Angels Have Charge Over Them

The Savior taught His disciples this about children and angels: “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 18:10). These words imply at least two things. First, there are indeed angels watching over our children. And second, those angels are in the presence of the Father, implying that their care over our children will be in reality His care over them. One example of angels caring over children is found in the story of Christ Himself as a baby. We read that while Jesus was yet in the womb, “the angel of the Lord appeared unto [Joseph] in a dream” and helped him understand who Jesus was and be prepared to care for him (Matthew 1:20).  Joseph became from that time forth a protector for Jesus. When the young Jesus was threatened by Herod, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.” Jesus was saved from Herod through the intervention of an angel. Once Herod was dead, “An angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel” (Matthew 2:13, 19-20). Once again Jesus was watched over by an angel and led to where He needed to be. Surely there were many other times as a child that angels watched over Him. During His mortal ministry we see that angels did not stop helping Him. After His temptations in the wilderness, “Behold, angels came and ministered unto him” (Matthew 4:11). When He suffered in the garden of Gethsemane, “There appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him” (Luke 22:43). And even after He died, “And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow” (Matthew 28:2-3). The angels were still watching over Him, even after His crucifixion. And if angels watched over Him, will they not watch over us as well? These examples to me suggest that the angels that watch over our children do not stop when our children reach a certain age; His promise of old surely still applies: “For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways” (Psalm 91:11).

            One of the messages of the Restoration is that there are angels who are sent to watch over and help us. Joseph’s experiences alone with Moroni and other angels such as Peter, James, and John are a witness to that. The Book of Mormon was also “confirmed to others by the ministering of angels” (Doctrine and Covenants 20:10). The Lord declared in one revelation, “I now confirm upon you who are present this day, by mine own voice out of the heavens; and even I have given the heavenly hosts and mine angels charge concerning you…. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up” (Doctrine and Covenants 84:42, 88). Angels indeed have charge over us. In another revelation the Savior declared, “The angels rejoice over you; the alms of your prayers have come up into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are recorded in the book of the names of the sanctified, even them of the celestial world” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:2). Angels are so involved in what is happening here on earth that they rejoice over us when we do what is right. During the difficulties in Missouri, the Lord said, “But I say unto you: Mine angels shall go up before you, and also my presence, and in time ye shall possess the goodly land” (Doctrine and Covenants 103:20). Angels prepare the way before us. In the prayer of the dedication of the Kirtland Temple, Joseph prayed, “And we ask thee, Holy Father, that thy servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy name may be upon them, and thy glory be round about them, and thine angels have charge over them” (Doctrine and Covenants 109:22). Angels reveal and rejoice, they watch over and bear up, they go before and have charge over us. The Father indeed watches over us and our children, and He uses angels to do so.