General Conference, what a weekend!I love General Conferences because they remind me about beauty in simplicity & that the Heavens are open. The meetings are usually composed of talks & singing of sacred hymns. It has remained that way since its inception—a simple program, yet profound in effect. Here is when the will of the Lord is revealed because His prophets and apostles speak.
The messages, the music, the prayers, the ambiance were so reminiscent of how I’ve been raised up—a clear reflection of my parents’ principles. It reminds me of my childhood days. It’s wonderful to find the church still the same in a world of shifting values & eroding morals. President Hinckley used to liken the church as a solid rock standing amidst the ravishing storms of the day—that regardless of the immensity of changes around us, the church holds up the values and standards the Lord has given as never changing.
This past weekend, I’ve been enthralled by the powerful messages of the Lord’s servants & the lasting effects of the music rendered. All contributed to an ultimate retreat from the world.
One specific talk I loved was Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s “The Ministry of Angels”. It gave this scripture an intimate meaning: “And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up” (D&C 84:88).
This promise meant so much during my 2-year full time missionary service for the church. I could not even begin to imagine what I would have been like without the Lord’s assistance in such a magnanimous endeavor. This scripture was intended for missionaries—that they wouldn’t have to worry on how to go about their missions, because the Lord will be with them.
After listening to Elder Holland’s conference piece, the last part of that verse began to glow with a special implication.
Here’s part of Elder Holland’s talk:
In the course of life all of us spend time in “dark and dreary” places, circumstances of sorrow or fear or discouragement. Our present day is filled with global distress over financial crises, energy problems, terrorist attacks, and natural calamities. These translate into individual and family concerns not only about homes in which to live and food available to eat, but also about the ultimate safety and well-being of our children and the latter-day prophecies about our planet.
More serious than these—and sometimes related to them—are matters of ethical, moral and spiritual decay seen in populations large and small, at home and abroad. But I testify that angels are still sent to help us, even as they were sent to help Adam and Eve, to help the prophets, and indeed to help the Savior of the World Himself.
Matthew records in his gospel that after Satan had tempted Christ in the wilderness “angels came and ministered unto him.” Even the Son of God, a God Himself, had need for heavenly comfort during His sojourn in mortality. And so such ministrations will be to the righteous until the end of time. As Mormon said to his son, Moroni , who would one day be an angel:
“…Has the day of miracles ceased?
“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 angels appear and minister unto men; for behold, they are subject unto [Christ], to minister according to the word of his command, showing themselves unto them of strong faith and a firm mine in every form of godliness.”
I ask everyone within the sound of my voice to take heart, be filled with faith, and remember the Lord has said He would “fight [our] battles,…[our] children's battles, and [the battles of our] children's children.” What do we do to merit such a defense? We are to “search diligently, pray always, and be believing. [Then] all things shall work together for [our] good, if [we] walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith [we] have covenanted.” The latter days are not a time to fear and tremble. They are a time to be believing and remember our covenants.
He then went on to speak about mortal angels. He talked about how an angel his mother was to him—that in our lifetime there will be people who will bring so powerful & meaningful an influence that they, too, can be regarded as angels in their own right.
I couldn’t help but think of the angels who had gone my way along the paths of life. It is true that once a person lifts off from being a child into becoming an adult, that the “dark & dreary” circumstances come. Childhood fears become insignificant, but are replaced with consequential ones—e.g. financial stability, building a family, etc. Sorrow & discouragement almost always take over emotional strength. It’s a struggle. Life will always be filled with battles, but angels do come to the rescue. They may not necessarily be immortals. My parents were angels to me. They have such an overwhelming influence in my life.
Now, angels continue to come. When the Lord said, “…mine angels [will be] round about you, to bear you up”, He really meant that, especially in these difficult times. Despite how strong we think we had become in facing the challenges and troubles of our time, there will be unhappy or near to the ground moments. These circumstances will merit our friends’ and family’s support.
I’ve always looked up to myself as being strong since my Mission. The conditions after my missionary service really tested me. Grateful will I always be for the powerful influence of angels in my mission, such as my Mission President & his wife, my 10 companions, and all of the member friends I gained. The people I’ve met whom I was able to share the gospel to, were also angels. Without them, I would not have been able to appreciate and realize the purpose of service & the real meaning of charity or the pure love of Christ.
In this time of day, I wouldn’t deny that fear, sorrow, & discouragement still take over my human side. My friends, both in and outside the church, take the role of angels. Without their watchful reinforcements & constant reminders, being alone, without a family, may take its toll in me and would possibly drive me nuts. Along the way, angels seem to come to the rescue. I am aware that in spite of having been able to govern myself accordingly in conjunction to the correct principles taught to me, and while I battle or struggle to walk in righteous paths, the adversary will always look for ways to distract my determination. My principles, the fortress that I take refuge from—the church, & the covenants that I made with the Lord, will be rallied against. I know it is difficult.
I believe in the promise of the Lord that He will send His angels. They are “round about” me. If I do my best “walking uprightly” & doing my part in keeping the commandments of the Lord, I need not tremble and fear in this “dark & dreary” place & time. The immortal angels will surely come if necessary, but the mortal ones will be there to bear me up and keep me on my feet.
