Doctrine and Covenants Commentary - Section 129

by Don R. Hender

All administrations from heaven to earth are done by the power of the priesthood and that priesthood key which is refered to as the 'ministering of angels'. The Prophet Joseph Smith correctly gives the grand keys for determining if such administration is from heaven or not. But his grouping of such messengers and administrators is incomplete, though the tests still apply as he properly set them out. The incompleteness of Joseph's identifying such messengers from heaven leaves out those of ministering spirits who have not yet come to earth. There are various examples of this but the prime example is Jehovah himself. He came frequently in the Old Testament delivering messages and speaking with man face to face. The brother of Jared in the Book of Mormon saw the finger of the Lord and then the Lord himself as the Lord ministered unto his needs of providing light in the Jaredite barges. Moses was visited by Jehovah and then by Satan in the book of Moses. Thus one should consider that Satan and his 'angels' are also of this nature as they are spirits who will never have bodies. Joseph's explanation could be considered complete if one expands the concept of 'just men made perfect' to include such righteous spirit administrators both before and after their earth life. And it should be clarified that they all can be referred to as 'angels', even the evil spirits who do appear, appear as 'angels' (even angels of light). Thus the need for discerning between them.
Why Joseph Smith was not particular to cover all three types of 'angels' from heaven can be presumed. Joseph's only messagers, being the prophet of the last dispensation, was by those who had all lived upon the earth at one time or another before Joseph's day. We do not have any account that Joseph was ever visited by a ministering spirit who was yet to come to earth and yet to receive his body. Thus from Joseph's personal experience, he only considers men who have lived here and who are resurrected or men who have lived here and who are not resurrected. Joseph's personal experience just does not include such administrations by spirits before their earthly mortality. And perhaps all such premortal administrations are all complete though the administration of the Holy Ghost does still continue.

Scriptural Text [& Editorial] Commentary & Explanation Footnotes ~ References ~ JST

Instructions given by Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Nauvoo, Illinois, February 9, 1843, making known three grand keys by which the correct nature of ministering angels and spirits may be distinguished. HC 5:267.

1—3, There are both resurrected and spirit bodies in heaven;
4—9, Keys are given whereby messengers from beyond the veil may be identified.

D&C 129:1 THERE are two kinds of beings in ^aheaven, namely: ^bAngels, who are ^cresurrected personages, having ^dbodies of flesh and bones—
D&C 129:2 For instance, Jesus said: Handle me and see, for a spirit hath not ^aflesh and bones, as ye see me have.
D&C 129:3 Secondly: the ^aspirits of ^bjust men made ^cperfect, they who are not resurrected, but inherit the same glory.

D&C 129:4 When a messenger comes saying he has a message from God, offer him your hand and request him to shake hands with you.
D&C 129:5 If he be an angel he will do so, and you will feel his hand.
D&C 129:6 If he be the spirit of a just man made perfect he will come in his glory; for that is the only way he can appear—
D&C 129:7 Ask him to shake hands with you, but he will not move, because it is contrary to the ^aorder of heaven for a just man to ^bdeceive; but he will still deliver his message.
D&C 129:8 If it be the ^adevil as an angel of light, when you ask him to shake hands he will offer you his hand and you will not ^bfeel anything; you may therefore detect him.

D&C 129:9 These are three grand ^akeys whereby you may know whether any administration is from God.

The Three Keys As it may not be readily apparent what the 3 keys are, they will be listed here.
1. If you offer to shake hands with the visitor and he shakes hands and you feel his physical hand in yours, then he is a resurrected being and not an evil spirit.
2. If you offer to shake hands and the visitor does not put forth his hand the shake with you but continues to give his message, then he is a messenger from God, a spirit messenger and he will not attempt to decive you by shaking hands.
3. If you offer to shake hands and the visitor offers his hand and you feel nothing, then you know he is an evil spirit as he has attempted to decive you by offering his hand and you feel noting.
Thus by these three keys, you may not the nature of the messager and whether the ministration is of God of not.

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
Instructions given by Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Nauvoo, Illinois, February 9, 1843, making known three grand keys by which the correct nature of ministering angels and spirits may be distinguished. HC 5:267.
1—3, There are both resurrected and spirit bodies in heaven; 4—9, Keys are given whereby messengers from beyond the veil may be identified.
D&C 129:1 THERE are two kinds of beings in ^aheaven, namely: ^bAngels, who are ^cresurrected personages, having ^dbodies of flesh and bones— D&C 129:2 For instance, Jesus said: Handle me and see, for a spirit hath not ^aflesh and bones, as ye see me have. D&C 129:3 Secondly: the ^aspirits of ^bjust men made ^cperfect, they who are not resurrected, but inherit the same glory.
D&C 129:4 When a messenger comes saying he has a message from God, offer him your hand and request him to shake hands with you. D&C 129:5 If he be an angel he will do so, and you will feel his hand. D&C 129:6 If he be the spirit of a just man made perfect he will come in his glory; for that is the only way he can appear— D&C 129:7 Ask him to shake hands with you, but he will not move, because it is contrary to the ^aorder of heaven for a just man to ^bdeceive; but he will still deliver his message. D&C 129:8 If it be the ^adevil as an angel of light, when you ask him to shake hands he will offer you his hand and you will not ^bfeel anything; you may therefore detect him.
D&C 129:9 These are three grand ^akeys whereby you may know whether any administration is from God. The Three Keys As it may not be readily apparent what the 3 keys are, they will be listed here. 1. If you offer to shake hands with the visitor and he shakes hands and you feel his physical hand in yours, then he is a resurrected being and not an evil spirit. 2. If you offer to shake hands and the visitor does not put forth his hand the shake with you but continues to give his message, then he is a messenger from God, a spirit messenger and he will not attempt to decive you by shaking hands. 3. If you offer to shake hands and the visitor offers his hand and you feel nothing, then you know he is an evil spirit as he has attempted to decive you by offering his hand and you feel noting. Thus by these three keys, you may not the nature of the messager and whether the ministration is of God of not.