore their true purpose? I have learned from sad experience to not teach anything unless its first taught in the book of Mormon which can draw you closer to God than ANY other book. I try anyways.

There is a specific verse that gives us a different lesson than illustrated. I don't feel to comment on it but relate it here to ponder on.
For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray, ye would know that ye must pray; for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray. (2 Nephi 32:8, emphasis added)
Angels
Mormon's sermon on faith, included in Moroni 7, enters the topic of the ministry of angels (Moro. 7:22).  Angels were sent to minister "unto the children of men" to teach them about Christ.  This statement about angels ministering unto men is general, not limited to a small group of leaders.  All men and women may and should receive angels, or true messengers.  These messengers are sent from the presence of God to teach them how to "begin" to exercise faith in Christ (Moro. 7:25).  This is the beginning of revealed religion.

If faith ceases, than angels also cease. If there is faith, than angels are sent to minister to the children of Men. (Moroni 10:19, 24). While there is one man to be saved they will continue to minister. (Moroni 7:36)

To Minister to Heirs of Salvation
I have touched on how angels minister to those who will be heirs of salvation. Lets re-quote the lectures on faith.
4 It surely will not be required of us to prove, that this is the principle upon which all eternity has acted and will act; for every reflecting mind must know, that it is by reason of this power that all the hosts of heaven perform their works of wonder, majesty and glory: Angels move from place to place by virtue of this power--it is by reason of it that they are enabled to descend from heaven to earth; and were it not for the power of faith they never could be ministering spirits to them who should be heirs of salvation, neither could they act as heavenly messengers; for they would be destitute of the power necessary to enable them to do the will of God... 
...what is the difference between a saved man and one who is not saved? We answer from what we have before seen of the heavenly worlds, they must be persons who can work by faith, and who are able, by faith to be ministering spirits to them who shall be heirs of salvation. (Lecture 7)
See also Hebrews 1:14. If angels, or heavenly messengers, (another name for angels) are required to minister to those who will be heirs of salvation than can you be saved without having an angel minister to you? Will angels cease to minister if there is one man to be saved upon the earth?
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;(Moro. 7:36)
This is part of the "Doctrine of Christ".
Angels and Spirits
He explained a difference between an angel and a ministering spirit; the one a resurrected or translated body, with its spirit, ministering to embodied spirits-- the other a disembodied spirit, visiting and ministering to disembodied spirits. (Boap, October 3 1841,Sermon delivered at General Conference of the Church in Nauvoo, (Sunday Morning))
Alma on Faith,
23 And now, he imparteth his word by angels unto men, yea, not only men but women also. Now this is not all; little children do have words given unto them many times, which confound the wise and the learned. (Alma 32:23)

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