Although Mormon is speaking of angels appearing to man (v. 36), we must remember that Paul warned: “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby many have entertained angels unawares” (Hebrews 13:2). They may also minister behind the scenes without appearing. However, they would still do so because of the recipients faith. Without faith, these ordinances are not performed, angels do not minister, and awful is the state of man because they are not fit to be numbered among the people of the Church (Moroni 7:37–39).
Moroni 7:40–42
40 And again, my beloved brethren, I would speak unto you concerning hope. How is it that ye can attain unto faith, save ye shall have hope?
41 And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise.
42 Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope.
Mormon further proclaimed that such faith would not be obtainable without hope. This hope, that which causes us to do things, is a necessary companion of faith. We hope for eternal life, and because of our hope, we have faith in Christ. Because of our faith in Christ we do the works of the Father. We cannot have hope without faith. We could not exercise faith to receive the ordinances if we did not hope for eternal life through the Atonement (vv. 40–42). All this is a spiral staircase that leads to the desired and necessary loft of charity, the final requirement for salvation.