The temple is the quintessential place of divine communication with God, angels, and spirits. During the initial building stages of the Salt Lake Temple, Parley P. Pratt stood on its northeast cornerstone and taught, “The Lord has ordained that all the most holy things pertaining to the salvation of the dead, and all the most holy conversations and correspondence with God, angels, and spirits, shall be had only in the sanctuary of His holy Temple on the earth, when prepared for that purpose by His Saints; and shall be received and administered by those who are ordained and sealed unto this power, to hold the keys of the sacred oracles of God.”11 There are numerous examples of such communications in the Lord’s temples.
During the Kirtland Temple period, especially during the first half of 1836, a number of holy angels appeared in the temple and ministered to the Saints. Joseph Smith recorded the following statements: “Angels ministered unto them, as well as myself.”12 Also, “The visions of heaven were opened to them . . . others were ministered unto by holy Angels . . . we all communed with the heavenly hosts.”13 And again, Joseph Smith wrote, “President F[rederick] G. Williams arose and testified that while President [Sidney] Rigdon was making his first prayer, an angel entered the window and took his seat between father Smith and himself and remained there during his prayer. President David Whitmer, also saw angels in the house.”14
Joseph Smith also recorded, “I beheld the Temple was filled with angels, which fact I declared to the congregation.”15 Examples of angelic communications can be found in various temples throughout the history of the Church.