Blaine: I will give this another shot,
hopefully some light will emerge.
First, Mormonism teaches
there is no such thing as an angel that was not one of God's spirit children to
begin with. In other words, there is not a special category of
beings called angels, apart from the children of God. This may be the
problem--I have wondered if we have not been using the same word, but meaning
different things.
Mormonism teaches that angels
can be any one of four different categories: spirits,
resurrected beings, righteous men who are alive, or translated
beings. All angels appearing on this earth are in some way one of
these categories.
Angels as
Spirits
JS taught that a spirit child of the Father
may appear in its glory to those on earth. He taught that angels such
as those appearing to Elizabeth and Mary, were such spirits. They may have
lived on earth previous to their appearance. Or, they may yet live on the
earth--either way, they are not yet resurrected beings (Jesus was the
firstfruits of the resurrection). Jehovah, who appeared to Moses, was not an angel but a God, but
was in spirit form. He would later take on flesh and be known as Jesus
Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God. When he appears again, however, he
will appear in the flesh, as a resurrected being, a personage with a body of
flesh and bone, but not blood. He will be spiritual, not carnal, by
nature. He will be a purified, sanctified, glorified personage, with the
glory of the sun as being typical. Such is also the potential of those who
seek to become like him, through his grace and his mediation. (See below,
angels as resurrected beings.)
Angels as
resurrected Beings
JS taught that angels can also be persons
who have lived on the earth in the flesh, and have since been resurrected.
These cannot have been resurrected before the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the
first fruits of the resurrection, however. Such an angel (Moroni) JS
saw when given the gold plates to translate, and when given the Priesthood (John
the Baptist, and Peter and James)--also when given PH keys to work for the dead,
the gathering of Israel, and the keys to the dispensation of Abraham, by
such angels as Elijah, Moses, and Elias. These angels appear in
glorified form, surrounded by light. They are sanctified and
purified, as they speak by the power of the Holy Ghost, and act
under God's command and are therefore subordinate to him. But their
powers are similar to those of God, who gives them his powers, since they are
not just his servants, but are his proven friends. Abraham was one
such friend. (Isaiah 41:8); so was Moses (Exodus 33:11).
So are all those who keep His commandments (John 15:13-14 "Greater love
hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends; Ye are
my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you").
Angels as righteous men who
were alive at the time
There were two angels who visited Abraham
and later Lot in Sodom who were apparently righteous men who lived at that time
and who were given the mission of carrying out the destruction of Sodom and
Gomorah.
Angels as men who have been
translated
To Mormons, the word translated means to
have been changed so as not to be subject to the powers of the earth, but who
still have not died and been resurrected. John the beloved was
told by the Lord he could tarry until Jesus came again. We
believe there are others to whom this state has been granted.
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Miller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Saturday, February 07, 2004 7:15
AM
Subject: RE: [TruthTalk] Adams FALL
UPWARD
"two-thirds" of the "hosts of heaven" as all being angels.
Blaine wrote:
> The other two-thirds are you and I
and Blaine also wrote:
> I doubt if I was ever an angel but I am sure
> I was a spirit personage in premortal life.
The only way to avoid a contradiction that I see is if the two-thirds
were comprised of both angels and another category of spirit beings.
So does this mean that the one-third who were deceived were not all
angels, and the two-thirds who were not deceived were not all angels?
What is the difference between a "spirit personage" and an angel?
As far as I know, in Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox
thought, these "hosts of heaven" (the two-thirds not deceived and the
one-third who were deceived) would all be angels. Apparently in Mormon
thought they are not? Mormons, please help us understand your thinking
here. Thanks.
Peace be with you.
David Miller, Beverly Hills, Florida.
p.s. In Protestant thought, the one-third who were deceived are not the
demons that roam the earth. Rather, they are imprisoned now in
Tartarus, a place of hell specially reserved for them.
----------
"Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org
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