Eternal work of redeeming dead is growing
E-mail story
It's easy. Send a link to the story you were just reading to a friend. Just fill out the form on this page and we'll send it along.
Your name and e-mail address are transmitted to the recipient. Otherwise, it is considered private information; see Privacy policy.
"Who is the prophet Elijah who is to come before the great and dreadful day of the Lord? Let me review some of the highlights of his life," said Elder Howard W. Hunter, then of the Quorum of the Twelve, during the October 1971 general conference.
Elder Hunter, who later served as president of the Church, said: "The first mention of Elijah in the record refers to him as being from Tishbeh of Gilead, east of the Jordan in the area of Galilee. The events with which he was associated occurred in the 9th century before the birth of Christ. This great prophet was one of the leaders in defending Jehovah as the true God of Israel against those who were advancing Baal worship. His life is associated with many miracles."
Elder Hunter then related many accounts of the life of Elijah, as taught in the Old Testament. These included Elijah being fed by ravens during a drought, healing the widow's son, calling Israel to repentance over the worship of Baal, showing the power of God over the power of a false god, and ascending in a chariot of fire. (See 1 Kings 17-19; 2 Kings 2.)
"Without further revelation," Elder Hunter said, "we would be left in darkness as to his mission and the meaning of the promise stated by Malachi." (See Malachi 4:5-6.)
But in 1836 in the Kirtland Temple, Joseph Smith recorded: ". . . Another great and glorious vision burst upon us; for Elijah the prophet, who was taken to heaven without tasting death, stood before us, and said:
" 'Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi—testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord.' " (Doctrine and Covenants 110:13-14.)
Elder Hunter declared: "I bear witness that the same prophet who was fed by the ravens, by the never-depleting handful of meal and cruse of oil, who brought back life to the widow's son, whose sacrifice was consumed by an unkindled fire, who was taken into heaven in a chariot of fire, has appeared in this day, as foretold by Malachi. He is turning the hearts of this and the past generations toward each other.
"Prior to the building of temples in this dispensation and the appearance of Elijah, there was little interest in seeking out and identifying families of the past. Since temples have been built, genealogical interest in the world has increased at an accelerated rate."
