A Two-Way Street: How “Temple Angels”
Can Help Us
Temples
are associated with angels. It’s one of their defining characteristics. Those
who attend the temple often feel angels and some even see them. They are
allowed to help us in many ways. Are we aware of the privileges that can be
ours as we do this great work?
Angels Can Have Charge Over Us
In
the Doctrine and Covenants, the
Lord has described some of the blessings that come to those who attend the
temple and live worthy of the covenants made there. In the Kirtland temple
dedicatory prayer, it says: “And we ask thee, Holy Father, that thy servants may
go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy name
may be upon them, and thy glory be round about them, and thine
angels have charge over them;” (D&C 109:22).
One way
to be armed with power and glory is to have angels help us in our lives.
In this
article, when I say, “Temple Angels,” I’m referring to those departed
individuals, whose work we are doing in the Temple. There are several ways
these angels may be permitted to have “charge” over us. I want to share five
wonderful accounts which illustrate this principle.
“Temple Angels” Can Nurture us, and
Let Their Will Be Known
Kirsten
Arroyo shared this story with me:
“On
October 4, 1972 in Ogden, Utah I had a wonderful experience with my Aunt Sigrid
Hanson. When I was growing up in Copenhagen, Denmark, Aunt Sigrid and Uncle
Volmer were very dear to me. Since they had not been able to have children of
their own, I filled that void and they included me in their lives as if I was
their daughter. When I was 11, my mother and I joined the Church and afterwards
emigrated to America.”
“In
March of 1970 my Aunt died, and I proceeded to get her name ready for Temple
ordinances. For some reason, I bi-passed her baptism and confirmation but
intended to do the rest of the work for her. I had no clue to which temple her
name would show up for Baptism or when it would be done.”
“As I
was doing the dishes on October 4, 1972, I had a feeling come over me and I
knew my Aunt was near. I kept looking over my shoulders to see if I could see
her. I thought, ‘This is strange! What is she trying to tell me?’ The feeling
would not leave.”
“That
same day, my husband, David was assigned to do Baptisms at the Ogden Temple.
After performing two family names for a woman in the room, the next name on the
Screen was my Auntie Sigrid. David stopped and said: ‘I know her! She is my
wife’s aunt! We’re going to do this one a little slower.’ He was so excited to
come home and tell me. As he entered the door of our home I said: ‘Guess
what happened to me today?’ and he said, “Guess what happened to ME today?”
As we compared our experiences from the day, we were in
awe at how close departed spirits are to us, and how aware they are of our
doing, and in this case, did not want anyone else to do their baptism but a
Family member!”
“Temple Angels” Can Help With Personal Issues
Solutions
to our most pressing problems often are found in the temple, and angels can
help us implement those solutions.
John A.
Widtsoe wrote:
“I
believe that the busy person on the farm, in the shop, in the office, or in the
household, who has his worries and troubles, can solve his problems better and
more quickly in the house of the Lord than anywhere else. If he will … [do] the
temple work for himself and for his dead, he will confer a mighty blessing upon
those who have gone before, and … a blessing will come to him,
for at the most unexpected moments, in or out of the temple will come to him,
as a revelation, the solution of the problems that vex his life. That is the
gift that comes to those who enter the temple properly.” (“Temple
Worship,” The Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine, Apr. 1921,
pp. 63-64)
Financially Blessed
For
over a year Brandon Kappner and his family were living without steady
income. He tried every angle he could think of to provide for his family,
but they were sliding deep into debt to keep their home and had just enough for
the bare necessities of life. They even used up all their food storage.
Here
are some excerpts from Brandon’s journal, January 2015:
“Throughout
the time we have had this last financial struggle, Shalice and I have
been attending the Temple every week. One day as I was doing Initiatory
names, I had one name that struck me as I listened to the blessings, and
received a feeling of joy, acceptance, and excitement in having these blessings
and ordinances completed for this particular individual. His name was Samuel
Veasse.”
“As I
thought about Samuel, I suddenly had the thought about what I needed. I asked
him to help me. I asked him to minister to me about where to turn and
how to find a way to provide for my family.”
“Once I
realized that I was turning this situation into my own selfish needs, I felt
ashamed. But, to my surprise I received another impression. This one was
one that lifted me up. There weren’t words or any clear communication, I simply
understood immediately by thought. The thought was, ‘Thank
you. You have helped me deeply and I am grateful. Now let me help
you. Let me prepare a way to help you through your time of need. I am
honored to administer to your spirit and will do all I can to assist you
through this.’ It was deeply moving and strong.”
Not
long after, Brandon was given a great employment opportunity in January of
2016. “That job grew and was successful for me and led to another step.
After all of this, we are now doing well and have almost paid off all of the
debt we built up during that time.” Samuel, his “temple angel” was true to his
word, and Brandon knew it.
He was Literally Given MEANS
Bill
Boushka, a Radiologist from El Paso relates a difficult time recently where he
had a major challenge in his life and fervently prayed for help as he went to
the temple.
“I had
come to the Temple with a problem. My Radiology company was spending large
amounts of my life’s savings because the new Eastside location was not very
busy. The amount of money I was losing was pretty astounding! I was nearly
worried sick! I was anxious that I did not have enough means to
keep the DOI running until it was turning a profit.”
“At the
Temple, when I saw the name of the person for whom I would be proxy, I almost
laughed. The name was John Clifton MEANS. I said to
myself, “Well that didn’t take long to get an answer!” As I walked towards the
endowment room, a phrase from a scripture came into my mind, ‘provide means for
us’. Here is the full quote: ‘And if it so be that the children of men
keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them,
and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which
he has commanded them; wherefore, he did provide means for us
while we did sojourn in the wilderness.’” (1 Nephi 17:3)
“Four
days later I discovered, after meeting with my stockbroker, that I have a lot
more money than I knew. I was again reassured”
He knew
angels had taken “charge” of his problem and rendered aid.
“Temple Angels” Can Give Us Specific Knowledge
A few
years ago, Timmi Lynn Webster had a marvelous experience. Her daughter Kylie
was attending college, but learning had always been difficult for her because
she was handicapped and had special needs. Timmi Lynn recounts:
“That
morning Kylie called and asked that I pray for her (because she was going to
have a very difficult math mid-term exam). I told her I was going to the
temple right then and would do so.
As I
was getting out of the car, I remember looking at the temple card. The
name of the person I was doing was Matilda. I literally talked aloud and said,
‘Matilda, I am going to do your work. I need a favor too. Can you help my
daughter on her math test? If you aren’t good at math, could you find someone
who is?”
“I have
never had such a sacred experience in the temple or ever felt so close to the
person I was doing work for.”
“When I
got home, I got a call from Kylie. I was surprised because she was finished so
quickly. She told me she couldn’t believe how easily the answers came to her
and that she felt like she had done very well (which she did) She told me
she felt as though someone was sitting next to her and helping her. I
told her it was Matilda, and that one day I would tell her about it.”
“This
was a turning point for me. It was the first time I believed that Kylie really
could succeed in college because I literally understood then that she could
access not only the quickening power of the Holy Ghost, but that she had angels
beyond the veil who would aid her in ways I never imagined. I also
learned that when we go to the temple it can be a two-way street. As we help
those beyond the veil through temple work, there are those who can help us as
well. I look so forward to one day meeting Matilda. I feel as though it
will be like meeting an old friend.”
Blessings When We Return Often
Ezra
Taft Benson stated: “Do we return to the temple often to receive the
personal blessings that come from regular temple worship? Prayers
are answered, revelation occurs, and instruction by the Spirit takes place in
the holy temples of the Lord.” (Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, May 1988, p.
85)
“Temple Angels” Can Dispatch Healing
A dear
friend (who I won’t name), shared a miraculous story of healing from the
temple. She had been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. She was a woman
of great faith and had resolved since her diagnosis to attend the temple every
day she possibly could. She lived close to a temple and for several weeks she
faithfully attended 4-5 times each week, always with healing on her mind.
One day
as she was sitting in the initiatory room she had an extraordinary experience.
She suddenly became aware that her spirit was transported outside her body and
she witnessed what she was told were cancer cells that one by one were
encircled with light, and then “zapped.” She was absolutely mesmerized by this
amazing display, however her “out of body” point of view only lasted a few
moments to inform her of what was happening in her body.
A few
days later when she went to her doctor, she was told that the cancer was
retreating at a rapid rate. Shortly thereafter she went into remission.
She
felt strongly that this healing came from attending the temple so often.
She
knew that she had received angelic aid.
Elder
Jeffery Holland profoundly stated, “In the gospel of Jesus Christ you have help
from both sides of the veil, and you must never forget that. When
disappointment and discouragement strike—and they will—you remember and never
forget that if our eyes could be opened we would see horses and
chariots of fire as far as the eye can see riding at reckless speed to come to
our protection. They will always be there, these armies of heaven, in
defense of Abraham’s seed.” (BYU Devotional, 18 March 1980).
Inside
temples we can tap into this unseen power more than anywhere else.
Temples
are associated with angels. As the scriptures say, angels are “armed with the
power of God,” and often are given “charge” over us. Those who attend the
temple often feel this power from the angelic realm. Serving in the temple can
be a two-way street. We help them, and often they will help us. Are we aware of
the privileges that can be ours as we do this great work?
