Angels Among Us Today?

“And thus the works of darkness began to prevail among all the sons of men. And God cursed the earth with a sore curse, and was angry with the wicked, with all the sons of men whom he had made; For they would not hearken unto his voice, nor believe on his Only Begotten Son, even him whom he declared should come in the meridian of time, who was prepared from before the foundation of the world. And thus the Gospel began to be preached, from the beginning, being declared by holy angels sent forth from the presence of God, and by his own voice, and by the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Moses 5:55-58)

Are these conditions being manifested today?

Is darkness prevailing?

Is God angry with the wicked?

From God's point of view, who is referred to as the wicked?

Who is not hearkening unto His voice? Nor believing on his Only Begotten Son?

If this is actually happening today among us, would you suppose the gospel is at least beginning to be preached again? Is the gospel being declared by holy angels? By angels sent forth from the presence of God? And by his own voice? And by the gift of the Holy Ghost?

If so, where can an angel, either mortal or immortal, with these credentials be found today here on earth? Do you know of an angel, who resides among us? Anywhere?

“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” (Hebrews 13:2) What does this mean to you?

Are truths being restored again? Is further light and knowledge coming forth? Is the true and living gospel being taught again? Is the restoration being preserved as it was in 1831? (D&C 1:30)

Restorations again? Revelations? Prophecies? Good news? Patterns?

Whenever apostasy and wickedness reaches a certain point, patterns of God seem to emerge, angels appear, repentance is called, and individuals get to choose for themselves. If God's pattern, at this “tipping point” of wickedness, is to send an angel/messenger from His presence with an authorized message, would you expect such an angel with God's message today? If so, where is an angel to be found?

Does an angel, who has literally come from the presence of God, has been instructed by God's own voice, and possesses an authorized message from God Himself, actually exist among us today? If so, would you expect such an angel to be popular, well known, or highly regarded and praised? From history, we learn that prophets like that, who deliver a message from God, are often persecuted, rejected, and cast out.

How many individuals in our society today do you suppose would acknowledge such an angel and accept the message of repentance he delivers? The majority? Some? A few? Would God vouch for the message delivered by the angel He sent? How would that affect the hearers and those to whom the message was directed?

Would the message fit in the category of “whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servant, it is the same”? Why or why not? If such an angel is indeed present and currently among us (And I believe there is), what would be required on your part? And what is the status or consequences associated with the one who fails to take notice of the ministry of such angels?

Moroni had something to say about this:

“Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved? Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain. For no man can be saved, according to the words of Christ, save they shall have faith in his name; wherefore, if these things have ceased, then has faith ceased also; and awful is the state of man, for they are as though there had been no redemption made.” (Moroni 7:36-38)

If you have not recognized, acknowledged, or accepted such an angel today, what does that mean? When someone fails to recognize a true message or fail to entertain angels from God's presence, according to Moroni, what is the state and standing of that individual? If you have not identified such a messenger from God with His message, which is very likely a message of repentance, what does that have to say about your level of faith? Unbelief? False traditions? Salvation? Redemption?

Society today does not yet have the original religion that Adam received from God. We do not currently possess the “records of the fathers” which describes the gospel taught by God to Adam. I am not aware of any group, religion, institution, or people today that has preserved the entire original religion. 

 

Joseph Smith was called by God and authorized as His servant to call repentance, teach the gospel, and to begin the process to restore the original. Through Joseph, much truth was restored, apostasy was challenged, and we have obtained some important parts of the gospel which had been lost. Joseph was persecuted and killed, and God's message was rejected before the restoration was completed. What Joseph left was only a portion of the intended restoration. During the course of almost 184 years since the deaths of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, the partial restoration they left has been morphed by men into an awful, ongoing, ever changing, and increasing disorder, which leaves people befuddled to understand it. What Joseph restored must now be recovered, preserved, and come to life as was the case on November 1, 1831, when the Lord referred to the church as “the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth” (D&C 1: 30)

If that description and status is to be recovered and restored again today, then most certainly His people, fellowships, gatherings, churches, or groups must be established by revelation, visitations from angels, and delegation of authority. His people must be “true and living” because the authority and gifts need to be present and unfolding. New scripture shall continually come forth and increase. Revelations will surely be ongoing and perpetually being received.

God has and does and will covenant with His people. His covenant people will continue to grow in knowledge, light, and truth as further ordinances and rites are restored. The humble, “true and living” followers of Christ are taught the doctrines which give the tools with which they can grow in light and knowledge until the perfect day. (D&C 50: 24.)

Therefore, what Joseph and Hyrum left restored in June 1844 must return in our day and, in addition, the original religion taught to Adam must be restored before we finally arrive back at the beginning. The original religion, which was lost long before Abraham, was restored to Abraham and lost later. Therefore it becomes very important for us today to connect with our fathers, who have connected with heaven. We must receive angels sent from the presence of God and obtain the restored original religion.

We must be actively engaged in His work to receive what God is offering today.