Mormon beliefs about angels do differ from those of other Christian faiths and most of those differences relate to the Mormon beliefs regarding the plan of salvation, the pre-existence, and man's potential. Mormons believe that angels are actual beings and that they are "ministering spirits" (see Heb. 1:14) sent as messengers (the word "angel" in fact means "messenger" in Greek). They are human in appearance and do not have wings. Wings are used in the scriptures to symbolize the angels' power to move and perform God's work. This is seen in many biblical passages where angels are referred to as men (see Luke 24:4, Acts 1:10) and thus were human in appearance. Mormonism teaches that angels are in fact people who either have lived or will live on this earth. Mormon beliefs are unique in teaching that human spirits lived in heaven with God before coming to earth to endure a period of testing. This pre-earth life is called the pre-existence. The Prophet Joseph Smith, who saw many angels himself, taught that there are two classes of angels: those with only spirits and those with resurrected bodies joined to their spirits. Angels minister to many people and serve God here on earth, even though we do not always see them. They protect, deliver messages, inspire, guide, and do many other things. Sometimes they are visible and so Joseph Smith saw Moroni, who had lived on the earth 1600 years ago as a prophet and who returned as an angel. Angels, then, are any spirit or being sent to do God's work here on earth. Even Jesus Christ, our Savior, is sometimes called an angel (Gen. 48:15-16, Mal. 3:1). There are also the devil's angels which are the spirits of those who rejected Jesus Christ in the pre-existence and chose instead to follow Satan. They seek to tempt people and lure them away into sin. They are as real as are good angels. They are numerous angels, some of whom (Gabriel, Michael, Moroni) are known by name, but most are unknown. There are as many angels as there are righteous spirits of people, for any righteous spirit either before they come to earth or after they have died can be sent by God as an angel. They, like us, are the spirit children of our Heavenly Father created by Him before the earth was formed and destined to become like Him. Mormons believe that angels are not some separate species or class of beings, but are like us, except more perfect because they live in heaven. There is no official Mormon belief about guardian angels, but we do know that angels can be sent to protect us and minister to us though we do not know whether a person has a particular angel assigned to him or her. Finally, angels are everywhere, even though we do not see them. They live in heaven with God and minister to people on earth according to God's will and our faith.

They are people who have lived or will live on this earth at some time. They are, like mortals, sons and daughters of God. If they have lived, they may also be resurrected beings. In their function as angels they are messengers from God.