The Divine Touch of Angels
By Anne Hinton Pratt · September 16, 2019
Angels
have been a major part in the epic history of the world. They have
protected and blessed billions of us on this planet. Most, if not all, of
us have had angelic help to remove hurdles from our path in ways that we won’t
know until the story of this life is fully told.
I recently wrote an article focusing on
the times when angels’ help is overtly physical.
In this
article, however, my focus is to be on how angels aid us in more subtle ways.
Divine Embrace
Many
years ago, I had a dear friend whose husband had just died, leaving her with
ten children- all still at home, and in desperate need of her care. It
was a terrible burden that loomed over her. I felt prompted to go with
her to the temple at that time of great need.
While I
was in there, at a pivotal moment, I suddenly felt a beautiful warm
feeling in my heart that spread to my entire being for several seconds, and I
had the sacred sense that I had just received a spiritual hug from my
friends’ deceased husband thanking me for being there with his grieving
wife. It was a beautiful experience that I have never forgotten.
This
powerful ability that angels have to bring physical warmth and emotional
strength to our core seems to be one of the hallmarks of their divine presence.
Warmth in the
Chest
In
2014, Craig Jenkins’ beloved wife Lorna suddenly died. It was both
shocking and excruciating for him as well as for his entire family. He and his
daughter were each blessed to have experiences where they became aware of her
presence.
Brother
Jenkins writes about an amazing dialogue between Lorna and his daughter Katie
shortly after his wife’s passing:
Monday
evening, I was visiting with some friends who had stopped by, when our Stake
President with his wife rang the doorbell. Katie, our youngest daughter,
answered the door. She asked him for a blessing. They stepped into the office
and he gave her a blessing.
He told
her that it was her mothers’ time to go, that she could have chosen to stay,
but in God’s plan, it was her time to go. Toward the end of Katie’s blessing he
told her,
“Your
mother is in the room with us.”
He then
closed the blessing, told her to stay there as he and his wife stepped out of
the office and closed the door. Katie was left expecting to ‘see’ her
mother.
In her
mind, Katie heard and participated in the following sweet conversation with her
departed mother.
“Am I going to see you?”
“No, there’s a veil.”
She then
looked up to the ceiling and asked:
“Are you floating?”
“No, I don’t float.”
“Will I feel your hugs?”
“No, I don’t have a body.”
“How will I know?”
“I will speak words to your mind, and my Spirit will enter your body.”
Katie
suddenly felt very warm in her chest.
Brother
Jenkins then gives an account of how he also personally felt that warmth in the
chest and realized where it came from. He continues:
Shortly
after Lorna passed away, I woke up one night feeling really warm in my chest,
and remembering her words to Katie, I threw the covers off, still feeling very
warm. In my mind I tentatively asked, “Are you here?”
The
warmth intensified, and I knew that Lorna was there.
(In author’s conversation with Craig Jenkins and on his blog,
https://aftertheyaregone.com/)
Brother
Jenkins and Katie experienced the warmth and support of a departed family
member. This type of feeling is a precious manifestation that many have
felt.
Promise of Angels
In a
1989 General Conference, President Ezra Taft Benson made a beautiful promise to
the children in the Church concerning angels. He said,
“I
promise you, dear children, that angels will minister unto you… You may not see
them, but they will be there to help you, and you will feel of their presence.”
(Ezra Taft Benson, “To the Children of the Church,” April Conference,
1989)
Angels
can be our companions in this earthly sojourn, and occasionally we are able to
feel their presence. We don’t have to be children to claim President
Benson’s promise.
Departed Father Brings Incredible Peace in time of Turmoil
Angels
have the beautiful ability to fill us with hope in the middle of despair.
Don C.
writes about an agonizing time in his life where his deceased dad sustained
him.
The
last few years have been challenging in many ways. I have dealt with
financial, health, and family issues with no letup nor any light at the end of
the tunnel. They each wax and wane occasionally in severity but continue on.
During
one of my darkest moments of hopelessness, I was driving to meet with a doctor
who was going to administer a trial procedure to address one of my health
issues. I was feeling rather down and was silently praying for some direction
in which I could have confidence.
I began
to feel very warm inside my chest and was overcome with a sense of emotion I
had never experienced before. I began sobbing and realized that there was a
‘presence’ in my truck with me. I knew that it was my Father who had passed
away 19 years before. I continued to sob and finally got the courage to speak.
I said,
“Where have you been? I have missed you so much!”
I heard
my Father say to me, “Don, I am always with you. Everything is going to be
okay.”
I
continued to cry to him and began to ask about my health, financial, and family
difficulties. Before I could form the sentences, he spoke again saying, with
emphasis, “EVERYTHING will be
okay!”
An
incredible calm came over me at that point. We continued on in silence and then
his presence began to fade. The love I felt, the caring I felt, were
indescribable. Never have I felt such a feeling. I have also come to
recognize the many times in the past when he guided me without my realizing his
influence.
(In author’s conversation with Don, and on https://aftertheyaregone.com/)
Angels in the Midst of Your Trials
Harold
B. Lee taught very reassuring doctrine for any of us who might be going through
difficult times and in need of help. He said:
Sometimes
when you’re going through the most severe tests, you will be nearer to God than
you have any idea, for like the experience of the Master himself in the
temptation on the mount, in the Garden of Gethsemane, and on the cross of
Calvary, the scriptures record, ‘And, behold, angels came and
ministered unto Him’ (Matt. 4:11). Sometimes that may happen to you in the
midst of your trials. (Harold B. Lee, Conference Report, Munich
Area Conference, 1973, p. 114 Italics added)
Angels
not only give us the emotional warmth and strength to go on, but they can give
us the physical strength and power that we may need as in the following amazing
account.
Angel Gave Warmth and Capacity During Intense World War II
Battle
George
Sloan had a harrowing experience in the South Pacific in 1944. He writes
in his journal:
… a
fellow marine and I were sent down the ridge about 50 yards in front of the gun
in order to prevent the enemy from getting close enough to attack the gun post
or to use explosives. There were sharp precipices on both sides of the ridge
and the only approach the enemy could make was easily covered by the two of us.
For three consecutive nights I had not slept due to attacks and attempted
infiltration by the enemy who at this stage was getting desperate.
During
the day, it was a constant fight to dislodge stubborn, fanatical soldiers;
sniper fire was a constant threat and made all movement difficult. I
experienced, what was for me, the worst time of the war and one narrow escape
after another— grenades, mortars, and hand to hand encounters—It seemed more
than the ordinary dangers, and I gradually acquired a feeling of fear I have
never before experienced.
After
locating ourselves in advantageous positions my companion and I, well-armed
with grenades and automatic rifles, prepared for an all-night watch. Shortly
after midnight, in spite of all my efforts not to fall asleep, I did so.
Possibly two hours later, I was suddenly awakened. It seemed that I heard a
voice warning
me,
“Wake up, wake up, George. They are coming!”
I was then as refreshed as I have ever been in my life. I felt
strong and all fear seemed to have left. I felt a peace and well-being as though
I was in my Mother’s
arms.
Less
than 25 yards out front of me, I could see figures outlined against the sky
creeping toward
us.
After
this, George’s companion was hit and worked his way back the best he could to
their unit. George continued throwing grenades from the prone position and
firing rounds. Suddenly he felt as if he was “kicked by a mule.” His
whole backside became sopped with blood. As weakness and dizziness flooded over
him, he prayed for help, and again “felt fresh and vigorous.” He
continued to throw grenades and fire rounds of ammo until daybreak approached.
Being exposed under daylight, he crawled back to his unit and after sliding
over the sandbags in front of the gun emplacement, he passed out. He woke up to
find himself aboard a hospital ship. (George Sloan, Journal Entry October 14,
1944)
George
was not protected from all harm, but was allowed to feel the presence, support
and warmth of angels, and ultimately was spared from death.
And Angels Came Down
I love
the scripture when Nephi speaks about angels supporting him in similar ways as
they did George. He said,
And by
day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice
have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered to me. (2
Ne 4:24 Italics added)
What a
blessing it is that angels have been in the saga of our world. For minutes at a
time they can enhance our abilities to feel things that seem impossible to
feel, and to accomplish things that we cannot humanly do. When the true
story of all the dealings of God, man and angels are told, each of us will see
that we have been recipients of succor and strength from numerous angels.
