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What Is an Angel?

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An angel is a created spirit being who serves God in obedience, delivering messages, guiding souls, and performing sacred duties.

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An angel is a created spirit being who serves God in obedience, delivering messages, guiding souls, and performing sacred duties on behalf of His plan. In Latter-day Saint theology, angels are not distant or abstract figures but active, personal beings who minister to both the living and the departed 1. They operate under divine authority and carry specific keys or dispensations, such as those heard by Joseph Smith in the Doctrine and Covenants 1. This ongoing ministry shows that angels are an integral part of God’s plan to guide and comfort His people 23.

Angels bridge the living and the departed, the earthly and the eternal, making divine presence tangible in both sacred ritual and private prayer. Their role is rooted in ancient scripture and reaffirmed through modern revelation, demonstrating continuity between biblical accounts and the restored Church’s understanding 4. Contemporary Church leaders emphasize that angels actively participate in the salvation and spiritual development of God’s children, both living and departed 5. This consistent pattern of angelic intervention reinforces the doctrine that angels serve as obedient servants of God, preparing souls for eternal glory 6.

Defining the Angel: A Plain-Language Overview

In Latter-day Saint theology, an angel is not a mysterious or distant spirit but a heavenly being who serves as a messenger of God, carrying His message and ministering to His children 78. The word itself means “messenger” in both Hebrew and Greek, reflecting the primary role angels play in conveying divine communication 8. Rather than being abstract forces or independent powers, angels are resurrected personages who obey God’s law and act on His behalf 5. Elder Dallin H. Oaks referenced a statement by George Q. Cannon, writing, “The word ‘angel’ is used in the scriptures for any heavenly being bearing God’s message” 7. This definition helps distinguish angels from other spiritual beings: they are not demons, nor are they angels of destruction, but rather loyal servants who deliver revelation and care for God’s children 8.

Angels have ministered throughout history, appearing to prophets and saints to deliver important messages 9. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland noted that “From the beginning down through the dispensations, God has used angels as His emissaries in conveying love and concern for His children” 9. Their mission is closely tied to the work of Christ, speaking by the power of the Holy Ghost and proclaiming His words 10. Even in modern times, angels continue to serve, as seen in the accounts given in the Doctrine and Covenants where the voices of Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael were heard declaring their dispensations and keys 1. This ongoing ministry shows that angels are an integral part of God’s plan to guide and comfort His people 23.

Scriptural Foundations: Ancient and Modern Revelation

The scriptural record presents a continuous thread of angelic ministry stretching from the earliest patriarchs to the modern restoration. In the Book of Mormon, angelic visitations are not rare anomalies but integral to covenantal history. An angel appears to the Nephite prophet Alma, declaring, “And the angel said unto me he is a holy man; wherefore I know he is a holy man because it was said by an angel of God” 11. Such encounters ground the Nephite understanding of divine mediation, showing that angels serve as witnesses and messengers who validate the holiness of God’s servants. Similarly, in the First Book of Nephi, an angel instructs the prophet, “Knowest thou the meaning of the book?” 12, initiating a revelation that would anchor the Nephite record in divine truth. These passages demonstrate that angels have consistently acted as conduits of revelation, guiding prophets and establishing the authority of sacred texts.

The New Testament and Old Testament scriptures further establish angels as active participants in God’s redemptive plan. The Old Testament describes angels delivering warnings, executing judgments, and guiding human history, while the New Testament presents them as heralds of the gospel and guardians of divine order. In the Book of Mormon, Moroni directly challenges apathy toward angelic ministry by asking, “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?” 13. This rhetorical challenge underscores the expectation that angels remain active as long as God’s work of salvation continues. The persistence of angelic appearances is tied to the ongoing need for divine guidance and the preservation of covenantal hope.

Modern scripture, particularly the Doctrine and Covenants, extends this ancient pattern by revealing the names, roles, and ongoing service of specific angels. Joseph Smith recorded that “the voice of Michael, the archangel; the voice of Gabriel, and of Raphael, and of divers angels, from Michael or Adam down to the present time, all declaring their dispensation, their rights, their keys, their honors, their majesty and glory, and the power of their priesthood” 1. These revelations emphasize that angels are not distant figures but active participants in the Church’s restoration and daily spiritual life. In the modern era, angels continue to minister through temple worship, sacred texts, and personal revelation, fulfilling the same covenantal role they have held since the beginning of time.

Teachings of Modern Prophets and Apostles

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles) emphasizes that angelic ministry is both ancient and continuous, noting that “from the beginning down through the dispensations, God has used angels as His emissaries in conveying love and concern for His children” 9. This teaching frames angels not as isolated historical figures but as ongoing instruments of divine compassion. Their work spans all eras, always directed toward guiding, warning, or comforting those who need it.

The practical expression of this ministry was vividly illustrated when Elder Mark E. Petersen (Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles) pointed out that “the purpose of the ministry of angels is ‘to call men unto repentance … by declaring the word of Christ unto the chosen vessels of the Lord, that they may bear testimony of him’” 14. In this view, angels function as spiritual facilitators, helping individuals respond to gospel truths. This mission was personally experienced by the Prophet Joseph Smith when the angel Moroni appeared to him, marking a pivotal moment in the Restoration 15.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland further clarifies that angels are not always visible, but they are always near, often providing “comfort, to provide some form of merciful attention, guidance in difficult times” 9. Whether seen or unseen, their presence is felt in moments of need, as demonstrated when Lehi was led out of darkness by an angel. This consistent pattern of angelic intervention reinforces the doctrine that angels actively participate in the salvation and spiritual development of God’s children, both living and departed.

Historical Development of Angelic Doctrine

The restoration of the Church brought a renewed, historically grounded understanding of angels that moved beyond abstract speculation into lived revelation. Early members of the restored Church encountered angelic ministry not as distant myth but as part of a continuing pattern of divine intervention. In the 1830s, as the Church gathered and faced intense persecution, Joseph Smith reported direct communication with heavenly beings, including Michael the archangel, Gabriel, and Raphael, who declared “their dispensation, their rights, their keys, their honors, their majesty and glory” 1. This experience was not isolated; it reflected a broader theological shift in which angels were recognized as active participants in God’s redemptive plan, ministering specifically to those who had been chosen for the restoration.

Over time, Church teaching clarified the nature and boundaries of angelic ministry. The Doctrine and Covenants explained that there are “two kinds of beings in heaven, namely: Angels, who are resurrected personages, having bodies of flesh and bones” 5, a distinction that helped members understand angels not as formless spirits but as exalted beings who had been saved and raised. At the same time, scripture made clear that angels do not minister to this earth except those who “belong or have belonged to it” 16, grounding angelic activity in covenantal relationships rather than universal intervention. Elder Dallin H. Oaks later reflected on how the Aaronic Priesthood holds “the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism” 17, showing how early Church leaders connected angelic ministry to practical, priesthood-mediated salvation. This development transformed angelology from a speculative topic into an integral part of the restored Church’s soteriology, emphasizing that angels serve God’s children in obedience, preparation, and comfort throughout the mortal and immortal realms.

Angels in Connection with Other Doctrines and Practices

Angelic ministry intersects directly with the Aaronic Priesthood and the sacrament, grounding angelic service in the ordinary rhythms of Latter-day Saint worship. The Aaronic Priesthood holds “the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism” 17, linking priestly duties to the broader work of angels who prepare mortals for eternal life. Elder Dallin H. Oaks observed that as a young holder of the Aaronic Priesthood, he once thought angelic ministry meant only personal appearances, but later recognized its broader role in preparing God’s children 7. This connection shows that the sacrament, performed by ordained priesthood holders, is itself a channel through which angelic blessings are received. The ritual of baptism and the administration of the Lord’s Supper are not isolated acts; they are the very mechanisms by which angels minister to the living, guiding them toward repentance and eternal glory 14.

In personal revelation and daily spiritual practice, angels are not distant figures but present companions who comfort, guide, and warn. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland taught that “most often it is to comfort, to provide some form of merciful attention, guidance in difficult times” 9. When Lehi was lost in a “dark and dreary waste,” an angel appeared to lead him to safety 9, illustrating how angelic intervention meets individuals in moments of need. Revelation itself is often angelically mediated; Elder Neal A. Maxwell noted that “the process of revelation typically involves angels and prophets” 18, and that Joseph Smith experienced frequent angelic visitations during his later years. Even in the afterlife, righteous individuals become “ministering servants, to minister for those who are worthy of a far more, and an exceeding, and an eternal weight of glory” 19. Thus, angels bridge the living and the departed, the earthly and the eternal, making divine presence tangible in both sacred ritual and private prayer.

Common Misunderstandings: What Angels Are Not

A common error is to confuse angels with demonic beings, who are spiritual entities that oppose God’s purposes. The Church teaches that angels and demons are fundamentally opposed in nature and mission. Angels are resurrected personages who have been cleansed of sin and serve God in obedience, whereas demons are fallen spirits who actively deceive and lead people away from the truth. As Moroni explains, “But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him” 20. The distinction is clear: angels bring people closer to Christ, while the devil’s angels pull them away.

Another misunderstanding is to equate angels with abstract forces or impersonal powers. Some people imagine angels as mere energy fields or symbolic representations of divine intervention. Yet Latter-day Saint doctrine emphasizes that angels are personal beings with individual wills, bodies, and relationships. They speak, act, and serve in ways that reflect personality and purpose. Elder Mark E. Petersen clarified this by pointing out that even Adam, the first angel, is not God’s Son, because the Apostle Paul wrote in his epistle to the Hebrews: “Unto which of the angels said he [God] at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee?” (Heb. 1:5). And of course the answer is immediate and obvious—none of them—none of the angels, not even Adam, or Michael, the chief of the angels 21. This distinction preserves the uniqueness of Christ’s divine nature while honoring angels as created servants. They are not God, nor are they impersonal phenomena; they are beings who choose to serve, just as we do.

Why Angels Matter in Ordinary Life

Angels are not distant celestial figures who operate independently of our daily struggles; they are woven into the fabric of ordinary life as quiet, reliable sources of comfort and direction. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles) explained that while we do not always notice them, angels are “always near,” and their most common mission is to “comfort, to provide some form of merciful attention, guidance in difficult times” 9. This ministry is not reserved for extraordinary moments. When individuals face personal grief, financial strain, or spiritual uncertainty, the presence of an angel can offer a tangible sense of God’s care. As Elder Carlos A. Godoy (Of the Presidency of the Seventy) noted, angels are “powerful reminders of God’s love for us” 22, reminding believers that they are never alone in their trials.

Belief in angelic ministry also strengthens personal prayer and covenant keeping. When we pray sincerely and live in accordance with our covenants, we align ourselves with the patterns of heaven, making us more receptive to angelic visitation. Elder Boyd K. Packer (Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles) reminded listeners that angels have never “ceased to appear unto the children of men,” and their continued ministry is part of the gospel promise 23. Moreover, those who die righteous are appointed as “ministering servants, to minister for those who are worthy of a far more, and an exceeding, and an eternal weight of glory” 24, which includes guiding and comforting the living through the veil. President James E. Faust (Second Counselor in the First Presidency) emphasized that faithful ancestors may receive missions to visit loved ones on earth, bringing “messages of love, of warning, or reproof and instruction” 25. Recognizing this ongoing ministry encourages believers to live faithfully now, knowing that angelic support is both present and purposeful in their daily lives.

If you wish to explore angelic ministry more deeply, several talks and scriptures offer focused insight. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, observed that “God has used angels as His emissaries in conveying love and concern for His children” throughout all dispensations 9. His talk The Ministry of Angels walks through scriptural examples, showing how angelic visits have consistently served as moments of guidance, comfort, or warning. For instance, Holland notes that while angels are “usually such beings are not seen,” they are “always near,” and their most frequent purpose is “to comfort, to provide some form of merciful attention, guidance in difficult times” 9. These accounts remind readers that angelic ministry is woven into ordinary spiritual life.

Another valuable resource is the Doctrine and Covenants, which contains several revelations about angels. Verse 8 of D&C 77 identifies four angels sent to “save life and to destroy” and to “commit to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people” the “everlasting gospel” 3. This passage underscores the dual nature of angelic work: preserving and protecting while also enforcing divine boundaries. Additionally, Mosiah 3:2 and 2 Nephi 32:3 teach that angels “speak by the power of the Holy Ghost” and deliver “the words of Christ,” making them reliable conduits of gospel truth 1026. Reading these passages alongside modern talks can help readers see how angelic ministry connects ancient revelation with contemporary understanding.

Footnotes

  1. Doctrine and Covenants 128:21. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  2. Doctrine and Covenants 77:9. ↩ ↩2

  3. Doctrine and Covenants 77:8. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  4. Doctrine and Covenants 132:17. ↩

  5. Doctrine and Covenants 129:1. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  6. Doctrine and Covenants 130:6. ↩

  7. Oaks, Dallin H. (1998-10-01). "The Aaronic Priesthood and the Sacrament". ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  8. Holmes, Douglas D. (2018-04-01). "What Every Aaronic Priesthood Holder Needs to Understand". ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  9. Holland, Jeffrey R. (2008-10-01). "The Ministry of Angels". ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9

  10. 2 Nephi 32:3. ↩ ↩2

  11. Alma 10:9. ↩

  12. 1 Nephi 13:21. ↩

  13. Moroni 7:36. ↩

  14. Petersen, Mark E. (1983-10-01). "The Angel Moroni Came!". ↩ ↩2

  15. Nelson, Russell M. (1988-11-22). "Thanks for the Covenant". ↩

  16. Doctrine and Covenants 130:5. ↩

  17. "10. Aaronic Priesthood Quorums". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ↩ ↩2

  18. Maxwell, Neal A. (1986-10-01). "“God Will Yet Reveal”". ↩

  19. Kimball, Spencer W. (1973-09-30). "Marriage is Honorable". ↩

  20. Moroni 7:17. ↩

  21. Petersen, Mark E. (1980-10-01). "Adam, the Archangel". ↩

  22. Godoy, Carlos A. (2020-10-01). "I Believe in Angels". ↩

  23. Packer, Boyd K. (1980-04-01). "A Tribute to the Rank and File of the Church". ↩

  24. Doctrine and Covenants 132:16. ↩

  25. Faust, James E. (2006-04-01). "A Royal Priesthood". ↩

  26. Maxwell, Neal A. (1990-02-04). "The Children of Christ". ↩