The Celestial Mechanics of Angels: Beyond the Sculpted Image

How readily we reduce the sublime to the mundane. Tom Scott, a creator I generally appreciate, stumbled into this error in a recent video concerning angels. His immediate reaction wasn't one of reverence, but of dismissal – a rejection of the scriptural descriptions in favor of a facile, modern aesthetic. It's a tendency, I suspect, shared by many in our increasingly secular age: to shrink the infinite to the size of a comfortable feeling.

The problem isn’t Scott’s aesthetic preferences, per se. The Angel of the North is a striking piece of art. But the issue lies in the assumption that the biblical descriptions of angelic beings are simply inaccurate or require a cynical reinterpretation. Where is the humility, the willingness to accept that our limited minds might struggle to fully grasp the nature of the divine?

Consider the Cherubim, described in Ezekiel 1:6-18 as having four faces – a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle. Each of these animals carries symbolic weight. The ox, representing strength and servitude. The lion, signifying royalty and dominion. The eagle, embodying ascension and prophetic vision. Are we to believe these are merely arbitrary choices, or do they point to a deeper, layered truth about God’s nature and His interactions with His creation? D&C 77 further clarifies, “And these are the angels, and they are many. And they call themselves the rulers, but Jesus Christ is the ruler of all.”

Then there are the Thrones, described as a wheel within a wheel, covered in eyes (Ezekiel 1:16). This isn't a whimsical design; it is a representation of God's omnipresence and omniscience. Each wheel, a complete and self-contained system, moving in perfect harmony within another, signifying a divine order beyond our comprehension. To dismiss this imagery as “not looking like that gorgeous thing” is to demonstrate a profound lack of faith, a refusal to engage with the profound language of revelation.

The Brethren have consistently emphasized the importance of approaching scripture with humility and a sincere desire to understand. President Eyring, in numerous addresses, has spoken of the need to seek the Spirit in our study, recognizing that we cannot fully comprehend the mysteries of God’s plan without His divine assistance. To pre-judge the scriptures, to impose our own limited perspectives upon them, is to invite darkness and misunderstanding. As Nephi taught, “And I did open the scriptures unto them and I did give them that I should speak unto them…and I did testify unto them that those things which I spoke were according to the spirit and according of the truth” (2 Nephi 37:42).

The Restoration isn't merely about new scripture; it's about a renewed understanding of the ancient texts. It’s about recognizing that the language of prophecy, while seemingly archaic, is layered with symbolic meaning that reveals deeper truths about God, His plan, and His dealings with mankind. To dismiss these truths because they don't conform to our modern sensibilities is a grave error, one that separates us from the Spirit and hinders our progress along the iron rod.

Let us strive to cultivate a spirit of reverence and inquiry in our scriptural study. Let us seek the guidance of the Spirit and the wisdom of the prophets and apostles. And let us remember that the true nature of God is far grander and more magnificent than anything we can imagine.