Angels With Us

Two Sundays ago, my husband and I took our oldest son to a meeting at our church. Our bishop was speaking to the young men of our ward and their parents. It was a positive experience, and we felt the Spirit very strongly. I love that Greg and I were able to talk to our son during the short drive home about what we felt that night, for our son is still growing in his testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and his understanding of how The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints benefits our lives.

Even though the meeting was meant mainly for the young men of our ward, I took a wonderful lesson away from our bishop's words as well. Now, I have read the scriptures that our bishop referenced many times before, but that night, I felt something stir within me as I heard him speak about those profound verses.

2 Kings 6:15-17 reads:

15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? 

16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. 

17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

Interestingly, just four days later, those scriptural words rushed into my mind after I experienced a heart-trying event. I know it was not a coincidence that I was instantly reminded of those lovely words in my moment of dejected sorrow. I was immediately buoyed up! My sad tears turned to an intense feeling of warmth and love for me from the other side. Yes, this experience reaffirmed that my ward's bishop is absolutely the right person for that calling.

I feel those verses apply to each and every soul! If people would just open their hearts and minds to the possibility of heavenly help (It's real!), I believe our world would be a much happier place.

I've believed in angels for as long as I can remember, I know they've been with me throughout my life for I have felt their presence. Yet after losing several people I love, heavenly help is that much more real to me. Like anyone, I've experienced the hills and valleys of spirituality. Thankfully, as my life has continued, steady spiritual progression is the norm for me, and my spiritual plateaus are becoming scarce. It's a delightful feeling!

Oh, how I would love it if everyone could internalize the above scriptures and really feel the spirit that comes with them. For I truly believe that we all have angels looking out for us. I don't know if they are with us every minute of every day, but I believe angels are with us quite often. If we could remove the spiritual blinders from our eyes, we would see generations of our extended family members all around us, ready and waiting to help at a moment's notice!

I'd like to continue this happy thought with what is shared in Romans 8:31:

31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Yes, God has created this glorious Plan of Happiness for us, which includes the supreme blessing of angelic help. Knowledge that our loved ones—our angels—are with us, gives us much to be joyful about. We truly have nothing to fear! :)

*To learn more about the role that angels (heavenly and mortal) play in our lives, please watch, read, or listen to this uplifting talk, "The Ministry of Angels", by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland.