After the visitation of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, to the Prophet Joseph Smith, many other heavenly messengers visited Joseph and helped usher in this final dispensation, said Brian L. Smith.
"Though we do not know how many angelic messengers appeared to the Prophet — or the purpose of some of their visits — we do know the circumstances and the nature of many of these visits," said Brother Smith, an instructor at the Orem (Utah) Institute of Religion. "Heavenly beings came to Joseph Smith to unfold the majesty and glory of future events, to warn, to admonish, and to teach the maturing prophet. Former prophets and apostles returned priesthood keys to re-establish the Church with divinely recognized authority once again upon the earth."
Brother Smith spoke on the "Ministry of Angelic Messengers to the Prophet Joseph Smith" at the Sydney B. Sperry Symposium in October. He said that Moroni, who was the last prophet of the Book of Mormon, appeared more times than any other angel on record in this dispensation. Beginning with his first appearance at the Smith log home in Palmyra on Sept. 21, 1823, he appeared to Joseph and others at least 22 times, said Brother Smith. He taught Joseph and prophesied of his work.
Brother Smith said Church members today can find a partial list of Moroni's teachings to Joseph Smith at Cumorah — before he received the gold plates — in a letter written by Oliver Cowdery to William W. Phelps:
The things of God must be done with express view of glorifying God, not for gaining wealth.
Joseph could not obtain the plates unless he kept the commandments.
He must understand the difference between good and evil, holy and profane, in order never to be overcome by the wicked one.
If Joseph was ever to obtain the gold plates, it must be by prayer and faithfulness to obeying the Lord.
The Book of Mormon was sealed by Moroni with a prayer of faith.
The Book of Mormon contains the fulness of the gospel.
The Gentiles and the house of Israel would be brought into the fold if they believed in the Book of Mormon.
The former inhabitants of this land were promised that their descendants would receive the Book of Mormon record.
The plates contained sacred writings and could be obtained and understood only by the power of God. They could be translated only by the gift and power of God.
The Book of Mormon could not be translated through the learning of the world. The worldly would want the record only for the value of the plates of precious metal.
By the Book of Mormon, God would do a great and marvelous work, which would show the power of God, expose the unwise learning of the world, and comfort the faithful with great signs and wonders.
The record would go to every nation.
The workers of iniquity would seek Joseph's overthrow, to destroy his reputation, and even take his life.
Joseph would be preserved and would acquire the plates, after which the holy priesthood would be conferred and the Church would be established.
The Church would continue to grow, even though persecutions would increase.
In time, the ten tribes would return, and the Lord would come to Zion.
Joseph's name would be known among the nations, causing the righteous to rejoice and the wicked to rage.
