Lessons from the Doctrine and Covenants 2025
Lesson No. Three

The Return of Elijah as Explained by Moroni - D&C 2

Second only to the atonement of Jesus Christ, our testimony of the fulfillment of Moroni’s prophesy concerning the return of Elijah is central to our hope and vision of the future.

The return of Elijah in the Jewish religion – When serving as president of the Louisville Kentucky Temple the temple residence was near the Standard Country Club. This golf club was founded by the Jewish community in Louisville. We got to know many members and were invited to their Seder meal each year at Passover. An important reason for the Seder meal is to teach their children about the return of Elijah to fulfill the prophesy recorded in Malachi 4:5-6: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”

We took three of our younger teenage grandchildren to one of these dinners. Later, as we discussed this experience, I realized that young people who have been taught about the importance of Moroni’s version concerning the return of Elijah know more about it than any Jewish rabbi.

A greater understanding of why the return of Elijah is important – On his first visit to Joseph Smith, Moroni quoted Malachi 4:5-6 “with a little variation from the way it reads in our Bibles…he quoted it thus” (Joseph Smith History 1:36-39).” Moroni spoke these words: “Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers. If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming” (D&C 2:1-3).

Moroni’s version of the return of Elijah is unique to our dispensation. Both Malachi’s and Moroni’s versions concerning the return of Elijah are correct as shown by the fact that Jesus quoted Malachi’s version in 3 Nephi 25:5-6. However, the improved version taught by Moroni is intended for people who live in the dispensation of the fulness of times. Moron’s version speaks of temple work for both the living and the dead. Vicarious temple service on behalf of people in the spirit world is the responsibility of our dispensation. Moroni’s version has two additional and very important phrases:

1. “Behold, I will reveal unto you the priesthood by the hand of Elijah the Prophet” (D&C 2:1). Peter, James and John came in June 1829 and restored the Melchizedek Priesthood to Joseph and Oliver. They gave them the keys of the kingdom, the keys of this dispensation, and the apostleship. Elijah came in April 1836 and brought the keys of the sealing power, and the Lord thus revealed the total and complete use of the priesthood. The keys brought by Elijah authorized the priesthood to be used to bind on earth and to seal everlastingly in the heavens.

This sealing power seals a man and a woman in celestial marriage, and at the same time it seals and makes eternal all the other ordinances of the gospel. (Attend a husband and wife sealing and listen closely to the most remarkable blessings that are pronounced)

2. “He shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers…” (D&C2:2). Who are the fathers, who are the children, and what are the promises?

· The fathers are Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the fathers of the house of Israel.

· The children are those who receive the gospel (See Abraham 2:10) - Most members of the Church are the literal posterity of Abraham. They have a right in this life, earned in the pre-mortal existence, to the blessings of the priesthood and of the gospel. (See Abraham 2:11). Others who join the Restored Church are adopted into the family and receive all the blessings. Any who leave the covenant path, and don’t return, forfeit their blessings.

· The promises made to the fathers – Abraham received the promise that he would have an eternal posterity as numerous as the stars in the heavens and the sands upon the seashore. These promises are given to all those who enter into the law of celestial marriage. (Attend a husband and wife sealing and let the power of the words of this ordinance sink deep into your heart. This will change your life forever)

Also, the Lord explained: "This promise is yours also, because ye are of Abraham, and the promise was made unto Abraham; and by this law (celestial marriage) is the continuation of the works of my Father, wherein he glorifieth himself. Go ye, therefore, and do the works of Abraham; enter ye into my law (celestial marriage) and ye shall be saved" (D&C 132:30-32, explanation added).

Testimony – Today Satan has stepped up his attack on the family. Many good people who love their families are uncertain about the future. To Christians and Jews the prophesy concerning the return of Elijah found in Malachi 4:5-6 is a very enigmatic (perplexing; mysterious) passage of scripture. For us it can be very different.

Second only to the atonement of Jesus Christ, our testimony of the fulfillment of Moroni’s prophesy concerning the return of Elijah is central to our hope and vision of the future. For those who have a testimony of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ the return of Elijah as taught by Moroni and recorded in D&C 2:1-3 is very motivating and enabling. Young children can understand the implication of Elijah’s coming when they are taught that families are eternal. As they mature they receive a greater understanding of the importance of the return of Elijah, so that when it is time to marry, they will settle for nothing less than a temple marriage.

Because of the atonement of Jesus Christ and the return of Elijah the future is glorious if we follow our prophet and keep our covenants. This is the greatest legacy we can pass on to our children and grandchildren.

Released on January 18th. 2025.