Video: The Ministry of Angels in the Work of Salvation (Bro. Martins' video - 2020)

- Angels & Spirits of Just Men Made Perfect (1-7)

- Spirits minister unto those sealed unto life eternal, and Angels are more advanced than spirits:

"The Hebrew Church "came unto the spirits of just men made perfect, and unto an innumerable company of angels, unto God the Father of all, and to Jesus Christ the Mediator of the new covenant." (Hebrews 12:22-23)

"What did they learn by ... the spirits of just men made perfect? Is it written? No. What they learned has not been and could not have been written. ... It was the established order of the kingdom of God: The keys of power and knowledge were with them to communicate to the Saints.

"Spirits can only be revealed in flaming fire and glory. ... The spirits of just men are made ministering servants to those who are sealed unto life eternal, and it is through them that the sealing power comes down. ... if revealed now, must be revealed in fire; and the glory could not be endured. ...

"Angels have advanced further, their light and glory being tabernacled; and hence they appear in bodily shape. ... Angels have advanced higher in knowledge and power than spirits." October 9, 1843 (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.325)

- Angels ministering to this earth have resided here and live in the presence of God (D&C 130:5-7)

- How to discern evil spirits trying to appear as "good guys" (8)

- The devil and his angels had certain limits and boundaries imposed on them which they cannot trespass:

"When Satan tempts a person to do evil, there are limits to what Satan can accomplish.  He can put before a person any kind of evil opportunity, but that evil is enticing only if the person tempted already desires that thing.  When people are tempted, it is actually by their own lusts (James 1:12-15)." (Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Vol.1, "DEVILS")

- The priesthood has power over the devil and holds the key of the knowledge of divine manifestations

"It would seem also, that wicked spirits have their bounds, limits, and laws by which they are governed or controlled, and know their future destiny; hence, those that were in the maniac said to our Savior, "Art thou come to torment us before the time?" (Matthew 8:29) and ... it is very evident that they possess a power that none but those who have the Priesthood can control ...

"[No] man can do this without the Priesthood, and having a knowledge of the laws by which spirits are governed; ... possessing intelligence which is more than human, and having unfolded through the medium of the Priesthood the mysterious operations of his devices ...

"[No man can do this] without knowing the angelic form, the sanctified look and gesture, and the zeal that is frequently manifested by him for the glory of God, together with the prophetic spirit, the gracious influence, the godly appearance, and the holy garb, which are so characteristic of his proceedings and his mysterious windings."(Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.204, 208, Parentheses and brackets added)

- Power over evil spirits is predicated on obedience:

"All beings who have bodies have power over those who have not. The devil has no power over us only as we permit him. The moment we revolt at anything which comes from God, the devil takes power."January 5, 1841 (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.181)

- The Savior will not return as a baby, nor as a woman, nor as a televangelist, a corporate raider, a cult leader, nor anything else  (1; also read D&C 49:22-23)

- Future sociality (i.e. the tendency to associate in social groups and structures) among us will be coupled with eternal glory (2)

- The Lord may appear to us, according to his will (3)

"It is the first principle of the Gospel to know for a certainty the Character of God, and to know that we may converse with him as one man converses with another, and that he was once a man like us; yea, that God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ himself did; and I will show it from the Bible."(Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.345)

- Angels who now minister on this earth have previously resided here (5-7)

- In its celestialized state (see D&C 88:25-29), this earth will be a Urim and Thummim for its inhabitants, revealing things that pertain to kingdoms of lower orders (9)

- Each individual will receive a white stone that will reveal things pertaining to kingdoms of higher order (10-11)

- Whatever principle of intelligence gained in mortality will rise with us in the resurrection (18-19)

- Blessings predicated upon obedience to laws (20-21; see also 132:5)

- The Father and the Son have bodies of flesh and bones, but not the Holy Ghost (22-23)

Other topics to be discussed in this section will be chosen by the class

Questions for Review

1. What kinds of beings exist in heaven? (129:1,3)

2. When a supposedly heavenly messenger appears, what should we do in order to confirm whether the personage is from God? (129:4-9)

3.  Where do angels reside? (130:6-7)

4. What angels minister to this earth? (130:5)

5. What will happen with the principles of intelligence we acquire in this life? (130:18)

6. What do we need to do in order to obtain a specific blessing from the Lord? (130:20-21; 132:5)