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)