Scripture Study
Doctrine & Covenants
Section 2
Ann Temperance George and
her husband, John Doney, sailed from England to America on April 19,
1856, on the Samuel Curling
with their toddler, Ann. Little Ann became sick at sea. Her parents
prayed that her life could be spared until they reached land. Their
prayers were answered, and they buried their little daughter in
Toledo, Ohio. (“Life Sketch of Ann Temperance and John Doney,” in
the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers Museum archives, Salt Lake City,
Utah.)
We
now know how to help these pioneers and others like them to become an
eternal families...Temple Work. We all have ancestors that need this
blessing and we are instructed to do so. Elder John A Widtsoe had
this to say about Section 2 of the Doctrine and Covenants, “The
beginning and the end of the gospel is written in section two of the
Doctrine and Covenants. It is the keystone of the wonderful gospel
arch; and if that center stone should weaken and fall out, the whole
gospel structure would topple down in unorganized doctrinal blocks.’”
(ElRay L. Christiansen, in Conference Report, Apr. 1960, p. 48.)
The
message of Malachi is so important that it has been repeated in each
of the standard works:
Bible:
Malachi 4:5-6
Book
of Mormon: 3Nephi 25:5-6
Doctrine
and Covenants: Section 2, 27:9, 128:17
Pearl
of Great Price: Joseph Smith – History 1:37-39
What
it must have been like for Joseph Smith to be visited by Moroni and
given instructions. That night was noted in Joseph Smith – History
1:30-32:
30
While
I was thus in the act of calling upon God, I discovered a light
appearing in my room, which continued to increase until the room was
lighter than at noonday, when immediately a personage appeared at my
bedside, standing in the air, for his feet did not touch the floor.
31
He had on a loose robe of most exquisite whiteness. It was a
whiteness beyond anything earthly I had ever seen; nor do I believe
that any earthly thing could be made to appear so exceedingly white
and brilliant. His hands were naked, and his arms also, a little
above the wrist; so, also, were his feet naked, as were his legs, a
little above the ankles. His head and neck were also bare. I could
discover that he had no other clothing on but this robe, as it was
open, so that I could see into his bosom.
32
Not only was his robe exceedingly white, but his whole person was
glorious beyond description, and his countenance truly like
lightning. The room was exceedingly light, but not so very bright as
immediately around his person. When I first looked upon him, I was
afraid; but the fear soon left me.
Joseph
Smith would have to wait many years for that night to show fruit. On
April 3, 1836, in the Kirtland temple, Elijah returned to restore the
sealing power to Earth. But why Elijah? This was expressed by
Joseph Fielding Smith: “The
keys that Elijah held were the keys of the everlasting priesthood,
the keys of the sealing power, which the Lord gave unto him. And that
is what he . . . gave to the Prophet Joseph Smith; and that included
a ministry of sealing for the living as well as the dead—and it is
not confined to the living and it is not confined to the dead, but
includes them both. . . .
“Elijah’s
mission was the sealing power. He held the keys by which the parents
could be sealed together and children sealed to parents. He bestowed
these keys upon the Prophet Joseph Smith. And that applies to the
dead as well as the living since the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
“Elijah
was the last prophet that held the keys of the priesthood, and who
will, before the last dispensation, restore the authority and deliver
the keys of the priesthood, in order that all the ordinances may be
attended to in righteousness. It is true the Savior had authority and
power to bestow this blessing; but the sons of Levi were too
prejudiced. . . . Why send Elijah? Because he holds the keys of the
authority to administer in all the ordinances of the priesthood; and
without the authority is given, the ordinances could not be
administered in righteousness.
“But
what was the nature of his mission to the earth in these latter days?
It was to restore power and authority which once was given to men on
the earth and which is essential to the complete salvation and
exaltation of man in the kingdom of God. In other words, Elijah came
to restore
to
the earth, by conferring on mortal prophets duly commissioned of the
Lord, the fulness of the power of priesthood. This priesthood holds
the keys of binding and sealing on earth and in heaven of all the
ordinances and principles pertaining to the salvation of man, that
they may thus become valid in the celestial kingdom of God.” (
Doctrines
of Salvation, 2:111–12,
113-14, 117.)
Who
are the fathers and children referred to by Malachi and in Verse 2?
“The fathers are our dead ancestors who died without the privilege
of receiving the gospel, but who received the promise that the time
would come when that privilege would be granted them. The children
are those now living who are preparing genealogical data and who are
performing the vicarious ordinances in the temples.
“The
turning of the hearts of the children to the fathers is placing or
planting in the hearts of the children that feeling and desire which
will inspire them to search out the records of the dead. Moreover the
planting of the desire and inspiration in their hearts is necessary.
This they must have in order that they might go into the house of the
Lord and perform the necessary labor for their fathers, who died
without a knowledge of the gospel, or without the privilege of
receiving the fulness of the gospel.” (Smith, Doctrines
of Salvation, 2:127–28.)
What
about the curse of an utterly wasted earth if it were not so?
Ratification in heaven is given to all ordinances of the gospel
through the sealing powers of the priesthood. This sealing power
makes possible the welding together of fathers and children, a work
essential for exaltation to the living and the dead (see
D&C
128:18 ).
The curse spoken of by Malachi is clarified by Moroni, who explained
that “the whole earth would be utterly wasted” at the Lord’s
coming if the sealing powers were not restored. President Joseph
Fielding Smith explained why: “The sealing power of Elijah makes it
possible for this joining of the families, generation to generation,
back to the beginning. Now, if these units of authority were not
here, then the work of sealing, by which the family units are
preserved, could not be performed; then the binding power by which
all blessings are sealed in heaven, as well as on earth, would be
lacking. If this were so, the earth would be smitten with a curse,
for all work which had been done, without these binding or sealing
ordinances, would fall to the ground unfulfilled.” ( Doctrines
of Salvation, 2:121–22.)
