Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 25:5-6

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 25:5-6

"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 hearts 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."

The Savior continues to give the words of Malachi in this chapter. I pondered on how each set of scriptures quotes them. The angel Moroni repeated Malachi's words to Joseph Smith when he appeared to him. The prophesy of the coming of Elijah was fulfilled April 3, 1836 in the Kirtland Temple, When the Savior Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery and said he accepted the temple as His. Then three heavenly messengers appeared, Moses, Elias, and Elijah to restore priesthood keys. Elijah restored the sealing power.

I have often marveled on that day. For not only was it Easter Sunday it was also the Jewish Passover. While the Jew was setting a place for Elijah at their table, and opening the door to receive him as their guest, Elijah actually came. It wasn't to the home of the Jew. It was to the House of the Lord. The very first temple dedicated to the Lord in this the dispensation of the fullness of times. The timing of this happening was no coincidence. 

Since that date in 1836 the interest in people researching their family history has grown at a remarkable rate. Somewhere I had a paper with some of those stats. It told how many family history books were written before and after that date. Societies established and nations that changed laws to assist in gathering records. The oldest genealogical society in the United States is The New England Historic Genealogy Society and that wasn't formed until 1844.

The spirit of Elijah that motivates the passion for genealogy has effected people across the world, its not exclusive to the LDS community. The earth would be wasted and cursed if our hearts did not turn to each other. Healing comes through knowing your roots and finding your identity. Not only our earthly identity but on spiritual identity too. I could never number all the blessings I have received from the pursuit of not only researching my kindred dead, but also performing saving ordinances in the temple for them. I feel like my life would have been wasted if I was never involved in this great work. 

Day 378 Tami Fitzgerald Harris