Friday, August 21, 2020

Charles W. Penrose (1912) on Angels in Latter-day Saint Theology

 

In a section under the header of “Editor’s Table,” Charles W. Penrose reproduced and responded to a letter submitted to the Improvement Era in August 1912 querying “angels” in Latter-day Saint theology:

 

The annexed letter has been received by the Improvement Era, and I am requested to answer it for the benefit of others, as well as "Subscriber," who desire information on the points presented.

 

How can we harmonize the following statements, viz.: The Apostle Paul, in 1st Cor. 15th chapter, 20th verse, says that Christ is the first fruits of the resurrection. The Prophet Joseph, in Doc. and Cov. Sec. 130, verse 5, says there are no angels who minister to this earth, but those who belong or have belonged to this earth. In Sec. 129, verse 1, he says angels are resurrected personages. In Pearl of Great Price, page 18, after the Lord drove our father Adam out of the Garden, after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam and asked him why he offered sacrifices unto the Lord. It would appear that there- is an error in some of these statements. Who are the sons of Levi that John the Baptist refers to when conferring the Priesthood upon Joseph and Oliver? Please answer through the columns of the Era and oblige—Subscriber.

 

If critical people would take as much pains to harmonize scripture texts and the sayings of inspired men, as they do to dis- cover apparent contradictions therein, much discussion would be saved and many contentions be avoided. Most of the arguments of infidels, and the misconceptions of habitual disputants, are the result of incorrect conclusions reached through hasty reading. Take, for example, the quotation in the foregoing letter of inquiry, from section 129, verse 1, of the Doctrine and Covenants ; reference to the text cited will show that it is not there stated that "all" angels are resurrected beings, a notion that our inquirer, like some other persons, seems to entertain and which forms the origin of his trouble. The theme discoursed upon is the presence in heaven of two kinds or classes of beings, namely first, resurrected beings and, second, spirits who are not resurrected. It is not asserted that there are no other kinds of persons in heaven than they, but the subject treated is of the two classes mentioned.

 

Comparison with other texts of scripture, ancient and modern makes clear the fact that there are other grades or classes of heavenly beings than the two spoken of in section 129. It is understood by ordinary students of modern religion that there are perfected beings called gods, who are higher than the angels (see section 132:16-20), and to whom the angels are servants. And even among the gods there are Presiding Personages, the Holy  Trinity standing at the head.

 

There are angels of various appointments and stations. Michael is called an "archangel" (Doc. & Cov. 29:26; Dan. 10:13). Some are resurrected beings like the angel that was sent to John the Revelator (Rev. 23:8, 9) and those already referred to in Doc. & Cov. sec. 132, while others are "ministering spirits sent forth to minister unto them who shall be heirs of salvation" (Heb. 1:14). Some of these angels are described as "the spirits of just men made perfect" and are "not resurrected," and others were made ministering spirits before entering into mortality, serving among their fellows in their pre-existent state. Christ was a ministering spirit before his birth into this world. He was "anointed above his fellows." The angel Gabriel was a ministering spirit after he had been a mortal man (Noah), and before his resurrection, for Jesus of Nazareth was, as quoted by "Subscriber," "the first-fruits of them that slept." (See Luke 1:11-30; Dan. 8: 16; 9:21.)

 

Angels are God's messengers, whether used in that capacity as unembodied spirits, selected according to their capacities for the work required, or as disembodied spirits, or as translated men, or as resurrected beings. They are agents of Deity of different degrees of intelligence, power and authority, under the direction of higher dignitaries, and subject to law and order in their respective spheres. Elijah, who appeared with Moses on the mount of transfiguration, was a translated man ; Moses at that time was either a translated man or a spirit ministering to the Savior; both acted in the capacity of angels (Luke 9:28-33). Enoch's band of translated beings doubtless appeared as angels in manifestations to the patriarchs recorded in the book of Genesis.

 

Angels high in authority have been clothed on special occasions with the right to represent Deity personally. They have appeared and have been recognized as God himself, just as royal ambassadors of earthly potentates have acted, as recorded in history. The Angel spoken of in Exodus 23 :20-22 was one of these. So also was the Angel already spoken of who ministered to John on the isle of Patmos, and used the names and titles of the Son of

God (Rev. 1:1).

 

The popular notion that angels are winged beings, because it is stated by some scripture writers that they saw them "flying through the heavens," is a fallacy. Cherubim and Seraphim spoken of by Ezekiel and Isaiah, are not to be classed with the angels, for the angels are of the same race and descent as men, whether in body or in spirit, and do not need wings for locomotion, nor do they appear in birdlike form. They are of the family of Deity in different degrees of progression and are "in the image and likeness" of the Most High.

 

There are fallen angels, too, who were cast down for transgression, as mentioned by Jude (verse 6), chief among whom on this earth is Lucifer or Satan, who has sought on many occasions to appear as an "angel of light" to deceive and lead astray, and who tempted the Son of God, but failed in his efforts as he did with Moses and with the Prophet Joseph Smith (see Luke 4:1-13 ; Visions of Moses 1:12-22 ; Doc. & Cov. 128 :20). That great spiritual personage was an angel of God in his "first estate," and yet never had a body of flesh, but "was in authority in the presence of God" as a spirit, before he rebelled and was "thrust down." (Doc. & Cov. 76:25-28.)

 

Thus it will be seen that all angels are not resurrected beings, nor is it so declared, as imagined by the writer of the letter here replied to. He is also mistaken as to his conclusion that there is a conflict between that which is revealed concerning angels who have appeared to man and the statement in Doc. & Cov. 130:5. In the first place, it is not there declared that no angels from or belonging to other worlds have ever ministered on this earth. The words are in the present tense ; that is : "There are no angels who minister to this earth but those who do belong or have belonged to it." That is absolutely correct as it relates to the present and many of the past dispensations. It may also be true as to the ministrations of heavenly beings to man on this earth, ever since the fall. The angel who spoke to Adam when he offered sacrifice, like the Savior himself, doubtless "belongs to this earth" through receiving a tabernacle here subsequent to his appearance as a "ministering spirit" in the beginning. Abraham, Jeremiah, many others not mentioned in scripture by name, were among "the noble and great ones," chosen before they were born into this world and ministering as required under the direction of the Holy Ones on high. They have "belonged to this earth" in their time and station and are so numbered and recognized. The "error" referred to by "Subscriber" is in his own misconception of the texts which he has stumbled over.

 

Now as to the "sons of Levi," spoken of by John the Baptist in his ordination of Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery (Doc. & Cov. 13). They are, or will be, descendants of Levi, holding the Priesthood of Aaron, who will make the offerings predicted by the prophets to be presented to the Lord in latter days in Zion and in Jerusalem. (See Malachi 3:2-4; Doc. & Coc. 124:39 and 128:24). In Zion, men chosen of the Lord for the special work mentioned will be persons sanctified by the spirit unto "the renewing of their bodies" (Doc. & Cov. 84:32-34). At Jerusalem they will be Levites by lineal descent, offering the sacrifices that will be required after the restoration spoken of in Zechariah 14:16-21 and many others of the prophets of old concerning "the restitution of all things."

 

Investigation of sacred writings is commendable, and when conducted for the purpose of obtaining correct information should be encouraged. When pursued in a spirit of incredulity, or to provoke contention or cast doubt on the inspiration of ancient or modern prophets, it is not profitable but injurious. Diligence in comparing text with text to discover the real intent and meaning of the respective writers is desirable, rather than efforts to draw inferences from the bare wording, which often, being but a translation, does not warrant the conclusions hastily reached. "The letter killeth, it is the spirit that maketh alive." (Charles W. Penrose, "Who and What are the Angels?" Improvement Era, volume 15 no. 10, August 1912, pp. 949-52, emphasis in bold added)

 

 With respect to the section in bold, such also refutes some naive modern critics of the Church. On this, see:


Biblical Examples of People Not Seeing Angels in their Midst (cf. The Number of Moroni's Appearances to Joseph Smith)


See also my friend Andrew Sargent's Angels, Ad Hocs & Assumptions