Source: Willard Richards Pocket Companion
The Words of Joseph Smith: Page 12
Why I chose this quote?
I love the thought that we should “look for angels” to intervene and assist in our lives. I believe the Lord is involved in our lives, he knows our struggles, and he often sends angels to minister to us. But often we fail to recognize these angels, or worse, because we are not looking for them, we often live below our privilege and don’t receive their angelic help.
Additional Context
The later part of the quote about trying or proving the spirits is sourced in the New Testament, 1 John 4:1, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” John goes on to expound on this concept in verses 2 through 7:
“2) Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3) And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 4) Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5) They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 6) We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. 7) Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.”
And to give further context, the prophet Joseph Smith’s cousin George A. Smith once said, “There was no point upon which the Prophet Joseph dwelt more than the discerning of Spirits” (“Minutes of Meetings held in Provo City,” 28 November 1869, Church Archives).
