I Believe in Angels By Elder Carlos A. Godoy

 

I Believe in Angels

By Elder Carlos A. Godoy

Of the Presidency of the Seventy

The Lord is aware of the challenges you face. He knows you, He loves you, and I promise, He will send angels to help you.

Brothers and sisters, I believe in angels, and I would like to share with you my experiences with them. In doing so, I hope and pray that we will recognize the importance of angels in our lives.

Here are Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s words from a past general conference: “When we speak of those who are instruments in the hand of God, we are reminded that not all angels are from the other side of the veil. Some of them we walk with and talk with—here, now, every day. Some of them reside in our own neighborhoods. … Indeed heaven never seems closer than when we see the love of God manifested in the kindness and devotion of people so good and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mind” (“The Ministry of Angels,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 30).

It is about angels on this side of the veil that I want to talk. The angels that walk among us in our everyday lives are powerful reminders of God’s love for us.

The first angels that I will mention are the two sister missionaries who taught me the gospel when I was a young man: Sister Vilma Molina and Sister Ivonete Rivitti. My younger sister and I were invited to a Church activity where we met these two angels. I never imagined how much that simple activity would change my life.

My parents and siblings were not interested in learning more about the Church at that time. They were not even willing to have the missionaries in our home, so I took the missionary lessons in a Church building. That small room in the chapel became my “sacred grove.”

 

One month after these angels introduced me to the gospel, I was baptized. I was 16 years old. Unfortunately, I don’t have a picture of that sacred event, but I do have a picture of my sister and me at the time we participated in that activity. I may need to clarify who is who in this picture. I am the taller one on the right.

As you can imagine, remaining active in the Church was challenging for a teenager whose lifestyle had just changed and whose family was not taking the same path.

As I was trying to adjust to my new life, a new culture, and new friends, I felt out of place. I felt alone and discouraged many times. I knew the Church was true, but I had a hard time feeling part of it. While uncomfortable and uncertain as I tried to fit into my new religion, I found the courage to participate in a three-day youth conference, which I thought would help me make new friends. This is when I met another saving angel, named Mônica Brandão.

 

She was new in the area, having moved from another part of Brazil. She quickly got my attention and, luckily for me, accepted me as a friend. I guess she looked at me more from the inside than the outside.

Because she befriended me, I was introduced to her friends, who then became my friends as we enjoyed many youth activities I attended later. Those activities were so critical to my integration into this new life.

These good friends made a big difference, but not having the gospel taught in my home with a supportive family still put my ongoing conversion process at risk. My gospel interactions in the Church became even more crucial to my growing conversion. Then two additional angels were sent by the Lord to help.

One of them was Leda Vettori, my early-morning seminary teacher. Through her accepting love and inspiring classes, she gave me a daily dose of the “good word of God” (Moroni 6:4), which was so needed throughout my day. This helped me to gain the spiritual strength to keep going.

Another angel sent to help me was the Young Men president, Marco Antônio Fusco. He was also assigned to be my senior home teaching companion. Despite my lack of experience and different appearance, he gave me assignments to teach in our priests quorum meetings and home teaching visits. He gave me the chance to act and to learn and not just be an observer of the gospel. He trusted me, more than I trusted myself.

Thanks to all these angels, and many others I encountered during those important early years, I received enough strength to remain on the covenant path as I gained a spiritual witness of the truth.

And by the way, that young angel girl, Mônica? After we both served missions, she became my wife.

I don’t think it was a coincidence that good friends, Church responsibilities, and nurturing by the good word of God were part of that process. President Gordon B. Hinckley wisely taught: “It is not an easy thing to make the transition incident to joining this Church. It means cutting old ties. It means leaving friends. It may mean setting aside cherished beliefs. It may require a change of habits and a suppression of appetites. In so many cases it means loneliness and even fear of the unknown. There must be nurturing and strengthening during this difficult season of a convert’s life” (“There Must Be Messengers,” Ensign, Oct. 1987, 5).

Later he also taught, “Every one of them needs three things: a friend, a responsibility, and nurturing with ‘the good word of God’” (“Converts and Young Men,” Ensign, May 1997, 47).

Why am I sharing these experiences with you?

First, it is to send a message to those going through a similar process right now. Maybe you are a new convert, or coming back to the Church after wandering around for a while, or just someone struggling to fit in. Please, please, do not give up on your efforts to be part of this big family. It is the true Church of Jesus Christ!

When it comes to your happiness and salvation, it is always worth the effort to keep trying. It is worth the effort to adjust your lifestyle and traditions. The Lord is aware of the challenges you face. He knows you, He loves you, and I promise, He will send angels to help you.

In His own words the Savior said: “I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your [heart], and mine angels round about you, to bear you up” (Doctrine and Covenants 84:88).

My second purpose for sharing these experiences is to send a message to all members of the Church—to all of us. We should remember that it is not easy for new converts, returning friends, and those with a different lifestyle to instantly fit in. The Lord is aware of the challenges they face, and He is looking for angels willing to help. The Lord is always looking for willing volunteers to be angels in others’ lives.

Brothers and sisters, would you be willing to be an instrument in the Lord’s hands? Would you be willing to be one of these angels? To be an emissary, sent from God, from this side of the veil, for someone He is worried about? He needs you. They need you.

Of course, we can always count on our missionaries. They are always there, the first ones to enlist for this angelic job. But they are not enough.

If you look around carefully, you will find many in need of an angel’s help. These people may not be wearing white shirts, dresses, or any standard Sunday attire. They may be sitting alone, toward the back of the chapel or classroom, sometimes feeling as if they are invisible. Maybe their hairstyle is a little extreme or their vocabulary is different, but they are there, and they are trying.

Some may be wondering, “Should I keep coming back? Should I keep trying?” Others may be wondering if one day they will feel accepted and loved. Angels are needed, right now; angels who are willing to leave their comfort zone to embrace them; “[people who are] so good and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mind [to describe them]” (Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Ministry of Angels,” 30).

Brothers and sisters, I believe in angels! We are all here today, a giant army of angels set apart for these latter days, to minister to others as extensions of the hands of a loving Creator. I promise that if we are willing to serve, the Lord will give us opportunities to be ministering angels. He knows who needs angelic help, and He will put them in our path. The Lord puts those who need angelic help in our path daily.

I am so grateful for the many angels that the Lord has put in my path throughout my life. They were needed. I am also grateful for His gospel that helps us to change and gives us the chance to be better.

This is a gospel of love, a gospel of ministering. Of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/10/44godoy?lang=eng

Angels that Intervene with Children By Anne Hinton Pratt

 

Angels that Intervene with Children

By Anne Hinton Pratt · February 10, 2022

 

Some of the most beautiful and touching stories told are those about angels protecting children. Several months ago, I shared several of these in an article. I’ve since received additional amazing and inspiring experiences from readers like you that you’ll want to feast on.

Miraculously Rescued from Fire

Kenny Mazzanti, a retired Sergeant on the California Highway Patrol had several experiences where he saw firsthand where angels protected children.  He writes,

“I was patrolling southbound I-5 near Lebec (between Los Angeles and Bakersfield CA) when I saw the backend of a motorhome burst into flames. The driver pulled over to the right shoulder of the freeway and the family piled out of the motorhome. Most of the motorhome was fully engulfed by flames when I approached the family.  The mom was counting heads. 1,2,3,4…

“Where’s little Johnny?” 

“One of the children said that he had been asleep in the back of the motorhome. I had the family move further away and prepared to go in to find the child. (It’s not the heat that will kill you; it’s the poisonous gasses from the burning plastics that will get you first). The door handle was too hot to open, so I used my handkerchief to open the door.  I took a deep breath and pulled the door open to charge in and retrieve the child. That wasn’t necessary.  There stood little Johnny holding his teddy bear as flames swirled all around him. I grabbed him by his sleeper and pulled him from the fire that took all the hair off my forearm, and then closed the door behind him. 

“We got away from the burning motorhome, and Johnny’s mother did a thorough inspection of her child.  Not a hair was singed, not even on the teddy bear.

“One of the other children asked how he got out?  Johnny told them very matter of factly that ‘The man in white’ had awakened him and led him to the door. Then, pointing at me, Johnny said, ‘And then HE grabbed me.’ [1]   

What an extraordinary rescue! When God and angels intervene, such amazing things happen. This next experience that Kenny relates will take your breath away.  He continues:

“Back about 1979, one of the Officers that I supervised was patrolling Interstate 5 near Newhall, CA saw something of concern.  A young couple had stopped for lunch at the Denny’s Restaurant in Newhall and had resumed their journey entering southbound I. 5.  The Officer pulled ahead of them, activated his overhead lights, and slowed his and their cars bringing the young coupe to a stop on the freeway shoulder.  The Officer approached the driver’s window.  The driver defensively questioned why the Officer had stopped him.  He was doing nothing wrong, and in his mind, this was obviously an abuse of power… 

“Without a word, the Officer reached up on top of the car and took down the car seat that secured their newborn baby and handed it to the young father. Apparently, they were not yet accustomed to having a baby with them when they travelled.”[2]

What kept that unattached baby from falling off the top of the car as it picked up speed on the freeway?  God is so good…

I love the scripture that talks specifically about children’s angels:

“Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.”[3]

Yes, these angels are often directed from the Father to protect small children.  Sometimes they protect them from their own lack of judgment…

Angel Protects From 12-Foot Drop

Janet Johnson remembers a beautiful experience she had with a young son being protected from a greater injury.  She wrote:

“My youngest child of four, a six-year-old boy, had climbed up into an open loft, twelve feet above our garage floor. He was leaning over the edge of the loft dropping army guys onto the floor below.  He leaned too far and toppled out of the loft headfirst. His shoulder hit a shelf on his way down, and he landed on the floor screaming in fear and pain.

“When I rushed into the garage and found him, his shoulder was bloody and the skin was torn, but I was shocked that his head had not hit the garage floor. I was so amazed as I held him in my lap that I commented on that fact. Although we had never taught, or even talked about guardian angels, or the possibility of loved ones who had passed being angels in our lives, he looked at me through his tears and said, ‘It’s because I landed on the angel. He was soft.”[4]

Isn’t it interesting that this child was protected from a severe head injury, but not saved from all pain?  The angel provided an intimate sweet experience for the child and his mother.  What a gift!

Angel Saves Two Girls from Accident

Allison Dunlap recounts a harrowing tale of angelic aid to two of her young daughters.

She writes,

“This happened when I was a young mother of 4 daughters. We lived on the corner of a busy street, but going the opposite direction was a lovely little neighborhood park that my girls loved to play in.

“One day I was nursing my baby when I heard a knock at the door. There stood my neighbor Sister Fredley with my two little towheads. She was nearly in tears as she told me what had just happened. Maddy and Rachel had noticed the front door unlocked and had quietly slipped out and wanted to walk up to the park to play. Sister Fredley was backing out of her driveway that had a slight slope on it, making the bottom of it not visible from her rearview mirror. She heard a man’s voice holler to her to “STOP”! She wondered what man would be yelling to her as we had very few that actually lived on our street. After she put her car in park and got out to look around to talk to the man, she noticed my two little girls in her driveway walking up the street towards the park.

“She looked everywhere for the man who had hollered to her to stop but found no one out in their yards on either side of the street. She realized then she had been helped by an unseen angel to protect my little girls from being hit by her car as she blindly backed out.

“As she related to me on my porch what had just happened, I was flooded first, with embarrassment at my negligence, but then an overwhelming feeling of gratitude to the Lord for protecting my innocent little daughters and sparing them and her and me from the devastating sorrow that would’ve beset us all. I thank the Lord for all the help He gives to us as we strive to bring souls into the world and do our inadequate best to raise them.”[5]

What a blessing!  It wasn’t the plan for the girls to die that day, and an angel and an “in-tune” neighbor helped God’s will to be.

Angelic Hope during Abuse                                                                                               

Sylvia was a child in an abusive home and growing up she felt very unloved by her parents.  She told me that one day, when she was a young girl, an angel came to her and said,

“Don’t worry Sylvia, things will get better!”  

She held on to that promise for many years, and after she left home and started life on her own, things went in a beautiful direction, but it was the memory of that day that pulled her through.[6]

Why?

Why was an angel instructed to visit Sylvia, or the boy in the fire, or protection for the boy on the loft and the two little girls, but not sent to other children in similar conditions? Somehow, these visits were part of these children’s’ specific plan.  It was God’s GIFT to them.  Other children receive other good gifts such as learning how to overcome trauma or how to circumvent their own difficulties.  God gives us ALL gifts. 

In scripture Moroni asks a profound question,

“…have miracles ceased?  Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men…”[7]  

Do we believe Moroni? God knows the life plan of all children down to the details. He knows what gifts they need.  The fact is that angels protect and succor MANY, if not all children from time to time.   In my mind, these are the inspiring stories that are worth retelling…

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[1] Kenny Mazzanti, personal correspondence.  Used with permission.

[2] Kenny Mazzanti, personal correspondence.  Used with permission.

[3] Matthew 18:10.

[4] Janet Johnson, personal correspondence.  Used with permission.

[5] Allison Dunlap, personal correspondence.  Used with permission.

[6] Sylvia [last name withheld], personal conversation.  Used with permission.

[7] Moroni 7:29

 

Becoming "Angels" to Angels: Setting the Prisoners Free By Anne Hinton Pratt

 

Becoming “Angels” to Angels: Setting the Prisoners Free

By Anne Hinton Pratt 

 

Billions have lived on this earth.   Each one has a story that they will tell for eons about family they learned to love while living here.  Many want to take these relationships to a higher level, but feel imprisoned by the lack of ability. Who can help them?… 

“We Need Your Help!”

One day, a dear friend, “Jan” (not real name), felt the room she was in beginning to fill up with spirits from the “other side.”  She knew intuitively that these spirits were family members.  At some point a male “grandfather,” stepped forward as a spokesman for her father’s family line.  He said in a very Commanding voice,

 “We need your help!”

She told him She would help in any way she could, then asked if he wanted her to do some research and gather information.  He replied,

“No! The information has been found, but the work is not getting done!”

Jan asked, “Who has the information?” He said,

“Grace!” “Call her!”

Jan followed the directive and called her cousin Grace and sure enough, found that she had hundreds of family name cards already printed (but not completed), and hundreds more family names reserved in her computer, – so no-one else could do their work. These spirits were stuck!  

Thankfully, Grace accepted Jan’s offer to help complete those saving ordinances for their ancestors, and she voluntarily delivered the stacks of cards to Jan’s home.  Jan then asked her family members who were scattered in many temple districts for help. 

The following morning, Jan hastened to the temple and spent the entire day completing as many ordinances as possible.  As she exited the temple the same “great grandfather” stepped up to her.  He tenderly thanked her, and then emphatically and emotionally stated,

“THE PRISONERS SHALL GO FREE!”

He then faded from sight.[1]

Jan and Grace set in motion eternal work.  They became coworkers with angels…[2]

“We’ve Waited a Long Time”

Elder F. Enzio Busche shared a similar story of a man named Joseph Gilbert, who was a recent convert to the church:

“On the day that he was in the temple for the first time, he saw in a vision of a great gathering of his ancestors who were looking at him and pleading with him, ‘Please, don’t forget us…We have all waited a long time for this!’” [3]  

Spirits from the other side are occasionally allowed to come to express their desires to us. Sometimes it can be surprising…

Unlikely Plea from Wayward Sister

Larry James wrote about an experience he had in the Mount Timpanogos Temple years ago,

“My wife and I were asked to help one of the families in our ward with sealings for their family. I was sitting in one of the witness chairs when the sound in the room became very still. I heard a female voice speak to my mind. She said,

“DON’T FORGET ME!”

It was the voice of my younger sister.  This had never happened to me and I began to weep.

“My sister had been dead for over four years. She was never active in the church, and had been married 5 times and had 6 children by different men. I had written her off as having made her decision as to the gospel of Christ. Needless to say, I interrupted the session and the sealer thought I was in some kind of trouble. I explained to him what had happened, but he didn’t seem surprised. Well, within one week, my wife and I had completed her sacred work.”[4] 

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland joyfully taught, “Don’t underestimate your family on the other side of the veil.”[5]

Isn’t it the truth.  They often are allowed to break through to us in such interesting ways.

“Help me! Notice me!”

Maurine Proctor shared an experience where she personally learned how eager our kindred dead are to let us know they want their work done. She said,

“Scot and I spent the summer in England with our youngest two daughters, and part of that time we were doing family history. The night before we were going to spend the day in the Huntingdonshire archives where Scot’s ancestors were from, we were studying those family records, looking particularly for an end of line where we could break through.

That night as I slept, I heard the name “Sarah Holden, Sarah Holden, Sarah Holden.” There was an eagerness and an insistence about this as if she were saying, ‘Look for me. Help me. Notice me!”

The next morning, I said, “Scot, do you have a Sarah Holden in your line?” He said, yes, and we looked her up.

“That day in the archives we looked for Sarah, who had had her work done, but we discovered the work was incomplete for most of her siblings. Since then, we have continued to make breakthroughs on that line.”[6]

Angelic Voice

Ellen Lovett also heard a voice from beyond the veil.  She wrote,

“I joined the church with my husband in 1956 and was immediately immersed in doing genealogy research.  Since I have gotten older and have less responsibilities and more time, I spend most of my waking hours doing research.  I just feel compelled to gather all I can.  Recently, I woke up at 1:30 AM and the name “Mary Margaret Marsh” was spoken to my mind.  I had not heard the name before so tried to go back to sleep but couldn’t until I got up and wrote it down.  The next morning as soon as I was awake, I felt I had to find who she was.

 “I worked all day on Family Search looking for any record I could find and found nothing.  Then I went to Ancestry, which I rarely use, and found a DAR record.   Never before have I found any of their records in my research.  Sure enough, there was her name and she was married to a man in my family line whom I had been researching his records less than a week before.  I had previously found no spouse for him, but there she was with birth, death and marriage records and more of his ancestry. 

“I was so excited I could hardly sit still.  It was such a thrilling experience and I know it was only because of Divine help that I found her.  She must have been waiting to catch me in my sleep so I would sit still and listen. This is God’s work and it will have eternal joy for many of his children.”[7]

Power of God

Sister Wendy Watson Nelson urged us to “Make time to help those on the other side make covenants with God! As you do so, the power of God will flow into your life in an unprecedented way.” [8]

Let me ask; who doesn’t need more power and aid in their lives?  As we embark on this endeavor to help our ancestors, they will help us.  They know who we are…

Angels to Angels

So, do our ancestors get together on the other side and talk about their “angels” on earth who are doing their work? Of course, it’s part of their history!  They will mention Jan, Grace, Joseph, Larry, Maurine and Ellen in hushed reverence as their partners with Christ in their exaltation.  And we, like the above-mentioned individuals, can be “angels” to our angels. The prisoners can be set free!

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[1] “Jan” and “Grace” (Real names withheld) Story used with permission.

[2] Joseph Smith, “And now, I ask, how righteousness and truth are going to sweep the earth as with a flood?  I will answer.  Man and angels are to be coworkers in bringing to pass this great work…”  History of the Church, B. H. Roberts, ed., 7 vols., 2d ed. 1932-51, 2:260.

[3] F. Enzio Busche, Yearning for the Living God, p. 213.

[4] Larry James, personal correspondence.  Used with permission. Also in https://unexpectedmiraclebook.com  by Craig Jenkins.

[5] Jeffrey R. Holland, https://spiritualcrusade.com/2019/04/your-family-on-the-other-side.html)

[6] Maurine Proctor, personal correspondence. See also, https://latterdaysaintmag.com/three-prophets-saw-their-fathers-in-the-world-of-spirits. Used with permission.

[7] Ellen Lovett, personal correspondence.  Used with permission.

[8] Wendy Watson Nelson, Covenant Keepers, p. 58.

The Privilege of Asking for Angelic Help By Anne Hinton Pratt

 

The Privilege of Asking for Angelic Help

By Anne Hinton Pratt 

There are times in our lives that we need more help than our natural world can offer.  At these defining moments, we can ask for angelic help, and at times receive remarkable assistance.  Angels are a critical part of the Lord’s team, which he generously employs for us in amazing ways…

“I Felt the Burning of Angels”

Jill Vanikiotis shared a truly remarkable experience with me, where she absolutely knew that angels helped her.  She was moving from Utah to Virginia in 2020. She was pulling a much too heavy trailer for her vehicle, which was loaded down with all her food storage and tools. She writes,

“I needed a good amount of momentum built up in order to get over the three mountains in Wyoming known as the three sisters. Just as I was up to speed in my ascent over the last and biggest mountain, two semis cut me off and blocked me in.

“With vehicles all around me, there was no option but to keep going. Part way up this extremely steep hill I lost all momentum and speed. My foot was literally holding the gas pedal to the floor as I dropped from 60 mph down to almost nothing very quickly. To say it was terrifying wouldn’t begin to describe my feelings. I was completely panicked because I knew that the weight of my trailer would shortly have me rolling backwards down this steep mountain; likely to my death, and perhaps the death of others behind and around me, including my husband who was pulling a horse trailer somewhere behind me. I thought of my children and that I might not see them again if I didn’t receive a miracle.

“I began loudly and desperately praying aloud, begging God to send his angels to save me. It was one of the most fervent and faith-filled prayers I have ever spoken. Instantly upon the close of my prayer, I felt the burning of angels surround me and they immediately pushed my very heavy vehicle and trailer up this extremely steep incline from nearly zero mph to 60 mph in just a few seconds. This went on for probably 3 miles. If you had seen this mountain, and what I was driving and pulling, you’d know this wouldn’t be possible.  As I realized what was happening, my panic turned to pure and tearful joy and relief. I was literally laughing out loud in overwhelming gratitude as the angels pushed my vehicle up this hill as an undeniable and clear witness of God’s mercy and power. I praised God. I still cannot tell that story, even in writing, without feeling the spirit reconfirming that miracle to me.”[i]

Angels Can Be Assigned to Help Us

Elder John A. Widtsoe taught that “There are angels and spirits who, no doubt, have assigned to them the care of the men and women who walk upon the earth. Man is not alone; he walks in the midst of such heavenly company, from whom he may expect help if he seek it properly and strongly.”[ii]

Seeking for help generally implies asking for it.  So are we asking?

Departed Dad Keeps His Promise

Don Woods shared a remarkable personal experience where he asked for and received profound help from an angel.  He wrote,

“My father and I were very close. When he died, I became aware of it before the doctor even called.  My father came to me at 1:30 am Tuesday morning, and told me several things, including why he had to go, what I should be doing, and what my mother should do regarding our genealogy. Then Dad said he would be with me when I had medical emergencies.”

Don held him to that promise and eventually needed to ask for his angelic help.  He continues, 

 “In August 1992, when I was in so much pain (morphine shots administered every two hours were not helping).  One night at three in the morning, I cried out:

‘Lord, what did I do wrong? Dad, you promised you would be here!’

Suddenly my father was at my bed and I felt him put his hands on my head. Within a few seconds, there was a feeling as if someone were pouring something warm over my body. It cascaded from my head to my toes, and the pain left. My father smiled and then he left. The next day I began passing the stones.”[iii] 

Don’s experience was truly extraordinary. Wendy Watson Nelson boldly taught that we [like Don] can ask for angelic support.  She wrote,

“As we keep our covenants, we can ask for angels to help us.  Literally!”  

Sudden Assistance

Sydne Miles was rushed to the hospital when she had the horrific sensation of not being able to breathe.  Her heart had slowed to barely pumping and her lungs were filling with fluid.  She was in ER for most of the day and developed an excruciating headache and began to vomit.  The pain kept escalating and she didn’t think she could bear it anymore. She writes:

“I was wheeled into the hospital room by one or two nurses who just moved me onto the bed, cleaned me up from all the mess, and then left me very much alone.

“When I was lying in the hospital bed near death, alone and tucked behind a curtain in a deserted area, I realized that I could barely breathe. Everyone had left me. All I could do was let out one very weak whisper, “help,” that I’m sure no one heard.   What happened next was miraculous. Suddenly 8 or 9 medical people appeared around my bed and began working frantically to save me. I always wondered how they could know I was in trouble!

Whenever I’ve thought about the experience, it has always puzzled me that in an INSTANT so many people (not just one or two) could appear, when they were just not anywhere near a moment before.

I realized that although it was NOT humanly possible for this to happen, it did happen because angels came and ministered to me. As I said before, there is absolutely NO other explanation.[iv] 

Elder Carlos A. Godoy stated,

“The Lord is aware of the challenges you face. He knows you; He loves you, and I promise, He will send angels to help you.”

Departed Family Members Responded to Plea

A woman named Betty (not real name) shared with me a beautiful story about the willingness of departed family to help her during a crisis in her life. Betty wrote,

“One night my son was having an extremely difficult time.  I was afraid because he left the house very upset.  I immediately got down on my knees and asked Heavenly Father to send his deceased father and grandmother to help him. 

“My son came home a while later and told me he had felt both of them near him while he was gone and thought it was interesting.  I just sort of smiled to myself and gave a prayer of gratitude for their help and the answer to my prayer.  I then told him I had prayed for them to come and help him.”[v]

Betty received a direct and definitive answer to her prayer.  She asked for angelic help.

No Spiritual Blessing Will be Withheld

Sister Wendy Nelson asks us to ponder some poignant questions,

“So, does your child need help? Is your husband in trouble? Does your wife need more support? Does your aunt need comfort? Does your best friend need direction?  If so, ask for angels to be assigned to help them? As a covenant-keeping man or woman, you can do that!”[vi]

President Russell M. Nelson also adds  “We live in a glorious age foreseen by prophets for centuries.  This is the dispensation when no spiritual blessing will be withheld from the righteous.”[vii]

Ask and Receive

One of the laws of heaven is that when we ask, we will receive, (even though we’re not sure how or when a plea will be answered).  But if we don’t ask, we’ll never know…  Jill, Sydne, Don, and Betty all discovered how close heaven is and that angels were real and willing to help them in their time of need.  Angels are a critical part of the Lord’s team and are available for all His children. Let’s ask!Feel Free to CONTACT ME with your stories at annehpratt@hotmail.com

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[i] Jill Vanikiotis, personal correspondence.  Used with permission

[ii] John A. Widtsoe, Rational Theology, p. 68. Italics added

[iii] Don Lynn Wood, http://uvicf.org/tributes/DLWoodStory.html

[iv] Sydne Miles, personal correspondence.  Used with permission.

[v] Name withheld, personal correspondence.

[vi] Wendy Watson Nelson, Covenant Keepers, p. 31. Italics added.

[vii] Russell M. Nelson, “A New Normal.” October Conference 2020. Italics added.