Our Guardian Angels

Read about guardian angels:

• “Guardian Angels” by Kurt Horigan Asplundh (ages 18 and up)
  Angels take joy in leading us to heaven.
• “Princess Angiola and the Ivory Tower” by Amena Pendleton Haines (ages 6-12)
  In the woods where the Princess Angiola often played, and where she had once followed the white fawn, was a tower.
• “The Casket of Jewels” by Amena Pendleton Haines
  In ancient times there lived a Goldsmith named Coniah.
• “Angels and Spirits” by Brian W. Keith (ages 18 and up)
  Is there any truth in the claim that “the devil made me do it?” Explore how the evil spirits try to distort our thinking so that we will do what is wrong and justify our actions. Learn how the angels inspire us with uplifting thoughts to counterbalance the influences of hell.
• Angels Watching Over Us (ages 16 and up)
  Selected quotations about the way the Lord leads us with the help of angels.
• Angels in Our Lives—Ideas for Discussion (ages 15-17)
  Look at the story of David and Abigail in 1 Samuel 25 to explore the presence of angels in our lives.

Ideas for discussion

1. The Lord makes sure that we have guardian angels watching over us. But we are free to choose between doing what is good or what is evil.
2. Every person, so long as he is living in the world, walks midway between heaven and hell and is thereby in equilibrium, and thus in freedom of choice either to look upwards to God or downwards to hell (True Christian Religion 69:3).
3. Why is it so important for us to have spiritual freedom? Because life in heaven must be freely chosen or it will not bring us happiness. So, the Lord provides that every person has angels and evil spirits with him, ensuring spiritual equilibrium—the freedom to choose good or evil, turning to heaven or toward hell.
4. Evil spirits are people who lived on this earth and chose to live in hell instead of heaven. They hate the Lord and all that is good and true, so their goal is to lead people to hell to harm them. Without the protection that the Lord provides, we would have no hope of making our eternal home in heaven.
5. How can we invite the angels to be close to us and send evil spirits further away? (By looking to the Lord, reading His Word, and trying to apply it to our lives. And if unwelcome thoughts come into our minds, we can try to think about something good and true instead.)
6. The Lord and His angels are always near, lending a silent hand, quietly guiding and helping, as much as we will allow them. No matter how depressed or sad we may be, the Lord provides immeasurable angelic support to see us through.
7. What are some stories in the Word that mention angels helping people? In the Old Testament angels helped Hagar (Gen. 16), Elijah (1 Kings 19), Elisha (2 Kings 6) and Daniel in the den of lions (Dan. 6). In the New Testament, an angel appeared to Joseph and told him to take Mary and the infant Lord to Egypt (Matt. 2).
8. Nothing gives the angels greater delight and happiness than to remove evils from a person and lead him to heaven. This is their joy (Arcana Coelestia 5992:3).

Projects and activities for various ages:

• Picture Angels Nearby (ages 4-10)
  Show beautiful angels nearby, ready to help you.
• Inviting the Angels or Evil Spirits (ages 4-10)
  Use stick puppets to show that guardian angels are closer to us when we do something kind but move away when we do something hurtful.
• Angels and Spirits with Us Mobile (ages 4-10)
  Make a mobile showing guardian angels and evil spirits near us.
• Angels Nearby when Reading the Word Coloring Page by Marguerite L. Acton
  Shows guardian angels with a child who is reading the Word.
• Easy Angel Snowflake Pattern (ages 7-14)
  Fold and cut to produce a beautiful snowflake of angels.
• Like a Beam of Light (ages 11-17)
  Two activities exploring the influence of the angels which is compared to a beam of light made up of countless truths present within good.
• Guardian Angels and Our Thoughts (ages 15-17)
  This chart helps you compare the kinds of thoughts and feelings that evil spirits bring to our minds with the ones angels bring to our minds.
• Notice the Angels by Donnette Alfelt (ages 15 and up)
  Angels are messengers from the Lord who feel joy when they can touch and serve us.
• Food for Thought: How Angels Lead and Protect Us (ages 15 and up)
  Reflect on how angels lead and protect us. The true-false questions may prompt a good discussion of these ideas.

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