Ministering Angels

I had always understood that the “ministering of angels” to mean that the Aaronic Priesthood were blessed to see angles. Recently while studying the scriptures I learned what “ministering angels” really meant.

What is an angel?

In Hebrew and Greek angel means “messenger.” God has “sent angels to minister unto the children of men, to make manifest… the coming of Christ.” (Moroni 7:22) They bear Christ’s message, declaring his word and therefore building faith.

Ministering Angels are missionaries “minister[ing] unto all the scattered tribes of Israel…and they can show themselves unto whatsoever man it seemeth them good.” (3 Nephi 28:29, 30)

They are those who receive the Holy Ghost. “I said unto you that after ye had received the Holy ghost ye could speak with the tongue of angels?” and they “speak the words of Christ.”

Those that witness miracles (an indicator of the Lord’s help) are also ministering angels. “have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men.” Angels are “subject unto [Christ] to minister according to the word of his command, showing themselves unto them of strong faith and a firm mind in every form of godliness.”

Ministering angels are subject under Christ’s authority. They are those that are baptized and doing Christ’s work. Ministering Angels are those declaring His word and building faith in Christ. They are us!

When you are baptized you become an angel. The Lord will prompt you to help someone and you’ll see the hand of the Lord working through your kindnesses.

When we teach with the spirit those with the spirit will respond and recognize the angelic ministry and miracles and it will build their faith.

We, as members of the Church, are Ministering Angels. We gain strength by treasuring up His word so its power is within us. If we are prepared with this power we can teach the gospel the way angels do: by the power of the Holy Ghost.

see General conference talk, “What Every Aaronic Priesthood Holder Needs to Understand” by Douglas D Holmes, first counselor in the Young Men General Presidency