THE POWER OF ELIJAH
The first divine instruction Joseph received following the 1820 appearance of God and Jesus Christ was in 1823. When Moroni visited Joseph he repeated the prophecy of Malachi regarding the mission of Elijah and its importance. However, it would take twenty-one years for the necessary elements to be revealed before Joseph understood and could teach the Saints about their vital role in God’s plan of salvation to connect parents and children. The restoration of the priesthood and conferral of the priesthood keys had to come before the ordinances that would be revealed could be administered with the proper authority. The conversion and gathering of enough Saints prepare to receive the ordinances had to be accomplished. Then temples had to be built before those who had received the ordinances for themselves could officiate by proxy for their loved ones.
By July 1843 there was no doubt that Joseph understood the significance of the sealing power. God clearly stated that the keys and power of the priesthood had been conferred upon Joseph Smith, and through this priesthood power would come the restoration of all things. (D&C 132:45-48) On March 10, 1844, Wilford recorded what he called “one of the most important and interesting subjects ever presented to the Saints.” (Wilford Woodruff’s Journal, March 10, 1844) On this occasion Joseph Smith explained the spirit and power of Elijah to the Saints. He told them that, holding the keys of the fulness of the Melchizedek Priesthood, they could receive and perform all the ordinances belonging to the kingdom of God. (Ibid.) In response to the question, “What is this office and work of Elijah?” Joseph stated, “It is one of the greatest and most important subjects that God has revealed.” (Ibid.) He then told the Saints to “Go and seal on earth your sons and daughters unto yourself and yourself unto your fathers in eternal glory.” (Ibid.)
In two short years, Joseph had progressed from teaching that baptism was sufficient to bind the fathers and children together, to learning that it was possible to seal individuals to each other on both sides of the veil and thus fulfill Elijah’s mission to connect families eternally. His understanding of God’s plan made clear that together with their descendants and ancestors, the Saints could be exalted and blessed with eternal increase, and eternal lives. He told the Saints that this restoration of the ancient order of things was what would reconcile the scriptural truths, justify the ways of God, and harmonize every principle of justice and righteousness. (“Baptisms for the Dead,” Times and Seasons, 15 April 1842, p. 759-60) In April 1844 Joseph declared, “The greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us is to seek after our dead. . . . [F]or it is necessary . . . that those who are going before and those who come after us should have salvation in common with us.” (Wilford Woodruff Journal, April 7, 1844) (Jennifer Ann Mackley, Wilford Woodruff’s Witness: The Development of Temple Doctrine [2d ed.; Seattle: High Desert Publishing, LLC, 2022], 89-90)