Angels have acted an important part in every dispensation of the Priesthood. An angel first preached the Gospel of faith on the Son of God to Adam; P. of G. P., page 9. An angel of the Lord called to Abraham; Gen. 22. 11. An angel first attracted the attention of Moses to the burning bush; Ex. 3. 2. Their ministrations are often mentioned in the Old Testament history of ancient Israel. They were a prominent feature in the opening history of the New Testament dispensation. An angel appeared to Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, and foretold his birth; Luke 1. 11, 12.

The angel Gabriel appeared to the virgin Mary and foretold the birth of the Savior; verse 31. An angel appeared to the shepherds, bringing the joyful news of a Savior's birth; 2. 10, 11. One warned Joseph to flee into Egypt to save the life of the child Jesus, and to return again after the death of Herod; Matt. 2. 13-15. According to the writings of the apostles they continued their ministrations, at least until John wrote his Revelation, for he was commanded to write to the angel of each of the seven churches of Asia; Chapters 2. 3.

According to prophecy, angels were to act an important part in the dispensation of the fulness of times. The dispensation was to be opened by one, for John the Revelator says, "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth;" Rev. 14. 6.

There is abundant evidence that an angel, calling himself Moroni, came to Joseph Smith, Jun., and taught him the principle and power of revelation from God, made known to him the real condition of the world, and when he had properly instructed him, delivered to him the record from which the Book of Mormon was translated by the power of God, containing the fulness of the everlasting Gospel; P. of G. P., pages 49-54.

The angel, John the Baptist, ordained Joseph Smith and O. Cowdery to the Priesthood of Aaron, "Which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the Gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins;" Doc. & Cov., 13. From this second angel they received authority to preach the Gospel, revealed by the first angel, and to minister in its ordinances among all nations, thus fulfilling the prophetic vision of St. John.

Angels are to accompany Jesus Christ when he shall come in the glory of his Father; Matt. 16. 27. They are to gather the elect from the four quarters of the earth; 24. 31. The inspired writings, and especially the Revelation of St. John, assures us that they will act an important part in the great work of the latter days. There can be no truly Gospel church in which their ministrations are not recognized.

ANGEL OF THE LORD.

Bible.

Gen. 16. 7 an angel of the Lord found Hagar by a fountain.

28. 12 angels of God ascended and descended.

Exo. 14. 19 the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them.

Judges 2. 4 when the angel of the Lord spake these words to the children of Israel.

6. 11 there came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak.

12 an angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon.

13. 3 an angel of the Lord appeared to the mother of Samson.

2 Kings 19. 35 the angel of the Lord smote and killed 185,000 of the Assyrians.

1 Chron. 22. 12 the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel.

30 David was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the Lord.

Psalm 34. 7 the angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him.

Matt. 28. 2 the angel of the Lord rolled back the stone from the door.

Luke 2. 8, 9 the angel of the Lord came upon the shepherds.

Acts 5. 19 the angel of the Lord, by night, opened the prison doors.

8. 26 the angel of the Lord spake unto Phillip.

12. 23 the angel of the Lord smote Herod.

27. 23 there stood by me, this night, the angel of God.

Book of Mormon.

1 Nephi 3. 29 as they smote us with a rod, an angel of the Lord stood before them.

Mos. 27. 11-18 the angel of the Lord appeared to Alma and the sons of Mosiah.

Alma 9. 25 that ye may not be destroyed, the Lord hath sent his angel.

10. 7-11 an angel of the Lord appeared to me and said, Amulek!

24. 14 in his mercy he visits us by his angels.

Hel. 5. 11 he hath sent his angels to declare the conditions of repentance.

14. 26 angel said to me, there should be thunderings and lightnings for many hours. 28.

Doctrine & Covenants.

Sec. 63. 54 in that day will I send mine angels to pluck out the wicked.

103. 19, 20 I say not to you as I said to your fathers, mine angel shall go before you.

MINISTERING ANGELS.

Book of Mormon.

Jacob 7. 17 the power of the Holy Ghost and the ministering of angels.

Moroni 7. 25 by ministering of angels, men began to exercise faith in Christ. 29, 30.

Doctrine & Covenants.

Sec. 7. 6, 7 I will make him as a flaming fire and a ministering angel.

43. 25 called on you by my servants, and the ministering of angels.

67. 13 not able to abide the presence of God, neither the ministering of angels.

76. 88 the telestial receive it of the ministering of angels.

132. 16 but are appointed angels in heaven, which are ministering servants. 17-20.

136. 37 whom I did call upon by mine angels, my ministering servants.

Miscellaneous passages.

Gen. 19. 1 there came two angels to Sodom at even.

48. 16 the angel which redeemed me from all evil bless the lads.

Exo. 23. 20 I send an angel before thee, to keep thee in the way.

Num. 20. 16 sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt.

2 Sam. 24. 16 when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it.

1 Kings 19. 5 an angel touched Elijah and said, arise and eat.

2 Chron. 32. 21 Lord sent an angel which cut off all the mighty men.

Psalm 8. 5 man made a little lower than the angels. Heb. 2. 7, 9.

68. 17 the chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels.

78. 25 man did eat angels' food.

Dan. 9. 21 Gabriel touched Daniel about the time of the evening oblation. 10. 4-14, 20, 21.

Matt. 4. 11 angels came and ministered to Christ.

13. 39 the harvest is the end of the world: the reapers are the angels. 49.

18. 10 their angels do always behold the face of my Father.

24. 36 of that day knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven.

25. 31 Son of Man shall come, and all the holy angels with him.

26. 53 he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels.

Mark 8. 38 when he cometh in the glory of the Father, with the holy angels. Luke 9. 26.

12. 25 nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels.

Luke 1. 19 the angel said to Zacharias, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God.

26 the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee.

16. 22 was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom.

22. 43 there appeared an angel to Jesus, strengthening him.

Acts 7. 53 who received the law by dispensation of angels.

10. 22 was warned from God, by an holy angel, to send for thee.

Rom. 8. 38 I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels.

1 Cor. 6. 3 know ye not that we shall judge angels?

Gal. 1. 8 though we or an angel from heaven preach any other Gospel.

2 Thess. 1. 7 Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels.

1 Tim. 5. 21 I charge thee before God and the elect angels.

Heb. 1. 4 being made so much better than the angels. 7.

2. 5 for unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come? 16.

12. 22 the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels.

13. 2 not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Rev. 5. 2 saw a strong angel proclaiming, who is worthy to open the book. 11. Chap. 7. 1. Chap. 8. 3. Chap. 10. 1, 5-10. Chap. 11. 15. Chap. 12. 7.

14. 6 I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth. 8, 10, 15. Chap. 15. 6, 7. Chap. 17. 1. Chap. 18. 1. 21. Chap. 19. 17.

21. 12 had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels. 17.

Book of Mormon.

1 Nephi 13. 40 the angel said, these last records shall establish the truth of the first.

19. 8 he cometh according to the words of the angel, six hundred years from the time my father left Jerusalem. 10.

2 Nephi 6. 9 scourge and crucify him, according to the words of the angel. 11.

10. 3 the last night the angel said he should be called Christ. 25. 19.

32. 2, 3 angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost.

Alma 9. 21 having been visited by the Spirit of God, having conversed with angels. 12. 29.

13. 22 the Lord, by the mouth of angels, doth declare it to all nations. 24-26.

29. 1 Oh, that 1 were an angel, that I might cry repentance to every people.

32. 23 now he imparteth his words, by angels, unto men, women and children.

Hel. 16. 14 angels appeared to wise men and declared unto them glad tidings of great joy.

3 Nephi 7. 18 so great was the faith of Nephi, that angels ministered unto him daily.

17. 24 they saw angels descending out of heaven and encircling the little ones.

Doctrine & Covenants.

Sec. 38. 12 the angels are waiting the great command to reap down the earth.

88. 92 and angels shall fly through the midst of heaven sounding the trump of God. 96-107.

112 Michael, the seventh angel, shall gather together his armies.

128. 20 Moroni, an angel from heaven, declaring the fulfilment of the prophets.

129. 1 angels are resurrected personages, having bodies of flesh and bones. 5.

130. 4-7 no angels minister to this earth but those that belong to it.

Pearl of Great Price.

Page 9. after many days an angel of the Lord appeared to Adam.

12. the Gospel was preached from the beginning, being declared by angels.

27. the angel of the Lord's presence stood by Abraham.

29. thou didst send thine angel to deliver me from the gods of Elkanah.

38. who cometh in the clouds of heaven, and the holy angels with him.

40. he shall send his angels before him with the sound of a trumpet.

FALLEN ANGELS.

Bible.

Psalm 78. 49 he cast upon them the fierceness of his wrath, indignation and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.

Matt. 25. 41 depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.

2 Cor. 11. 14 for Satan, himself, is transformed into an angel of light.

2 Peter 2. 4 if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell.

Jude 6. angels which kept not their first estate he hath reserved in everlasting chains, under darkness, unto the judgment of the great day.

Rev. 9. 11 a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit.

12. 9 the great dragon was cast out, and his angels with him.

Book of Mormon.

2 Nephi 2. 17 must needs suppose that an angel of God fell from heaven.

9. 8 our spirits must be subject to that angel who fell. 16.

Jacob 3. 11 that they may not become angels to the devil.

Mos. 26. 27 shall depart into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

Alma 30. 53 hath deceived me, for he appeared in the form of an angel.

3 Nephi 9. 2 the devil laugheth, and his angels rejoice, because of the slain.

Moroni 7. 17 neither do the devil nor his angels persuade men to do good—no, not one.

Doctrine & Covenants.

Sec. 29. 28 depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 37.

76. 33 vessels of wrath, doomed to suffer with the devil and his angels. 44.

128. 20 Michael detecting the devil when he appeared as an angel of light. Sec. 129 8.