Lessons on the Temple
Lesson No. Thirty

The Sealing Power Protects the Earth from a Curse and Preserves the Lord’s People

Joseph Smith taught that the sealing power preserves the earth – After quoting Malachi 4:5-6 Joseph explained: “I might have rendered a plainer translation to this, (the plainer translation is found in D&C 2) but it is sufficiently plain to suit my purpose as it stands. It is sufficient to know, in this case, that the earth will be smitten with a curse unless there is a welding link of some kind or other between the fathers and the children…” (D&C 128:18).  This welding link is the sealing power which binds on earth and binds in heaven both the living and the dead.

Wilford Woodruff further explained this doctrine – In a conference sermon on April 8, 1894 President Woodruff said:  “I want to say, as the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, that…we want to go on and fulfill this commandment of God given through Malachi that the Lord should send Elijah the prophet, ‘and he shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.’  Ye sons of men, I say unto you, in the name of Israel’s God, those very principles that God has revealed are what have stayed the judgments of the Almighty on the earth.  Were it not for these principles, you and I would not be here today.”

George Q. Cannon at the Logan Temple Cornerstone Dedication taught – “Every foundation stone that is laid for a Temple, and every Temple completed according to the order the Lord has revealed for his holy Priesthood, lessens the power of Satan on the earth, and increases the power of God and Godliness, moves the heavens in mighty power in our behalf, invokes and calls down upon us the blessings of the Eternal Gods, and those who reside in their presence” (Quoted in Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple  compiled from The Holy Temple, Boyd K. Packer, p. 36).

Joseph Fielding Smith taught that the sealing power is the leaven that protects the earth – “Through the power of this priesthood which Elijah bestowed, husband and wife may be sealed, or married for eternity; children may be sealed to their parents for eternity; the family is made eternal, and death does not separate the members.  This is the great principle that will save the world from utter destruction” (Doctrines of Salvation II, p. 118).

President Gordon B. Hinckley taught the purpose of the plan of salvation would be frustrated – At the 2006 new temple president’s seminar held in the Salt Lake Temple President Hinckley said it is the sealing power that preserves the earth so that it is not “[smitten] with a curse” (Malachi 4:5-6) and “utterly wasted at his coming” (D&C 2:3).  The earth was created for the express purpose “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39).  This purpose would be frustrated if families were not sealed together eternally.

Testimony – Whenever a new temple is dedicated it is evidence that there are enough temple worthy saints in that temple area to justify a new temple.  Significantly, the righteousness of these temple worthy saints will be a leavening influence to preserve freedom and protect those people from the calamities that are taking place in the latter days.

One of my primary reasons in serving in the military for 36 years was to promote the cause of freedom at home and throughout the world.  I am glad to have had that opportunity. I now have a greater opportunity, by performing sealings, to protect those I love, and also to help establish freedom and righteousness throughout the earth in preparation for the Second Coming.