2 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? And now, how could ye speak with the tongue of angels save it were by the Holy Ghost?
3 Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do. (2 Nephi 2-3, Book of Mormon)
The Book of Mormon teaches us that after we have been baptized and received the Gift of the Holy Ghost, we can speak with the tongue of angels. What an amazing gift that is! Of course, such an amazing gift also comes with amazing responsibility. Verse three explains that angels speak only by the power of the Holy Ghost. So what do they speak of? They teach the words of Christ. In other words, they teach the truth.
When we let people know we’re Christians, do we keep in mind that God expects us to speak with the tongue of angels? Do our words adequately represent who we are—a representative of the Savior? Do our tongues speak only the truth?
The first step to learning to speak with the tongue of angels is to find out what the truth really is. If we want to represent him properly, we have a tremendous obligation to find out what is true and to share only that. How do we know what’s true? We can ask someone we know, but people, even famous spiritual leaders, can be wrong. There are millions of people who have preached God’s word, but many of those people contradict each other. God is not a God of confusion. There can only be one truth. If the law of gravity is true, it can’t also be false. It’s our responsibility to find out what is true. Refusing to take on that responsibility makes us an irresponsible representative of the Savior.
So if we can’t necessarily trust men, who do we ask? We ask God, of course. He knows the entire truth, and will never mislead us. We can turn to Him in prayer and ask Him what is true and what we are to share with others. Following His instructions, instructions that came directly from Him, is the first step.
Once we’re on the right path, we must, as Nephi said, feast on the words of Christ. We need to study the scriptures in depth and make certain we know them well. Then we can teach only the truth, as God wants it taught.
From that moment on, we must guard our tongue to be sure it’s always representing God and the Savior well. We must speak with a voice of kindness and love, with an inviting voice, not one that turns people away because of attacks and belittlement.
When we speak lovingly God’s own words, and the words of Christ, we speak with the tongue of angels. What a wonderful gift!
The late Terrie Lynn Bittner—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend—was the author of two homeschooling books and numerous articles, including several that appeared in Latter-day Saint magazines. She became a member of the Church at the age of 17 and began sharing her faith online in 1992.
