What Are Angels?

Members of the human family — messengers, ministers, and fellow servants in God’s eternal plan

In the gospel of Jesus Christ, angels are understood to be members of the human family who serve as divine messengers. They can be spirits who have not yet been born into mortality, translated beings who have not yet experienced death, or resurrected beings who have already lived on the earth and have been raised to immortality (see Bible Dictionary, “Angels”; Doctrine & Covenants 129:1).

Do Angels Have Wings?

In popular art and culture, angels are often depicted with wings, halos, and radiant garments, living among clouds. However, scriptural accounts — particularly those emphasized in Latter-day Saint teachings — tend to describe angels more simply as divine messengers who look much like ordinary people. Though some biblical prophets (e.g., Isaiah, Ezekiel, and John in Revelation) describe winged beings in visions (often called seraphim or cherubim), these may represent a specific class of heavenly beings or symbolic creatures rather than the typical “angelic personage” who visits mortals with a message from God.

Are Angels a Separate Race of Beings?

Some outside the LDS faith (and some Christians generally) see angels as a superior, separately created race. However, Latter-day Saint doctrine teaches that angels are closely related to us — literally our brothers and sisters in God’s family. In scripture, angels are often called “men” or “messengers”:

Angels Called “Men” in Scripture

  • Daniel 9:21 — Gabriel is called “the man Gabriel”
  • Genesis 18:2 — Angels who visited Abraham appeared as ordinary travelers; Lot did not initially realize they were angels (Genesis 19:1–3)
  • Joshua 5:13 — The angel who stood before Joshua is introduced simply as a “man”
  • Mark 16:5; Luke 24:4; John 20:12 — Angels at the tomb of Christ described as “young men” clothed in white garments

In each of these instances, angels appear very similar to mortal men — no wings, no features that would separate them from the human family in appearance. The Bible Dictionary (LDS edition) clarifies that angels are “messengers of the Lord” and may be “spirits of just men made perfect” (see also Doctrine & Covenants 129:3).

What Does Scripture Say About People Becoming Angels?

The notion that people might become angels after death has biblical precedent and is strengthened by modern revelation:

People Equal to or Becoming Angels

  • Luke 20:36 — Jesus teaches that those worthy of the resurrection “are equal unto the angels”
  • Matthew 22:30; Mark 12:25 — In the resurrection, we will be like the angels in heaven
  • Revelation 19:10 — An angel instructs John not to worship him: “I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus”
  • Doctrine & Covenants 129 — Angels are “resurrected personages” with bodies of flesh and bones — those who once lived on earth and have been raised to immortality

Additionally, the creation story in Genesis details the creation of animals, plants, stars, oceans, and finally man — but it never explicitly mentions the creation of angels as a separate event. Latter-day Saints typically interpret this to mean that angels are not a distinct race but are indeed part of God’s family: humans who have taken on that role as divine messengers.

Are Angels Superior to Humans?

From an LDS standpoint, angels possess great power and glory, often surpassing mortal comprehension. Yet scripture shows that angels are “fellowservants” and “brethren” (Revelation 19:10). They have passed through the trials of mortality or else await mortality. Their greater glory is not because they are inherently a different species, but because they have advanced in righteousness and been blessed with greater light (see Doctrine & Covenants 50:24).

We also learn that mortals who are exalted become “joint-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17) — receiving power, glory, and dominion. Thus, the gulf between mortal humans and angels is less about belonging to different races and more about the difference in spiritual progression or resurrected status.

Fallen Angels

In Latter-day Saint teachings, the “angels who kept not their first estate” (Jude 1:6) refer to those spirits in our premortal life who rebelled against God’s plan. They never received physical bodies, so they remain spirits of darkness under the direction of Lucifer (see Revelation 12:7–9). While these fallen angels are “sons of God” in the sense that they were once part of His heavenly family, they are now cut off from His presence. They do not come to earth in mortal bodies but act as adversaries to God’s children.

Summary of Key Points

  1. “Angel” Means “Messenger.” In Hebrew (mal’akh) and Greek (angelos), “angel” is not a racial designation but a functional one — someone who conveys a divine message.
  2. They Are Often Called “Men.” Scripture commonly calls angels “men,” highlighting their human lineage and personal identity.
  3. They Look Human. With few exceptions (symbolic visions), angels appear as glorified humans, sometimes shining with heavenly light.
  4. No Separate Creation Account. The Bible never narrates a unique creation event for angels, suggesting they are part of the human family.
  5. Angels Are Our “Fellowservants.” They share our divine parentage and testify of the same truths, encouraging us to worship God alone.
  6. We Can Become Angels — and Beyond. Through Christ’s Atonement and resurrection, faithful Saints can “shine forth as the sun” (Matthew 13:43) and become “as the angels” (Luke 20:36). Eventually, we can become joint-heirs with Christ, receiving eternal life and exaltation (Romans 8:17; Doctrine & Covenants 76:50–70).

Conclusion

For those within the LDS faith, the doctrine of angels reassures us of God’s plan for His children: we are not inherently separate from the angels in heaven. Rather, angels are our brothers and sisters who have progressed or who serve as special messengers. We worship only God, but we honor angels as fellow servants who stand ready to minister to us (see Moroni 7:29–37).

When we let the power of Christ’s Atonement transform and perfect us — through faith, repentance, covenants, and endurance — we are promised a share in the glory and happiness angels have. Truly, our Father in Heaven desires that each of us receives “all that [He] hath” (Doctrine & Covenants 84:38), becoming joint heirs with Christ and partakers of His divine nature. In this sense, angels remind us of our own divine potential and destiny in God’s eternal plan.

Appendix: Scripture Reference Index

Angels as Men / Humanlike Messengers

Winged Heavenly Beings / Symbolic Visionary Beings

People Becoming Like Angels / Equal to Angels

Angels as Fellowservants / Brethren

Angels Ministering to Mortals

Angels at Christ’s Tomb

Angels Connected with Resurrection, Judgment, and Glory

Human Divine Inheritance / Glorification Beyond Angelic Status

Fallen Angels / Rebellion in Heaven

Angel Means Messenger / Angel as a Role