For Such a Time as This: How Angels Shape History
By Anne Hinton Pratt · February 8, 2021
Since
the beginning of human history angels have been an integral part in keeping the
spiritual ball rolling on this planet.[1] If we may be wondering where
God is and what He is doing at this point in time, just look at what he
has ALREADY done, knowing He can do it again! He sends angels to shield
from fiery furnace,[2] shut lions’ mouths,[3] miraculously rescue from prison[4] and SAVE nations. Let’s explore some
of these remarkable intercessions and then look forward to what’s coming next…
Angels Saving and Nurturing Israel
Did You Know that an angel appeared to Gideon
and performed a miracle for him convincing him that he was the one
chosen to smite the Midianites and SAVE ISRAEL?[5] OR that an angel appeared to
Samson’s barren mother, telling her that she would bear a son that would
DELIVER ISRAELfrom the Philistines.[6]
Did You know, because of all the
excruciating trials that Paul went through, God sent Abel (son of Adam) as
an angel of comfort? Joseph Smith writes that Abel had “become
an angel of God…and was sent down from heaven unto Paul to minister consoling
words, and to commit unto him a knowledge of the mysteries of godliness.” [7]
Did You Know that King Benjamin’s’ address was not in
his own words, but the entire sermon was brought to him by an angel, so
that the people could be taught about Christ and filled with joy?[8]
God
sends angels to move His divine agenda forward. He dispatches them to
save, inform and sustain His people “Israel.” President Nelson has taught
us that whoever lets God Prevail and is willing to let God be the most
important influence in his life, is of Israel. [9] Many historical figures fit into this
category.
Columbus
Columbus
was divinely led by the Holy Spirit and angels. In a speech delivered on
July 4, 1854, in the Salt Lake Tabernacle, Elder Orson Hyde, an apostle talked
about an angel that helped Columbus. He said,
“This…
angel was with Columbus, and gave him deep impressions, by dreams and by
visions, respecting this New World. Trammeled by poverty and by an
unpopular cause, yet his persevering and unyielding heart would not allow an
obstacle in his way too great for him to overcome; and the angel of God
helped him,-was with him on the stormy deep, calmed the troubled elements, and
guided his frail vessel to the desired haven.”[10] Columbus was “of Israel.”
Joan of Arc
One of
my favorite people in history was Joan of Arc. She was a 13-year-old
uneducated and illiterate peasant girl in the 1400’s who began seeing
and hearing angels who told her that it was her destiny to save France, which
was then occupied by England.
In a
series of amazing events, with continual angelic help, she became General of
the armies of France at age 17 and then led them into several important
victories.
She was
captured by the English when she was 18, and had to endure a dank prison alone
in chains, all the while suffering through a brutal sham trial for nearly a
year. In the trial she was questioned and verbally assaulted by 62 judges
and not allowed any witnesses of her own. She was accused of heresy and
being a Witch, but during the entire trial, she gave brilliant and inspiring
answers to all of the questions given her. Her angels often told
her what to say to her captors. Here is some of the informative
dialogue as her captors asked her about her angels.
“Whose
was the first Voice that came to you when you were thirteen years old?”
“It
was the Voice of St. Michael. I saw him before my eyes; and he was not
alone, but attended by a cloud of angels.” [11]
In
another setting her accusers asked her,
“Did
the Voice seek you often?”
“Yes,
Twice or three times a week, saying, ‘Leave your village and go to France”…
“What
else did it say?”
“That I
should raise the siege of Orleans.”
“Was
that all?”
“No, I
was to go to Vaucouleurs, and Robert de Baudricourt would give me soldiers to
go with me to France; and I answered, saying that I was a poor girl who did not
know how to ride, neither how to fight.” [12]
With
the help of her angels this very young woman with NO military skills was raised
up to eventually SAVE her nation.
In the
end she was found guilty through trickery by the leaders of the church and
burned at the stake, but until the very end, she held fast to her
testimony of Christ, and the angels who ministered to her. Joan of Arc strengthened
the faith of Millions.
Joan
was “of Israel.”
George Washington
George
Washington had angels help him as he led his soldiers in the Revolutionary
war. He allegedly had a profound and poignant vision where an angel
continually told him to “Look and learn.” President Washington then sees three
great trials come to America, after which he said,
“…The
scene instantly began to fade and dissolve, and I at last saw nothing but the
rising, curling vapor I at first beheld. This also disappearing, I found myself
once more gazing upon the mysterious visitor, who, in the same voice I had
heard before, said, ‘Son of the Republic, what you have seen is thus
interpreted: Three great perils will come upon the Republic. The most fearful
is the third, passing which the whole world united shall not prevail against
her. Let every child of the Republic learn to live for his God, his land, and
the Union.’ With these words the vision vanished, and I started from my seat,
and felt that I had seen a vision wherein had been shown me the birth,
progress, and destiny of the United States.”[13]
Elder
Orson Hyde stood at the pulpit in the Tabernacle and boldly declared that
George Washington had angelic help. He specifically referred to the angel
Moroni in the camp of Washington. He stated:
“It was
by the agency of that same angel of God that appeared unto Joseph Smith, and
revealed to him the history of the early inhabitants of this country, whose
mounds, bones, and remains of towns, cities, and fortifications speak from the
dust in the ears of the living with the voice of undeniable truth. This same
angel presides over the destinies of America, and feels a lively interest in
all our doings. He was in the camp of Washington; and, by an invisible hand,
led on our fathers to conquest and victory; and all this to open and prepare
the way for the Church and kingdom of God to be established on the western
hemisphere, for the redemption of Israel and the salvation of the world . . . “[14]
President
Washington was chosen to SAVE the republic with the aid of angels. He was
“of Israel.”
Joseph Smith was Tutored by Many angels.
In a
virtual 2020 Mission Leadership Seminar on June 26, President Russell M. Nelson
spoke about the Prophet Joseph’s many experiences with angels. Did
you know that after the first vision, Joseph saw the Father or the Son
eight additional times? Four of these occasions were of the Father and the Son
together and four times with Christ alone.[15]
Did you know that the angel Moroni came to Joseph
Smith at least 20 times in the 1820s? President Nelson said that Joseph was
“visited by 60 angels during his lifetime,” Some of these angels included John
the Baptist, Peter, James, and John, and Moses, Elias, and Elijah.”[16]
These
angels were all important in advancing the Kingdom of God with illuminating
knowledge of restored doctrines, ordinances and sealing powers. They came
so the whole earth would not be utterly wasted at His coming.[17] They came with SAVING knowledge and
authority.
Pioneer Angels
Elder
James E. Faust shared a story in a conference address about one of the Martin
and Willie handcart companies, who were trapped by early snows as they crossed
the plains. Their very lives were SAVED or aided by angels. Elder
Faust relays one pioneer’s story:
“I have
pulled my handcart when I was so weak and weary from illness and lack of food
that I could hardly put one foot ahead of the other. I have gone on [to
some point I thought I could never reach, only to feel that] the cart
began pushing me. I have looked back many times to see who was
pushing my cart, but my eyes saw no one. I knew then that the
angels of God were there.” [18]
Israel
claimed it’s own that day.
Angels Powerfully Shape Contemporary History
Recently
Rhonda Hair told me of a fascinating experience she had seeing angels intervene
in a very important issue. She was at a committee hearing at the Utah
state capitol building during a legislative session. The bill being voted
on was a very controversial one that effected the moral education of Utah
children. For some wonderful reason, her mind was spiritually opened up
to be able to see angels there. She says,
“The
heavenly armies were there in force; I could see them filling the whole front
of the room up where the committee members sat, and extending far beyond the
walls. But there was another presence there too; it was dark, cold, and
more than empty– it felt as if it was a vacuum. The area with that dark feeling
began on the far right side of the chamber where a few of the committee members
sat, and extended into the audience, where the proponents of the bill sat.”
Rhonda
observed that the three legislators who were sitting in the ‘dark’ area voted
in favor of this corrupt bill, while those in the light area voted against it.
Happily, on that day the “Israel” prevailed![19]
Wonderful Things are Coming!
Because
God has sent so many angels to help throughout history, OF COURSE, He will
continue to send many more to help His precious Israel. The good news is, WE
ARE “Israel!” If we are truly willing to let God Prevail, we can expect angelic
intervention in our lives! He knows how to rescue, enlighten, and
console us because He’s done it before.
So,
remember and contemplate on what God has already done, and know that He will do
equal or surpassingly great things in OUR futures.
You can CONTACT Anne at annehpratt@hotmail.com
[1] Alma 12:28-29 “And after God had
appointed that these things should come unto man, behold, then he saw that it
was expedient that man should know concerning the things whereof he had
appointed unto them;
Therefore he sent angels to converse with them, who caused men
to behold of his glory.” Italics added.
[2] Daniel 3:23-28.
[3] Daniel 6:16-23.
[4] Acts:4-11.
[5] Judges 6:11-22.
[6] Judges 13:3-5 3 “And the angel of the
Lord appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren,
and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son… and he shall begin to
deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.”
[7] Teachings of the Prophet Joseph
Smith, p. 169. See also Donald Parry, Angels: Agents of Light, Love and
Power, p. 132.
[8] Mosiah 3:2-3, Mos 4:1
[9] Russell M. Nelson, “Let God Prevail,”
October Conference 2020.
[10] Journal of Discourses, 6,p.368.
Italics added.
[11] Mark Twain, Joan of Arc. P. 343.
[12] Mark Twain, Joan of Arc. P. 333-334.
[13]http://webserver.sms.org/intranet/web_smsp/mdl-indx/vision.htm https://www.beliefnet.com/inspiration/angels/2003/02/george-washington-and-the-angel.aspx
[14] Journal of Discourses, 6:368.
[15] https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2020-06-27/president-nelson-mission-leadership-seminar-joseph-smith-187832
[16] https://www.ldsliving.com/President-Nelson-Joseph-Smith-s-divine-tutoring-from-dozens-of-ancient-prophets-and-angels/s/93065
[17] Doctrine and Covenants 2:3; Joseph
Smith History 1:39.
[18] Ensign, James E. Faust, “The
Refiners Fire, ”May 1979, p. 53.
[19] Rhonda Hair, Personal interview and
correspondence. Used with permission.
https://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/english/pdf/scriptures/scripture-comparison_eng.pdf
