What a touching talk. 

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland talked about how angels are frequently around us, and how they are usually not seen, but seen or unseen they are always near. He said that sometimes their purpose is to warn but most often it is to comfort; “to provide some form of merciful attention, guidance in difficult times.”

Elder Holland told a very touching story of a young, seven year old boy who got himself into serious danger. Evening was quickly approaching and he didn’t know where he was. He began to cry and amid sobs prayed, “I’m sorry, forgive me” over and over again. Then he saw a figure in white coming toward him and thought, “Would the Lord really send an angel to me, who had been so disobedient?”

The boy, now a man, wrote about the experience and in his own words said,

Then a familiar voice said, ‘Son, I’ve been looking for you.’ In the darkness I recognized the voice of my father and ran to his outstretched arms. He held me tightly, then said gently, ‘I was worried. I’m glad I found you.’

I tried to tell him how sorry I was, but only disjointed words came out of my trembling lips—‘Thank you … darkness … afraid … river … alone.’ Later that night I learned that when I had not returned from the pasture, my father had come looking for me. When neither I nor the cows were to be found, he knew I had crossed the river and was in danger. Because it was dark and time was of the essence, he removed his clothes down to his long white thermal underwear, tied his shoes around his neck, and swam a treacherous river to rescue a wayward son.

Elder Holland testified of angels, both the heavenly and the mortal kind, and that God never leaves us alone or unaided in the challenges that we face. 

• “[N]or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man [or woman or child] upon the face thereof to be saved.”

I, too, believe in angels and love the Lord’s promise:

• “I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, … my Spirit shall be in your [heart], and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.”