To be blessed with the Tongue of Angels is to have a blessing indeed. Quoted in scripture, by prophets, apostles and saints throughout the centuries; the phrase “tongue of angels” has been used to describe speaking through the spirit; or more correctly put, the spirit speaking through you. Yet how can we, as latter day saints, speak with the tongue of angels? Must you have “conversed with angels” [1] as Alma, or seen visions as Nephi had, to speak with this tongue? In response to this question, Nephi replied “Do ye not remember that I said unto you that after ye had received the Holy Ghost ye could speak with the tongue of angels?” [2]. Yet not immediately after you receive the holy ghost can you speak with this new tongue, one must go through a process to become worthy of this great gift.
Speaking with the tongue of angels is the highest level of listening to the spirit. One can have feelings, whisperings, and all kinds of manifestations of the spirit. But to have such a close connection with the spirit that it can work through you with no interference, no intermediary, that is truly having the tongue of an angel. It can a testimony to you and, if you are humble and faithful, to others because the spirit can work though you to teach those around you. In regards to teaching through the spirit Jesus commands “take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say” [3] The spirit is a gift, a tool to preach the gospel, to expound on the scriptures and enlighten those who will listen. The spirit can work through you to teach others, which is the purpose of the tongue of angels. How effectively depends on your own personal faith or testimony. Do you have such closeness with the spirit that it can work through you unhindered?
Once this closeness to the spirit is attained, you must have such a testimony that you will never deny the workings of the spirit, for to do so would go against the witness that one must have in order to attain this gift and is one of the worst sins a person could commit. Nephi also warns that once one “can speak with a new tongue, yea, even with the tongue of angels, and after this should deny [God], it would have been better for you that ye had not known [God].”[4] These are powerful words. Before you plead with the lord to have such a gift given, to have such a witness, you must first plead with yourself that you will have the faith and diligence necessary to never denounce or fall from the witness that you desire. God will bless us with such a witness only if we are strong enough not to fall from it. Otherwise, if the gift is given, and you fail to be diligent to your faith, as Nephi warned it would be better that you had never known God.
Before we seek to speak with the tongues of angels, we should first seek that we may speak words that would not be contrary to that goal. When an angel speaks, most often it is not of pessimism, discouragement or chastisement; but the words which are spoken are of hope, glad tidings and comfort. As Jeffery R. Holland challenged, “in this long eternal quest to be more like our Savior, may we try to be “perfect” men and women in at least this one way now—by offending not in word, or more positively put, by speaking with a new tongue, the tongue of angels. Our words, like our deeds, should be filled with faith and hope and charity…” [6] If we desire to speak with a divine tongue we must first train ourselves to speak accordingly. As the hymn “In our Lovely Deseret” states, children must learn young “how to watch and guard the tongue” [7]. One cannot one moment speak words of discouragement and contempt then expect the ability to speak of hope and glad tidings. In my experience, although I do not claim to have spoken with the tongue of angels as has been described, you cannot have the spirit with you, which is necessary, if your words, actions and thoughts are not compliant with the teachings of the gospel.
The gospel if given to us to bless us, and so is the spirit. I have seen many times words of comfort given to those in their time of need, and when it seems as though I have a lack of words that could possibly console those who need comfort the most, it seems as though, not by my own power, the needed words of comfort somehow come. The tongue of angels is a blessing, and a great one at that. It has the power to teach; the power to console; the power to heal.
[1] Alma 9:21
[2] 2 N 32:2
[3] Luke 12:11-12
[4] 2 N 32:14
[5] 1 N 18:3
[6] Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Tongue of Angels,” Ensign, May 2007, 16–18
[7] Snow, Eliza R. "Hymn "In our Lovely Deseret""
13 comments:
Your blog has a nice, logical flow. I like your topic and your definitions: but why do you say speaking with the tongue of angels is the highest level of listening to the Spirit? Do you have a personal experience to support these principles?
James, I like your blog! It flows really nicely and the way you say things is very nice. I love your last sentence, it is very powerful. Good job!
I really liked how you connected your topic with the Holy Ghost and expended from there on. It is very inspiring blog! Also, thank you for your testimony :).
Thanks for your blog. I now am motivated to work harder to be able to speak with the tongue of angels.
James - I appreciated how you mentioned that we cannot speak with the tongue of angels unless we have the spirit. Thanks!
"One can have feelings, whisperings, and all kinds of manifestations of the spirit. But to have such a close connection with the spirit that it can work through you with no interference, no intermediary, that is truly having the tongue of an angel." I have never thought about this subject as deeply as you have. It just reminds me of the higher law of this gospel, and how fortunate are we to have it! Thank you for this post:)
I enjoyed how you portrayed the tongue of angels as a close relationship with the holy ghost. I also liked your testimony.
That was a great connection that you made that to be able to speak with the tounge of angels one must first listen to the Spirit. It is interesting that we must listen first instead of speaking first.
This is great for those preparing for a mission. They can become more in tune with the spirit and subsequently be able to spread and teach the gospel more effectively.
I can totally identify with having situations where I have spoken words that could not have been my own. The pure among us can truly be used as vessels of Christ.
I never knew there was such a thing as speaking with the tongues of angels. Thanks for educating me about another great topic. Your testimony was great as well.
I love the way you describe the spirit and the amazing gift of tongues. You make it sound so precious, which it truly is. And I am eternally grateful for such a gift.
I really enjoyed how you said that it is an aspiration to speak with the tongue of angels. One must truly be led by the spirit with a great meausure to do this.
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