Conference Talk:
For more information on this topic read "The Ministry of Angels," by Jeffrey R. Holland, Ensign, November 2008, 29-31.
Thought:
In times of special need, [the Lord] sent angels, divine messengers, to bless His children, reassure them that heaven was always very close and that His help was always very near.
(Jeffrey R. Holland, "The Ministry of Angels," Ensign, Nov 2008, 29-31.)
Song:
"Dearest Children, God Is Near You," Hymns, #96 (especially verse 2).
Scripture:
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 (Moroni 7:36-37).
Lesson:
Give each family member a piece of paper and pencil and ask them to draw an angel. Have them show their drawings to the rest of the family and discuss briefly what angels look like. Tell your family that Joseph Smith taught, "An angel of God never has wings" (History of the Church, 3:392). Have one family member read the section heading and another family member read D&C 129:1-3. Ask:
- What are the two kinds of beings spoken of in these verses?
- What is the difference between "angels" and "just men made perfect"?
- What examples can you think of in scripture of angels appearing? Why did they appear?
Tell your family you will pretend to represent an angel. Stand next to someone and say "poof," as if you suddenly appeared. Invite the person to extend a hand for you to shake. Grasp the person's hand and shake it. Have your family scan D&C 129:4-9 and tell what kind of a being you represent. Move next to another family member and say "poof." Have the person extend a hand to shake yours, and as you go to grab it, miss the clasp. Have your family scan the verses and find the kind of being you represent this time. Move to another person and say "poof." This time when the person extends a hand, stand still and do not extend your hand. Say that you are an angel from the presence of God and that you have a message to share. Again have your family look for the kind of being you represent.
Share the following insights concerning the ministering of angels:
"The veil between heaven and earth usually hides the angels from our sight. Yet often in the early stages of our spiritual development, we may experience unmistakable contact with the angels of the unseen world" (Bruce C. Hafen, Ensign, April 1992, 12).
"One of the things that will become more important in our lives the longer we live is the reality of angels, their work and their ministry. I refer here not alone to the angel Moroni but also to those more personal ministering angels who are with us and around us, empowered to help us and who do exactly that" (Jeffrey R. Holland, Ensign, January 1996, 12).
Invite family members to strive to live so they can better discern the importance of angels in their lives, both seen and unseen.
(Dennis H. Leavitt and Richard O. Christensen, Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families: The Doctrine and Covenants, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2004], p. 289.)
Story:
[While serving as Mission President in Russia], we saw indications that the Lord's spiritual emissaries had already been there before us, preparing specific people for the coming of the missionaries. For example, the four missionaries who opened Kharkov baptized in their first few weeks a number of converts who had considerable leadership abilities. I took occasion during my first monthly visit to Kharkov to interview a number of these wonderful new converts. I was amazed and humbled to hear so many of them tell me sacred experiences - events that had helped prepare them to recognize and receive the restored gospel - that had happened to them just before the arrival of the missionaries.
The same was true for members in other cities we visited. In Odessa, as in Kharkov, a large number of choice people, many of whom would be future leaders, were baptized during the first two months. Again, as I interviewed new converts, they volunteered to share the same kind of sacred personal experiences as those discussed above. Similarly, remarkable spiritual experiences occurred in Minsk. The pattern of events became so predictable that as each set of missionaries was sent to open a new city, I felt I could promise them that angels were already there. I encouraged them to live close to the Spirit so that the Lord could bring to them those whom he had prepared.
When the Lord's servants are clean, seek to know his will, and learn to recognize and obey his promptings, fearing not to act as he has inspired them to act, he is able to work great miracles through their efforts.
From what I have seen, I am certain that the Lord makes the same promise to missionaries opening new cities in our day that he made to the Apostle Paul and later to the Prophet Joseph Smith: "For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city" (Acts 18:10).
(Howard L. Biddulph, Morning Breaks: Stories of Conversion and Faith in the Former Soviet Union, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1996], p. 102.)
Activity:
Everyone leaves the room except for one person, who hides a small object, such as a coin, key, or thimble. Most of the object needs to be in plain sight. The rest of the family then returns to the room and searches for the object. When someone spots the object, he or she sits down and quietly says, “I know where it is.” The rest of the family continues to hunt until everyone has found the object.
If the object is difficult to find, the players can ask for help. The person who hid the object then tells the players, based on how close they are to the object, whether they are hot or cold. When everyone has found the hidden object, the person who found it first gets to hide it, and the game continues.
(Max H. Molgard and Allan K. Burgess, The Best of Fun For Family Night, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2003], p. 36.)
Refreshment
Strawberry Heavenly Hash
- 1 package (3 oz.) vanilla pudding
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1/2 cup strawberry jam
- 1 cup cream, whipped
- 3/4 cup pineapple tidbits
- 1/2 cup miniature marshmallows
- 1/4 cup maraschino cherries, well drained and diced
Prepare pudding according to package directions using 1 1/2 cups milk. Pour into a bowl. Chill. Blend strawberry jam into chilled pudding. Gently fold in remaining ingredients. Spoon into dessert dishes. Chill. Garnish with additional whipped cream and a whole maraschino cherry.
Makes 6 servings.
(Hollee Eckman and Heather Higgins, All That Jam, [Salt Lake City: Shadow Mountain, 2003], p. 90.)
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