We have experienced the loss of my father-in-law, and more recently our 3 year-old granddaughter and my mother. I know they are not gone, but are in the Spirit World. These quotes bring a great deal of comfort and happiness.
Sister Rosemary M. Wixom, quoting Joseph Smith, "Temples, Taproots, and Family Trees," Ensign, Feb. 2017.
“They are not far from us, and know and understand our thoughts, feelings, and motions, and are often pained therewith.”
Sister Rosemary M. Wixom, quoting Joseph Smith, "Temples, Taproots, and Family Trees," Ensign, Feb. 2017.
“They are not far from us, and know and understand our thoughts, feelings, and motions, and are often pained therewith.”
Joseph F. Smith, in Conference Report, April 1916, 2–3
“Sometimes
the Lord expands our vision from this point of view and this side of the veil,
that we feel and seem to realize that we can look beyond the thin veil which
separates us from that other sphere. . . . [And we would understand that] those
who have passed beyond, can see more clearly through the veil back here to us
than it is possible for us to see them from our sphere of action.
I
believe we move and have our being in the presence of heavenly messengers and
of heavenly beings. We are not separate from them. We begin to realize more and
more fully, as we become acquainted with the principles of the Gospel, as they
have been revealed anew in this dispensation, that we are closely related to
our kindred, to our ancestors, to our friends and associates and co-laborers
who have preceded us into the spirit world. We can not forget them; we do not
cease to love them; we always hold them in our hearts, in memory, and thus are
associated and united to them by ties that we cannot break, that we cannot
dissolve or free ourselves from.
And
therefore, I claim that we live in their presence, they see us, they are
solicitous for our welfare, they love us now more than ever. For now they see
the dangers that beset us; they can comprehend better than ever before, the
weaknesses that are liable to mislead us into dark and forbidden paths. They
see the temptations and evils that beset us in life and the proneness of mortal
beings to yield to temptation and wrong doing; hence their solicitude for us
and their love for us and their desire for our well being must be greater than
that which we feel for ourselves.”
Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 435–36
Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 435–36
“When
messengers are sent to minister to the inhabitants of this earth, they are not
strangers, but from the ranks of our kindred [and] friends. . . . In like
manner, our fathers and mothers, brothers, sisters and friends who have passed
away from this earth, having been faithful, and worthy to enjoy these rights
and privileges, may have a mission given to them to visit their relatives and
friends upon the earth again, bringing from the divine Presence messages of love,
of warning, or reproof and instruction, to those whom they had learned to love
in the flesh.”
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, The Ministry of Angels, October 2008
From the beginning down through the dispensations, God has used angels as His emissaries in conveying love and concern for His children.
Usually such beings are not seen. Sometimes they are. But seen or unseen they are always near. Sometimes their assignments are very grand and have significance for the whole world. Sometimes the messages are more private. Occasionally the angelic purpose is to warn. But most often it is to comfort, to provide some form of merciful attention, guidance in difficult times.
I testify that angels are still sent to help us, 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 mind in every form of godliness.”9
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.” And 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.”
President Nelson, The 2020 Mission Leadership Seminar
“Many of these experiences are not captured in the scriptures, but various accounts indicate that Joseph saw in vision or was visited by approximately 60 angels during his lifetime,” said President Nelson. “Each came as directed by the Lord for various purposes.
President Nelson told the mission leaders that “angels will also surround, prompt, protect, and accompany you.”
Beyond the knowledge obtained over the course of his many heavenly visits, Joseph also “found strength in his intimate association with those beyond the veil,” he said. “When Joseph was repeatedly betrayed by close associates or falsely accused or unjustly imprisoned, he was never alone. He trusted in the Lord and relied on familiar ‘divers angels’ he had come to know over many years.”
In the same manner, “you will never be left alone,” said President Nelson to the leaders. “The Prophet Joseph’s experience can also be your experience, as you seek for — and prepare yourself to receive— heaven’s help. I promise you that this is true.
“I leave you with my witness of the divine calling of the Prophet Joseph Smith. He was foreordained and divinely tutored to inaugurate the Restoration. That Restoration continues to unfold in our day.”
Elder Russell M. Ballard:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2019-12-22/lds-hasen-family-plane-crash-idaho-funeral-170586
President Ballard shared “wonderful insight” regarding the Resurrection written by President Joseph F. Smith, who lost his own father, Hyrum, when he was five, and his mother when he was 13. During the course of his life, President Smith lost 16 of his own children and grandchildren.
In the April 1916 general conference, the Church’s sixth president — President Ballard’s own great-grandfather — spoke of the thin veil separating the living and those in the spirit world. The principles of the gospel reveal that the connections binding family members and friends do not end with the passage of mortality.
“I claim that we live in their presence,” said President Smith. “They see us. They are solicitous of our welfare. They love us now more than ever. Now they see the dangers that beset us. They can comprehend better than ever before the weaknesses that are liable to mislead us into dark and forbidden paths.”
The Hansens are enduring a great family tragedy, said President Ballard. But the sacred, living connection that binds the Hansen family remains.
“You will feel their presence,” he told Sister Hansen and her family. “There will be times when you will sense that they are watching over you. Don’t resist it, brothers and sisters. Let heaven help you through this. Let those who have passed on help you through this.”
“Will you see them?” he asked.
“Most likely not. Will you feel they are near? Absolutely — and especially if you will find time in this busy, hectic world we now live in to be still.”
More on this topic:
Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, Chapter 50: D&C 130:5
Ensign 1988: Is there any truth to the idea that we have guardian angels who watch over and protect us?
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, The Ministry of Angels, October 2008
From the beginning down through the dispensations, God has used angels as His emissaries in conveying love and concern for His children.
Usually such beings are not seen. Sometimes they are. But seen or unseen they are always near. Sometimes their assignments are very grand and have significance for the whole world. Sometimes the messages are more private. Occasionally the angelic purpose is to warn. But most often it is to comfort, to provide some form of merciful attention, guidance in difficult times.
I testify that angels are still sent to help us, 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 mind in every form of godliness.”9
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.” And 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.”
President Nelson, The 2020 Mission Leadership Seminar
“Many of these experiences are not captured in the scriptures, but various accounts indicate that Joseph saw in vision or was visited by approximately 60 angels during his lifetime,” said President Nelson. “Each came as directed by the Lord for various purposes.
President Nelson told the mission leaders that “angels will also surround, prompt, protect, and accompany you.”
Beyond the knowledge obtained over the course of his many heavenly visits, Joseph also “found strength in his intimate association with those beyond the veil,” he said. “When Joseph was repeatedly betrayed by close associates or falsely accused or unjustly imprisoned, he was never alone. He trusted in the Lord and relied on familiar ‘divers angels’ he had come to know over many years.”
In the same manner, “you will never be left alone,” said President Nelson to the leaders. “The Prophet Joseph’s experience can also be your experience, as you seek for — and prepare yourself to receive— heaven’s help. I promise you that this is true.
“I leave you with my witness of the divine calling of the Prophet Joseph Smith. He was foreordained and divinely tutored to inaugurate the Restoration. That Restoration continues to unfold in our day.”
Elder Russell M. Ballard:
https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2019-12-22/lds-hasen-family-plane-crash-idaho-funeral-170586
President Ballard shared “wonderful insight” regarding the Resurrection written by President Joseph F. Smith, who lost his own father, Hyrum, when he was five, and his mother when he was 13. During the course of his life, President Smith lost 16 of his own children and grandchildren.
In the April 1916 general conference, the Church’s sixth president — President Ballard’s own great-grandfather — spoke of the thin veil separating the living and those in the spirit world. The principles of the gospel reveal that the connections binding family members and friends do not end with the passage of mortality.
“I claim that we live in their presence,” said President Smith. “They see us. They are solicitous of our welfare. They love us now more than ever. Now they see the dangers that beset us. They can comprehend better than ever before the weaknesses that are liable to mislead us into dark and forbidden paths.”
The Hansens are enduring a great family tragedy, said President Ballard. But the sacred, living connection that binds the Hansen family remains.
“You will feel their presence,” he told Sister Hansen and her family. “There will be times when you will sense that they are watching over you. Don’t resist it, brothers and sisters. Let heaven help you through this. Let those who have passed on help you through this.”
“Will you see them?” he asked.
“Most likely not. Will you feel they are near? Absolutely — and especially if you will find time in this busy, hectic world we now live in to be still.”
Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, Chapter 50: D&C 130:5
Ensign 1988: Is there any truth to the idea that we have guardian angels who watch over and protect us?
