What exactly did Elijah restore in the Kirtland temple?

[laronius]

Here's the context of my question. We generally define the sealing power as binding in heaven what is bound on earth, though there is a specific sealing ordinance performed in the temple. Joseph Smith said this: "Why send Elijah? Because he holds the keys of the authority to administer in all the ordinances of the Priesthood; and [unless] the authority is given, the ordinances could not be administered in righteousness.” This took place in April of 1836. Peter, James, and John restored the Melchizedek priesthood in 1829, about 7 years earlier. So Melchizedek priesthood ordinances, which possess a type of sealing power in and of themselves, were being performed long before Elijah's return.

Now, it can be argued that even the Melchizedek priesthood came from Elijah since he was the one who gave it to Peter, James, and John on the Mount of Transfiguration. But that brings me back to my question: What exactly did Elijah restore in the Kirtland temple? Was is just the keys to performing sealing ordinances or maybe even all priesthood ordinances in relation to the dead? Our doctrine seems to teach something more broad than that but I haven't yet been able to define what exactly that is considering the surrounding circumstances.

Edited January 22 by laronius

[HaggisShuu]

57 minutes ago, laronius said:

Here's the context of my question. We generally define the sealing power as binding in heaven what is bound on earth, though there is a specific sealing ordinance performed in the temple. Joseph Smith said this: "Why send Elijah? Because he holds the keys of the authority to administer in all the ordinances of the Priesthood; and [unless] the authority is given, the ordinances could not be administered in righteousness.” This took place in April of 1836. Peter, James, and John restored the Melchizedek priesthood in 1829, about 7 years earlier. So Melchizedek priesthood ordinances, which possess a type of sealing power in and of themselves, were being performed long before Elijah's return.

Now, it can be argued that even the Melchizedek priesthood came from Elijah since he was the one who gave it to Peter, James, and John on the Mount of Transfiguration. But that brings me back to my question: What exactly did Elijah restore in the Kirtland temple? Was is just the keys to performing sealing ordinances or maybe even all priesthood ordinances in relation to the dead? Our doctrine seems to teach something more broad than that but I haven't yet been able to define what exactly that is considering the surrounding circumstances.

I may be off the mark, but it was my understanding that Elijah only restored the authority to seal marriages for eternity. Not the priesthood itself. I think sealings are an addition to the priesthood. Not every priesthood holder can officiate sealings, only those with specific callings in the temple do.  
 

I've struggled with similar questions before, I've always found talk of priesthood keys to be super vague, and I have a very literal way of imagining and understanding things. So I'm probably not the best to get involved in this conversation as it often goes over my head. 

[CV75]

2 hours ago, laronius said:

Here's the context of my question. We generally define the sealing power as binding in heaven what is bound on earth, though there is a specific sealing ordinance performed in the temple. Joseph Smith said this: "Why send Elijah? Because he holds the keys of the authority to administer in all the ordinances of the Priesthood; and [unless] the authority is given, the ordinances could not be administered in righteousness.” This took place in April of 1836. Peter, James, and John restored the Melchizedek priesthood in 1829, about 7 years earlier. So Melchizedek priesthood ordinances, which possess a type of sealing power in and of themselves, were being performed long before Elijah's return.

Now, it can be argued that even the Melchizedek priesthood came from Elijah since he was the one who gave it to Peter, James, and John on the Mount of Transfiguration. But that brings me back to my question: What exactly did Elijah restore in the Kirtland temple? Was is just the keys to performing sealing ordinances or maybe even all priesthood ordinances in relation to the dead? Our doctrine seems to teach something more broad than that but I haven't yet been able to define what exactly that is considering the surrounding circumstances.

My understanding is that he restored the sealing keys, which confirm the use of the priesthood under all other keys on both sides of the veil to carry out God's will in heaven and on earth, for the living and dead, both sides of the veil, etc. We commonly think of this in terms of saving and exalting ordinances, authority to preside over all other offices, etc., but Helaman 10 gets to the broader application of the sealing power.

[Just_A_Guy]

You should read Stapley’s “The Power of Godliness”.  It’s heavy stuff—I really need to do a second reading of it to get a better handle on the material; he really digs into the way that our ideas on “priesthood” have developed over the history of the Church —but for purposes of this discussion it is maybe most relevant to note that Stapley claims that early LDS anointings for health did not include a “sealing” component until after Elijah’s return.  He notes that modern confirming-of-anointings-for-health are the only modern approved use of the sealing power outside of temples.  

Edited January 23 by Just_A_Guy

[Vort]

4 minutes ago, Just_A_Guy said:

He notes that modern confirming-of-anointings-for-health are the only modern approved use of the sealing power outside of temples.

Then we should take that ordinance a great deal more seriously than we do. Which, I suppose, is true in any case.

[mordorbund]

D&C 128 has shaped most of my understanding of Elijah’s sealing keys. I frame it in terms of bookkeeping.

You mention Peter, James, and John receiving keys and giving them to Joseph Smith. Matthew records that Peter is promised the keys of the kingdom and defines them with sealing and loosing power. D&C 27 reiterates that they have the “keys of my kingdom”.

When a person dies, he is judged by the heavenly records.

Quote

And further, I want you to remember that John the Revelator was contemplating this very subject in relation to the dead, when he declared, as you will find recorded in Revelation 20:12—And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

You will discover in this quotation that the books were opened; and another book was opened, which was the book of life; but the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works; consequently, the books spoken of must be the books which contained the record of their works, and refer to the records which are kept on the earth.

Now why is it that heavenly judges rely on earthly books? Surely not all earthly books carry the same weight in judgment (my autobiography will be called Mostly True Tales). The keys of the kingdom include that portion of the sealing keys which record the works of authorized servants on earth and bind it in heaven. “Were you baptized? Ah, I see here that your bishop recorded it was done.” “Oh no! It looks like Alma blotted your name out, there’s no record of you as a citizen in God’s kingdom”

Elijah revealed a fuller use of the sealing keys. The initiate no longer had to be physically present for the record to be made.

Quote

Now, the nature of this ordinance consists in the power of the priesthood, by the revelation of Jesus Christ, wherein it is granted that whatsoever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Or, in other words, taking a different view of the translation, whatsoever you record on earth shall be recorded in heaven, and whatsoever you do not record on earth shall not be recorded in heaven

When discussing the sealing power we turn to capstone ordinances in the temple, but Joseph is here using it to discuss baptisms for the dead.

Quote

Now the great and grand secret of the whole matter, and the summum bonum of the whole subject that is lying before us, consists in obtaining the powers of the Holy Priesthood. For him to whom these keys are given there is no difficulty in obtaining a knowledge of facts in relation to the salvation of the children of men, both as well for the dead as for the living.

It may be worthwhile to study a little on how the term summum bonum has been used. He may have just as well written that this was the philosophers stone. Vicarious ordinances are a game changer, but what is the catalyst? Why of course Elijah’s sealing power, manifest in the most pedestrian manner.

Quote

And as are the records on the earth in relation to your dead, which are truly made out, so also are the records in heaven. This, therefore, is the sealing and binding power, and, in one sense of the word, the keys of the kingdom, which consist in the key of knowledge.

When a person dies, a record can be made of his works in absentia. These books are also bound in heaven just like the other books of the kingdom.

Therefore, “there should be a recorder, who should be eye-witness, and also to hear with his ears, that he might make a record of a truth before the Lord.” And “therefore, as a church and a people, and as Latter-day Saints, offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness; and let us present in his holy temple, when it is finished, a book containing the records of our dead, which shall be worthy of all acceptation.”

Edited January 23 by mordorbund

[mordorbund]

And, for what it’s worth, I associate family sealings as an exercise of “the gospel of Abraham” as revealed by Elias.

[SilentOne]

1 hour ago, mordorbund said:

Surely not all earthly books carry the same weight in judgment

Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus is sure to be a major factor in deciding how we all spend eternity.

[Carborendum]

11 hours ago, SilentOne said:

Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus is sure to be a major factor in deciding how we all spend eternity.

Carborendum and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.

[laronius]

Okay I think I found a a more specific answer to my question. This comes from the April 2020 GC by Pres Oaks:

"The Melchizedek Priesthood keys of the kingdom were conferred by Peter, James, and John, but that did not complete the restoration of priesthood keys. Some keys of the priesthood came later. Following the dedication of the first temple of this dispensation in Kirtland, Ohio, three prophets—Moses, Elias, and Elijah—restored “the keys of this dispensation,” including keys pertaining to the gathering of Israel and the work of the temples of the Lord..."

In the quote above by Joseph Smith it says Elijah held all of the keys of the priesthood, it does not specifically say he restored them all.

[pam]

Interesting because I got a question for Ask Gramps that will be published sometime next week asking the same question. Stay tuned for that.  

[zil2]

22 hours ago, mordorbund said:

D&C 27

Verse 9 seems important to this discussion:

Quote

9 And also Elijah, unto whom I have committed the keys of the power of turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers, that the whole earth may not be smitten with a curse;

D&C 98 includes an interesting use of the same and similar phrasing:

Quote

16 Therefore, renounce war and proclaim peace, and seek diligently to turn the hearts of the children to their fathers, and the hearts of the fathers to the children;

17 And again, the hearts of the Jews unto the prophets, and the prophets unto the Jews; lest I come and smite the whole earth with a curse, and all flesh be consumed before me.

FWIW.

[laronius]

15 hours ago, zil2 said:

 

D&C 98 includes an interesting use of the same and similar phrasing:

FWIW.

Those verses in section 98 are really interesting. They seem to expand upon the meaning of turning of hearts. Though I guess the prophets of the Bible are literally ancestors of the Jews.

[zil2]

27 minutes ago, laronius said:

Those verses in section 98 are really interesting. They seem to expand upon the meaning of turning of hearts. Though I guess the prophets of the Bible are literally ancestors of the Jews.

Are you sure the "prophets" in question are the Biblical (OT) prophets?

[pam]

https://askgramps.org/what-did-elijah-restore-in-the-kirtland-temple/

[laronius]

14 minutes ago, pam said:

https://askgramps.org/what-did-elijah-restore-in-the-kirtland-temple/

You mention April 3, 2017. Is that a date of special note?

[laronius]

23 hours ago, zil2 said:

Are you sure the "prophets" in question are the Biblical (OT) prophets?

I'm open to an expanded interpretation but part of their problem has always been missing the point of what their own prophets have taught, hence not recognizing the Savior when he was in their midst. I think coming to terms with that will open the way for belief in the teaching of modern prophets. 

[pam]

15 minutes ago, laronius said:

You mention April 3, 2017. Is that a date of special note?

I reworded it.

[Traveler]

On 1/22/2025 at 7:26 AM, laronius said:

Here's the context of my question. We generally define the sealing power as binding in heaven what is bound on earth, though there is a specific sealing ordinance performed in the temple. Joseph Smith said this: "Why send Elijah? Because he holds the keys of the authority to administer in all the ordinances of the Priesthood; and [unless] the authority is given, the ordinances could not be administered in righteousness.” This took place in April of 1836. Peter, James, and John restored the Melchizedek priesthood in 1829, about 7 years earlier. So Melchizedek priesthood ordinances, which possess a type of sealing power in and of themselves, were being performed long before Elijah's return.

Now, it can be argued that even the Melchizedek priesthood came from Elijah since he was the one who gave it to Peter, James, and John on the Mount of Transfiguration. But that brings me back to my question: What exactly did Elijah restore in the Kirtland temple? Was is just the keys to performing sealing ordinances or maybe even all priesthood ordinances in relation to the dead? Our doctrine seems to teach something more broad than that but I haven't yet been able to define what exactly that is considering the surrounding circumstances.

I read your question some time ago and did not think I had anything to answer – leaving this to others thinking perhaps to learn.  However, I was reading in the Book of Mormon.  In particular in Helaman chapter 10 starting with verse 7 and giving explanation in the following verses 8 and 9.  More is explained in this chapter that gives indication for what purpose this power is given.  If I understand it correctly – it is a power reserved for prophets and is somewhat specific for preparing for the coming of the L-rd.

Thank you for asking the question.

 

The Traveler

Edited February 3 by Traveler

[Carborendum]

On 1/23/2025 at 5:50 PM, mordorbund said:

And, for what it’s worth, I associate family sealings as an exercise of “the gospel of Abraham” as revealed by Elias.

I had believed that the personages in the vision were categorized by the missions of the Church.

Moses: Gathering of Israel
Elias: Perfecting the Saints
Elijah: Redeeming the Dead

[laronius]

17 hours ago, Traveler said:

I read your question some time ago and did not think I had anything to answer – leaving this to others thinking perhaps to learn.  However, I was reading in the Book of Mormon.  In particular in Helaman chapter 10 starting with verse 7 and giving explanation in the following verses 8 and 9.  More is explained in this chapter that gives indication for what purpose this power is given.  If I understand it correctly – it is a power reserved for prophets and is somewhat specific for preparing for the coming of the L-rd.

Thank you for asking the question.

 

The Traveler

I appreciate your remarks. After reviewing those verses my thoughts were sent down a different path. I think when we refer to sealing power we need to connect it with priesthood keys. The sealing power granted to Nephi binds in heaven what is bound on earth but the action being bound or sealed is dependent on the keys given to Nephi. In this instance it's the key of power over the elements to encourage the people to repent. Whereas the sealing power of Elijah is connected to the keys of temple work. It's the same sealing power but different keys.

[laronius]

I came across this video that directly addresses my question in the OP. Interesting stuff.