In section 77 of the Doctrine and Covenants, Joseph Smith Jr., the prophet of the restoration, asks the Lord some questions about The Revelation, given to John the Beloved. In D&C 77:9 he asks,
"9 Q. What are we to understand by the angel ascending from the east, Revelation 7th chapter and 2nd verse?
A. We are to understand that the angel ascending from the east is he to whom is given the seal of the living God over the twelve tribes of Israel; wherefore, he crieth unto the four angels having the everlasting gospel, saying: Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And, if you will receive it, this is Elias which was to come to gather together the tribes of Israel and restore all things."Verse 11 adds another key question:"11 Q. What are we to understand by sealing the one hundred and forty-four thousand, out of all the tribes of Israel—twelve thousand out of every tribe?A. We are to understand that those who are sealed are high priests, ordained unto the holy order of God, to administer the everlasting gospel; for they are they who are ordained out of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, by the angels to whom is given power over the nations of the earth, to bring as many as will come to the church of the Firstborn."Verse 14 adds more insight:
"14 Q. What are we to understand by the little book which was eaten by John, as mentioned in the 10th chapter of Revelation?A. We are to understand that it was a mission, and an ordinance, for him to gather the tribes of Israel; behold, this is Elias, who, as it is written, must come and restore all things."
If I'm understanding this right, Elias will be ordained by the Lord with a special mission to gather the 144,000 and seal them up to go out and gather as many as will come to the Church of the Firstborn. Joseph Smith gives further clarification below:
Joseph Smith said, "The Savior said when these tribulations13 should take place, it should be committed to a man14
who should be a witness over the whole world: the keys of knowledge, power and revelations15
should be revealed to a witness who should hold the testimony to the world...
All the testimony is that the Lord in the last days would commit the keys of the Priesthood to
a witness over all people. 19
("Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith," pgs. 364-365).
Has the Gospel of the kingdom1 commenced in the last days? And will God take it from the man
until He takes him Himself?2 I have read it precisely as the words flowed from the lips of Jesus
Christ. John the Revelator saw an angel flying through the midst of heaven, having the everlasting
Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth.3
The scripture is ready to be fulfilled when great wars,4 famines, pestilence,5 great distress,6 judgments, etc, are ready to be poured out on the inhabitants of the earth.7 John saw the angel having the holy Priesthood, who should preach the everlasting Gospel to all nations.8 God had an angel—a special messenger—ordained and prepared for that purpose in the last days. Woe, woe be to that man or set of men who lift up their hands against God9 and His witness10 in these last days: for they shall deceive11 almost the very chosen ones!12
The scripture is ready to be fulfilled when great wars,4 famines, pestilence,5 great distress,6 judgments, etc, are ready to be poured out on the inhabitants of the earth.7 John saw the angel having the holy Priesthood, who should preach the everlasting Gospel to all nations.8 God had an angel—a special messenger—ordained and prepared for that purpose in the last days. Woe, woe be to that man or set of men who lift up their hands against God9 and His witness10 in these last days: for they shall deceive11 almost the very chosen ones!12
This is why Adam blessed his posterity; he wanted to bring them into the presence of God.1
They looked for a city, etc., “whose builder and maker is God.” (Hebrews 11:10.)2 Moses sought
to bring the children of Israel into the presence of God,3 through the power of the Priesthood,4 but
he could not. In the first ages of the world5 they tried to establish the same thing; and there were
Eliases6 raised up who tried to restore these very glories, but did not obtain them; but they
prophesied of a day when this glory would be revealed.7 Paul spoke of the dispensation of the
fullness of times, when God would gather together all things in one,8 etc.; and those men to whom
these keys have been given, will have to be there; and they without us cannot be made perfect.9
These men are in heaven, but their children are on the earth. Their bowels yearn10 over us. God sends down men for this reason. “And the Son of Man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that give offense and them that do iniquity.” (Matthew 13:41.)11 All these authoritative characters will come down and join hand in hand in bringing about this work.12
(Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 159).
Mission of Elijah
Now for Elijah. The spirit, power, and calling of Elijah4 is, that ye have power to hold the key of the revelations,5 ordinances, oracles, powers and endowments6 of the fulness of the Melchizedek Priesthood7 and of the kingdom of God on the earth;8 and to receive, obtain, and perform all the ordinances belonging to the kingdom of God, even unto the turning of the hearts of the fathers unto the children, and the hearts of the children unto the fathers, even those who are in heaven.9
Malachi says, “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.”10
Now, what I am after is the knowledge of God,11 and I take my own course to obtain it. What are we to understand by this in the last days?
In the days of Noah,12 God destroyed the world by a flood,13 and He has promised to destroy it by fire in the last days:14 but before it should take place, Elijah should first come and turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,15 &c.
Now comes the point. What is this office and work of Elijah? It is one of the greatest and most important subjects that God has revealed. He should send Elijah to seal the children to the fathers, and the fathers to the children.16
For the Living and the Dead
Now was this merely confined to the living, to settle difficulties with families on earth? By no means. It was a far greater work. Elijah! what would you do if you were here? Would you confine your work to the living alone? No: I would refer you to the Scriptures, where the subject is manifest: that is, without us, they could not be made perfect, nor we without them;17 the fathers without the children, nor the children without the fathers.
I wish you to understand this subject, for it is important; and if you receive it, this is the spirit of Elijah,18 that we
There are some important things concerning the office of the Messiah in the organization of the
world, which I will speak of hereafter. May God Almighty bless you9 and pour out His Spirit10 upon
you, is the prayer of your unworthy servant.11 Amen. (March 10, 1844.) DHC 6:249-254.
Rejoicing of the Prophet.
Thursday, 6.--The new year has been ushered in and continued thus far under the most favorable auspices, and the Saints seem to been influenced by a kind and indulgent Providence in their dispositions and [blessed with] means to rear the Temple of the Most High God, anxiously looking forth to the completion thereof as an event of the greatest importance to the Church and the world, making the Saints in Zion to rejoice, and the hypocrite and sinner to tremble. Truly this is a day long to be remembered by the Saints of the last days,--a day in which the God of heaven has begun to restore the ancient order of His kingdom unto His servants and His people,--a day in which all things are concurring to bring about the completion of the fullness of the Gospel, a fullness of the dispensation of dispensations, even the fullness of times; a day in which God has begun to make manifest and set in order in His Church those things which have been, and those things which the ancient prophets and wise men desired to see but died without beholding them; a day in which those things begin to be made manifest, which have been hid from before the foundation of the world, and which Jehovah has promised should be made known in His own due time unto His servants, to prepare the earth for the return of His glory, even a celestial glory, and a kingdom of Priests and kings to God and the Lamb, forever, on Mount Zion, and with him the hundred and forty and four thousand whom John the Revelator saw, all of which is to come to pass in the restitution of all things. DHC Vol. 4 pp 492-3. https://byustudies.byu.edu/content/volume-4-chapter-29
These men are in heaven, but their children are on the earth. Their bowels yearn10 over us. God sends down men for this reason. “And the Son of Man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that give offense and them that do iniquity.” (Matthew 13:41.)11 All these authoritative characters will come down and join hand in hand in bringing about this work.12
(Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 159).
There is a difference between the spirit and office of Elias and Elijah. It is the spirit of Elias1
I wish first to speak of; and in order to come at the subject, I will bring some of the testimony from
the Scripture and give my own.
In the first place, suffice it to say, I went into the woods2 to inquire of the Lord,3 by prayer, His will concerning me,4 and I saw an angel,5 and he laid his hands upon my head,6 and ordained me to a Priest after the order of Aaron,7 and to hold the keys of this Priesthood,8 which office was to preach repentance and baptism for the remission of sins,9 and also to baptize. But I was informed that this office did not extend to the laying on of hands for the giving of the Holy Ghost;10 that that office was a greater work,11 and was to be given afterward;12 but that my ordination was a preparatory work,13 or a going before, which was the spirit of Elias;14 for the spirit of Elias was a going before to prepare the way for the greater, which was the case with John the Baptist.15 He came crying through the wilderness, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”16 And they were informed, if they could receive it, it was the spirit of Elias;17 and John was very particular to tell the people, he was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.18
He told the people that his mission was to preach repentance and baptize with water; but it was He that should come after him that should baptize with fire and the Holy Ghost.19
If he had been an impostor, he might have gone to work beyond his bounds, and undertook to have performed ordinances which did not belong to that office and calling, under the spirit of Elias.20
Mission of Elias to Prepare the Way
The spirit of Elias is to prepare the way21 for a greater revelation of God, which is the Priesthood of Elias, or the Priesthood that Aaron was ordained unto.22 And when God sends a man into the world to prepare for a greater work, holding the keys of the power of Elias,1 it was called the doctrine of Elias, even from the early ages of the world.
In the first place, suffice it to say, I went into the woods2 to inquire of the Lord,3 by prayer, His will concerning me,4 and I saw an angel,5 and he laid his hands upon my head,6 and ordained me to a Priest after the order of Aaron,7 and to hold the keys of this Priesthood,8 which office was to preach repentance and baptism for the remission of sins,9 and also to baptize. But I was informed that this office did not extend to the laying on of hands for the giving of the Holy Ghost;10 that that office was a greater work,11 and was to be given afterward;12 but that my ordination was a preparatory work,13 or a going before, which was the spirit of Elias;14 for the spirit of Elias was a going before to prepare the way for the greater, which was the case with John the Baptist.15 He came crying through the wilderness, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”16 And they were informed, if they could receive it, it was the spirit of Elias;17 and John was very particular to tell the people, he was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.18
He told the people that his mission was to preach repentance and baptize with water; but it was He that should come after him that should baptize with fire and the Holy Ghost.19
If he had been an impostor, he might have gone to work beyond his bounds, and undertook to have performed ordinances which did not belong to that office and calling, under the spirit of Elias.20
Mission of Elias to Prepare the Way
The spirit of Elias is to prepare the way21 for a greater revelation of God, which is the Priesthood of Elias, or the Priesthood that Aaron was ordained unto.22 And when God sends a man into the world to prepare for a greater work, holding the keys of the power of Elias,1 it was called the doctrine of Elias, even from the early ages of the world.
John’s mission was limited to preaching and baptizing; but what he did was legal; and when
Jesus Christ came to any of John’s disciples,2 He baptized them with fire and the Holy Ghost.3
We find the Apostles endowed with greater power4 than John: their office was more under the spirit and power of Elijah than Elias.5
In the case of Phillip when he went down to Samaria, when he was under the spirit of Elias, he baptized both men and women.6 When Peter and John heard of it, they went down and laid hands upon them, and they received the Holy Ghost.7 This shows the distinction between the two powers.
When Paul came to certain disciples, he asked if they had received the Holy Ghost? They said, No. Who baptized you, then? We were baptized unto John’s baptism. No, you were not baptized unto John’s baptism, or you would have been baptized by John. And so Paul went and baptized them,8 for he knew what the true doctrine was, and he knew that John had not baptized them. And these principles are strange to me, that men who have read the Scriptures of the New Testament are so far from it.
What I want to impress upon your minds is the difference of power in the different parts of the Priesthood, so that when any man comes among you, saying, “I have the spirit of Elias,”9 you can know whether he be true or false; for any man that comes, having the spirit and power of Elias,10 he will not transcend his bounds.
John did not transcend his bounds, but faithfully performed that part belonging to his office; and every portion of the great building should be prepared right and assigned to its proper place; and it is necessary to know who holds the keys of power,11 and who does not, or we may be likely to be deceived.
That person who holds the keys of Elias12 hath a preparatory work.13 But if I spend much more time in conversing about the spirit of Elias, I shall not have time to do justice to the spirit and power of Elijah.14
This is the Elias spoken of in the last days, and here is the rock upon which many split, thinking the time was past in the days of John and Christ,15 and no more to be. But the spirit of Elias1 was revealed to me, and I know it is true; therefore I speak with boldness,2 for I know verily my doctrine is true.
We find the Apostles endowed with greater power4 than John: their office was more under the spirit and power of Elijah than Elias.5
In the case of Phillip when he went down to Samaria, when he was under the spirit of Elias, he baptized both men and women.6 When Peter and John heard of it, they went down and laid hands upon them, and they received the Holy Ghost.7 This shows the distinction between the two powers.
When Paul came to certain disciples, he asked if they had received the Holy Ghost? They said, No. Who baptized you, then? We were baptized unto John’s baptism. No, you were not baptized unto John’s baptism, or you would have been baptized by John. And so Paul went and baptized them,8 for he knew what the true doctrine was, and he knew that John had not baptized them. And these principles are strange to me, that men who have read the Scriptures of the New Testament are so far from it.
What I want to impress upon your minds is the difference of power in the different parts of the Priesthood, so that when any man comes among you, saying, “I have the spirit of Elias,”9 you can know whether he be true or false; for any man that comes, having the spirit and power of Elias,10 he will not transcend his bounds.
John did not transcend his bounds, but faithfully performed that part belonging to his office; and every portion of the great building should be prepared right and assigned to its proper place; and it is necessary to know who holds the keys of power,11 and who does not, or we may be likely to be deceived.
That person who holds the keys of Elias12 hath a preparatory work.13 But if I spend much more time in conversing about the spirit of Elias, I shall not have time to do justice to the spirit and power of Elijah.14
This is the Elias spoken of in the last days, and here is the rock upon which many split, thinking the time was past in the days of John and Christ,15 and no more to be. But the spirit of Elias1 was revealed to me, and I know it is true; therefore I speak with boldness,2 for I know verily my doctrine is true.
Mission of Elijah
Now for Elijah. The spirit, power, and calling of Elijah4 is, that ye have power to hold the key of the revelations,5 ordinances, oracles, powers and endowments6 of the fulness of the Melchizedek Priesthood7 and of the kingdom of God on the earth;8 and to receive, obtain, and perform all the ordinances belonging to the kingdom of God, even unto the turning of the hearts of the fathers unto the children, and the hearts of the children unto the fathers, even those who are in heaven.9
Malachi says, “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.”10
Now, what I am after is the knowledge of God,11 and I take my own course to obtain it. What are we to understand by this in the last days?
In the days of Noah,12 God destroyed the world by a flood,13 and He has promised to destroy it by fire in the last days:14 but before it should take place, Elijah should first come and turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,15 &c.
Now comes the point. What is this office and work of Elijah? It is one of the greatest and most important subjects that God has revealed. He should send Elijah to seal the children to the fathers, and the fathers to the children.16
For the Living and the Dead
Now was this merely confined to the living, to settle difficulties with families on earth? By no means. It was a far greater work. Elijah! what would you do if you were here? Would you confine your work to the living alone? No: I would refer you to the Scriptures, where the subject is manifest: that is, without us, they could not be made perfect, nor we without them;17 the fathers without the children, nor the children without the fathers.
I wish you to understand this subject, for it is important; and if you receive it, this is the spirit of Elijah,18 that we
verily my doctrine is true.3
TPJS 338
redeem our dead,1 and connect ourselves with our fathers which are in heaven,2 and seal up our dead to come forth in the first resurrection;3 and here we want the power of Elijah to seal those who dwell on earth to those who dwell in heaven. This is the power of Elijah4 and the keys of the kingdom5 of Jehovah.
Sealing on Earth and in Heaven
Let us suppose a case. Suppose the great God6 who dwells in heaven should reveal himself to Father Cutler here, by the opening heavens, and tell him, I offer up a decree that whatsoever you seal on earth with your decree, I will seal it in heaven;7 you have the power then; can it be taken off? No. Then what you seal on earth, by the keys of Elijah,8 is sealed in heaven; and this is the power of Elijah, and this is the difference between the spirit and power of Elias and Elijah; for while the spirit of Elias is a forerunner,9 the power of Elijah is sufficient to make our calling and election sure;10 and the same doctrine, where we are exhorted to go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead,11 &c.
We cannot be perfect without the fathers,12 &c. We must have revelation from them, and we can see that the doctrine of revelation far transcends the doctrine of no revelation; for one truth revealed from heaven is worth all the sectarian notions in existence.
This spirit of Elijah was manifest in the days of the Apostles, in delivering certain ones to the buffetings of Satan, that they might be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.13 They were sealed by the spirit of Elijah unto the damnation14 of hell15 until the day of the Lord,16 or revelation of Jesus Christ.17
Here is the doctrine of election18 that the world has quarreled so much about; but they do not know anything about it.
Falling from Grace19
The doctrine that the Presbyterians and Methodists have quarreled so much about—once in grace, always in grace, or falling away from grace,20 I will say a word about. They are both wrong. Truth takes a road between them both, for while the Presbyterian says: “Once in grace, you cannot fall”; the Methodist says: “You can have grace today, fall from it tomorrow, next day have grace again; and so follow on, changing
redeem our dead,1 and connect ourselves with our fathers which are in heaven,2 and seal up our dead to come forth in the first resurrection;3 and here we want the power of Elijah to seal those who dwell on earth to those who dwell in heaven. This is the power of Elijah4 and the keys of the kingdom5 of Jehovah.
Sealing on Earth and in Heaven
Let us suppose a case. Suppose the great God6 who dwells in heaven should reveal himself to Father Cutler here, by the opening heavens, and tell him, I offer up a decree that whatsoever you seal on earth with your decree, I will seal it in heaven;7 you have the power then; can it be taken off? No. Then what you seal on earth, by the keys of Elijah,8 is sealed in heaven; and this is the power of Elijah, and this is the difference between the spirit and power of Elias and Elijah; for while the spirit of Elias is a forerunner,9 the power of Elijah is sufficient to make our calling and election sure;10 and the same doctrine, where we are exhorted to go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead,11 &c.
We cannot be perfect without the fathers,12 &c. We must have revelation from them, and we can see that the doctrine of revelation far transcends the doctrine of no revelation; for one truth revealed from heaven is worth all the sectarian notions in existence.
This spirit of Elijah was manifest in the days of the Apostles, in delivering certain ones to the buffetings of Satan, that they might be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.13 They were sealed by the spirit of Elijah unto the damnation14 of hell15 until the day of the Lord,16 or revelation of Jesus Christ.17
Here is the doctrine of election18 that the world has quarreled so much about; but they do not know anything about it.
Falling from Grace19
The doctrine that the Presbyterians and Methodists have quarreled so much about—once in grace, always in grace, or falling away from grace,20 I will say a word about. They are both wrong. Truth takes a road between them both, for while the Presbyterian says: “Once in grace, you cannot fall”; the Methodist says: “You can have grace today, fall from it tomorrow, next day have grace again; and so follow on, changing
TPJS 339
continually.” But the doctrine of the Scriptures and the spirit of Elijah would show them both false, and take a road between them both; for, according to the Scripture, if men have received the good word of God,1 and tasted of the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, it is impossible to renew them again, seeing they have crucified the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame;2 so there is a possibility of falling away; you could not be renewed again, and the power of Elijah cannot seal against this sin, for this is a reserve made in the seals and power of the Priesthood.
I will make every doctrine plain that I present, and it shall stand upon a firm basis, and I am at the defiance of the world, for I will take shelter under the broad cover of the wings3 of the work in which I am engaged. It matters not to me if all hell boils over; I regard it only as I would the crackling of the thorns under a pot.4
Murderers Have No Forgiveness
A murderer, for instance, one that sheds innocent blood,5 cannot have forgiveness.6 David sought repentance at the hand of God carefully with tears,7 for the murder of Uriah;8 but he could only get it through hell: he got a promise that his soul should not be left in hell.9
Although David was a king, he never did obtain the spirit and power of Elijah and the fullness of the Priesthood;10 and the Priesthood that he received, and the throne11 and kingdom of David is to be taken from him12 and given to another by the name of David in the last days, raised up out of his lineage.13
Peter referred to the same subject on the day of Pentecost,14 but the multitude did not get the endowment that Peter had;15 but several days after, the people asked, “What shall we do?”16 Peter says, “I would ye had done it ignorantly,”17 speaking of crucifying the Lord &c. He did not say to them, “Repent and be baptized for the remission of your sins”;18 but he said, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” (Acts 3:19.)19
This is the case with murderers.20 They could not be baptized for the remission of sins, for they had shed innocent blood.21
continually.” But the doctrine of the Scriptures and the spirit of Elijah would show them both false, and take a road between them both; for, according to the Scripture, if men have received the good word of God,1 and tasted of the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, it is impossible to renew them again, seeing they have crucified the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame;2 so there is a possibility of falling away; you could not be renewed again, and the power of Elijah cannot seal against this sin, for this is a reserve made in the seals and power of the Priesthood.
I will make every doctrine plain that I present, and it shall stand upon a firm basis, and I am at the defiance of the world, for I will take shelter under the broad cover of the wings3 of the work in which I am engaged. It matters not to me if all hell boils over; I regard it only as I would the crackling of the thorns under a pot.4
Murderers Have No Forgiveness
A murderer, for instance, one that sheds innocent blood,5 cannot have forgiveness.6 David sought repentance at the hand of God carefully with tears,7 for the murder of Uriah;8 but he could only get it through hell: he got a promise that his soul should not be left in hell.9
Although David was a king, he never did obtain the spirit and power of Elijah and the fullness of the Priesthood;10 and the Priesthood that he received, and the throne11 and kingdom of David is to be taken from him12 and given to another by the name of David in the last days, raised up out of his lineage.13
Peter referred to the same subject on the day of Pentecost,14 but the multitude did not get the endowment that Peter had;15 but several days after, the people asked, “What shall we do?”16 Peter says, “I would ye had done it ignorantly,”17 speaking of crucifying the Lord &c. He did not say to them, “Repent and be baptized for the remission of your sins”;18 but he said, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” (Acts 3:19.)19
This is the case with murderers.20 They could not be baptized for the remission of sins, for they had shed innocent blood.21
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Again: The doctrine or sealing power1 of Elijah is as follows:—If you have power to seal on earth and in heaven,2 then we should be wise. The first thing you do, go and seal on earth your sons and daughters unto yourself, and yourself unto your fathers in eternal glory,3 and go ahead, and not go back,4 but use a little wisdom, and seal all you can, and when you get to heaven tell your Father that what you seal on earth should be sealed in heaven,5 according to his promise. I will walk through the gate of heaven6 and claim what I seal, and those that follow me and my counsel.7
The Lord once told me that what I asked for I should have.8 I have been afraid to ask God to kill my enemies,9 lest some of them should, peradventure, repent.10
I asked a short time since for the Lord to deliver me out of the hands11 of the Governor of Missouri, and if it needs must be to accomplish it, to take him away;12 and the next news that came pouring down from there was, that Governor Reynolds had shot himself.13 And I would now say, Beware, O earth, how you fight against the Saints of God14 and shed innocent blood;15 for in the days of Elijah, his enemies came upon him, and fire was called down from heaven and destroyed them.16
Mission of Messiah
The spirit of Elias is first, Elijah second, and Messiah last. Elias is a forerunner to prepare the way,17 and the spirit and power of Elijah18 is to come after, holding the keys of power, building the Temple to the capstone, placing the seals of the Melchizedek Priesthood upon the house of Israel, and making all things ready;19 then Messiah comes to His Temple,20 which is last of all.
Again: The doctrine or sealing power1 of Elijah is as follows:—If you have power to seal on earth and in heaven,2 then we should be wise. The first thing you do, go and seal on earth your sons and daughters unto yourself, and yourself unto your fathers in eternal glory,3 and go ahead, and not go back,4 but use a little wisdom, and seal all you can, and when you get to heaven tell your Father that what you seal on earth should be sealed in heaven,5 according to his promise. I will walk through the gate of heaven6 and claim what I seal, and those that follow me and my counsel.7
The Lord once told me that what I asked for I should have.8 I have been afraid to ask God to kill my enemies,9 lest some of them should, peradventure, repent.10
I asked a short time since for the Lord to deliver me out of the hands11 of the Governor of Missouri, and if it needs must be to accomplish it, to take him away;12 and the next news that came pouring down from there was, that Governor Reynolds had shot himself.13 And I would now say, Beware, O earth, how you fight against the Saints of God14 and shed innocent blood;15 for in the days of Elijah, his enemies came upon him, and fire was called down from heaven and destroyed them.16
Mission of Messiah
The spirit of Elias is first, Elijah second, and Messiah last. Elias is a forerunner to prepare the way,17 and the spirit and power of Elijah18 is to come after, holding the keys of power, building the Temple to the capstone, placing the seals of the Melchizedek Priesthood upon the house of Israel, and making all things ready;19 then Messiah comes to His Temple,20 which is last of all.
Messiah is above the spirit and power of Elijah, for He made the world,21 and was that spiritual
rock unto Moses in the wilderness.22 Elijah was to come and prepare the way23 and build up the
kingdom before the coming of the great day of the Lord,24 although the spirit of Elias might begin
it.25
I have asked of the Lord concerning His coming;26 and while asking the Lord, He gave a sign
and said, “In the days of Noah I set a bow in the heavens27 as a sign and token that in any year that
the bow should be seen the Lord would not come; but there should be seed time and harvest during
-
D&C 128:14.
-
D&C 132:46.
-
2 Tim. 2:10; 1 Pet. 5:10;
16. 2 Kgs. 1:10-14.
17. Mal. 3:1.
18. Mal. 4:5-6; D&C
18. Mal. 4:5-6; D&C
D&C 130:2.
-
Ezek. 24:14.
-
Matt. 16:19.
110:13-16.
19. Matt. 22:4; Luke 14:17. 20. D&C 36:8; D&C 133:2. 21. John 1:10; D&C 93:9-10. 22. 1 Cor. 10:4.
23. Mal. 3:1.
24. Mal. 4:5.
25. D&C 27:7; D&C 35:4. 26. D&C 130:14-17.
27. Gen. 9:13.
19. Matt. 22:4; Luke 14:17. 20. D&C 36:8; D&C 133:2. 21. John 1:10; D&C 93:9-10. 22. 1 Cor. 10:4.
23. Mal. 3:1.
24. Mal. 4:5.
25. D&C 27:7; D&C 35:4. 26. D&C 130:14-17.
27. Gen. 9:13.
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Gen. 28:17; Hel. 3:28.
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D&C 100:2; D&C 105:37.
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Hel. 10:5.
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Ps. 18:40; Ps. 143:12; Rev.
11:5.
10. Mosiah 2:38; D&C
10. Mosiah 2:38; D&C
98:27,39-40.
11. Deut. 20:4; 2 Kgs. 17:39;
11. Deut. 20:4; 2 Kgs. 17:39;
Job 6:23; Ps. 31:15; Ps.
71:4; 2 Ne. 4:31; D&C 8:4.
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Ezek. 33:4; Matt. 22:13.
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D&C 98:31.
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Acts 5:39; 1 Ne. 14:13;
2 Ne. 25:14; 2 Ne. 29:14;
D&C 121:38.
15. D&C 136:36.
TPJS 341
that year: but whenever you see the bow withdrawn, it shall be a token that there shall be famine, pestilence, and great distress among the nations,1 and that the coming of the Messiah2 is not far distant.3
But I will take the responsibility upon myself to prophesy in the name of the Lord,4 that Christ will not come this year, as Father Miller has prophesied, for we have seen the bow; and I also prophesy, in the name of the Lord, that Christ will not come in forty years;5 and if God ever spoke by my mouth,6 He will not come in that length of time. Brethren, when you go home, write it down, that it may be remembered.
Jesus Christ never did reveal to any man the precise time that He would come. Go and read the Scriptures, and you cannot find anything that specifies the exact hour He would come;7 and all that say so are false teachers.8
that year: but whenever you see the bow withdrawn, it shall be a token that there shall be famine, pestilence, and great distress among the nations,1 and that the coming of the Messiah2 is not far distant.3
But I will take the responsibility upon myself to prophesy in the name of the Lord,4 that Christ will not come this year, as Father Miller has prophesied, for we have seen the bow; and I also prophesy, in the name of the Lord, that Christ will not come in forty years;5 and if God ever spoke by my mouth,6 He will not come in that length of time. Brethren, when you go home, write it down, that it may be remembered.
Jesus Christ never did reveal to any man the precise time that He would come. Go and read the Scriptures, and you cannot find anything that specifies the exact hour He would come;7 and all that say so are false teachers.8
Rejoicing of the Prophet.
The Joseph Smith Translation gives valuable insights into Elias and who he is and what his mission is. John the Baptist was clearly an Elias to prepare the way for the Savior the first time and it appears we will have an additional Elias the second time to prepare the way for the Savior's second coming.
JST Matt. 11 speaks of both of these Elias'. In verse 12-14 we learn the kingdom of heaven suffered violence when John the Baptist was on the earth, as is illustrated by his death, but that the violence would be until John. This implies there will be a John who will end the violence. Verse 13 emphasizes the day WILL come when the violent will have no power. Verse 15 then says that Elias will come to prepare all things.
JST Matt. 17:1-14 adds insight into the identity of two Elias' that Jesus refers to during His ministry. The first 8 verses Peter, James and John see Jesus transfigured on the Mount of Transfiguration and Him speaking with Moses and Elias. Then as they come down from the mount, the disciples ask, "9. ...Why then say the Scribes that Elias must first come? 10. And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things, as the prophets have written." It is significant that He says, "shall" and "restore all things." This end-time Elias is one that has the phrase, "restore all things." Clearly John the Baptist restored the lesser priesthood, not all things. He prepared the world for the Savior's first coming with an Aaronic Priesthood ordinance, baptism, and then he restored the Aaronic Priesthood to Joseph Smith Jr. to baptize as well, at the beginning of the restoration of the gospel in this dispensation. So, clearly Elias is an end-time forerunner to the Savior's second coming. Then Jesus says in the JST of Matthew 17:13-14, "But I say unto you, who is Elias? Behold, this is Elias, whom I sent to prepare the way before me. 14. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist, and also of another who should come and restore all things, as it is written by the prophets."
D&C 27:6 is revealing. It reads, "And also with Elias, to whom I have committed the keys of bringing to pass the restoration of all things spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began, concerning the last days;". Verse 7 clarifies that verse 6 is speaking of the Elias of the last days, not of the John the Baptist Elias.
I still need to share key verses in 3 Nephi 19-21 and Isaiah references. Also the explanation of the high priests that are chosen, JST Genesis 14:25-40.
JST Matt. 11 speaks of both of these Elias'. In verse 12-14 we learn the kingdom of heaven suffered violence when John the Baptist was on the earth, as is illustrated by his death, but that the violence would be until John. This implies there will be a John who will end the violence. Verse 13 emphasizes the day WILL come when the violent will have no power. Verse 15 then says that Elias will come to prepare all things.
JST Matt. 17:1-14 adds insight into the identity of two Elias' that Jesus refers to during His ministry. The first 8 verses Peter, James and John see Jesus transfigured on the Mount of Transfiguration and Him speaking with Moses and Elias. Then as they come down from the mount, the disciples ask, "9. ...Why then say the Scribes that Elias must first come? 10. And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things, as the prophets have written." It is significant that He says, "shall" and "restore all things." This end-time Elias is one that has the phrase, "restore all things." Clearly John the Baptist restored the lesser priesthood, not all things. He prepared the world for the Savior's first coming with an Aaronic Priesthood ordinance, baptism, and then he restored the Aaronic Priesthood to Joseph Smith Jr. to baptize as well, at the beginning of the restoration of the gospel in this dispensation. So, clearly Elias is an end-time forerunner to the Savior's second coming. Then Jesus says in the JST of Matthew 17:13-14, "But I say unto you, who is Elias? Behold, this is Elias, whom I sent to prepare the way before me. 14. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist, and also of another who should come and restore all things, as it is written by the prophets."
D&C 27:6 is revealing. It reads, "And also with Elias, to whom I have committed the keys of bringing to pass the restoration of all things spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began, concerning the last days;". Verse 7 clarifies that verse 6 is speaking of the Elias of the last days, not of the John the Baptist Elias.
I still need to share key verses in 3 Nephi 19-21 and Isaiah references. Also the explanation of the high priests that are chosen, JST Genesis 14:25-40.
