There is confusion regarding whether a Temple must be built to receive the Spirit of Elijah, or the Spirit of Elijah must come before a Temple and Zion is built. Joseph Smith addressed this subject in the following quotation:
“The Bible 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 the fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." Now, the word turn here should be translated bind, or seal. But what is the object of this important mission? or how is it to be fulfilled? The keys are to be delivered, the spirit of Elijah is to come, the Gospel to be established, the Saints of God gathered, Zion built up, and the Saints to come up as saviors on Mount Zion. But how are they to become saviors on Mount Zion? By building their temples, erecting their baptismal fonts, and going forth and receiving all the ordinances, baptisms, confirmations, washings, anointings, ordinations and sealing powers upon their heads, in behalf of all their progenitors who are dead, and redeem them that they may come forth in the first resurrection and be exalted to thrones of glory with them; and herein is the chain that binds the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, which fulfills the mission of Elijah. And I would to God that this temple was now done, that we might go into it, and go to work and improve our time, and make use of the seals while they are on earth. (Smith Jr., Joseph. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (p. 378). Deseret Book Company. Kindle Edition.
Joseph Smith explains how the mission of Elijah is to unfold. The keys of Elijah are to be delivered, the Spirit of Elijah arrives, the Gospel is established, the Saints of God gathered, Zion is built, and the Saints become Savior’s on Mount Zion by performing Temple ordinances on behalf of their deceased ancestors. This cannot be completed until the keys are first delivered and the Spirit of Elijah comes.
Without the Spirit of Elijah there is not adequate Priesthood power on Earth to perform these tasks. The Gospel cannot be established, the Saints gathered, Zion built up, and a Temple constructed until the keys are given and the Spirit of Elijah arrives.
Keys to the Spirit of Elijah are Given
To understand what it means to receive the keys to the Spirit of Elijah, one must first understand the concept of keys.
“Something used to open a lock; something that is important or central in importance. A “keystone” is the point in an arch that fits in the center, holding the arch together. Upon it all else rests. Keys are better viewed as a signal or a signpost along a pathway. Instead of “I hold keys and so I hold something of value,” holding a key is better viewed as being given a strong guide or route to take. If the word is viewed using these meanings, it suggests that holding a key implies using it in action . . . And this greater priesthood administers the gospel and holds the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God (T&C 82:12). “The word keys is horribly misunderstood. I have made it a practice to not use the word because of all the foolish and vain ideas that have accumulated around it. Joseph used the term in a variety of ways: for example, to mean authority, or opportunity, and in others it refers to a correct idea. This is the most important meaning. The term in the context of priesthood is completely absent from the Book of Mormon, and that book is the keystone of our religion, containing the fullness of the gospel. The only time the word keys is referenced in the Book of Mormon, it refers to a physical set of keys to unlock a door to the treasury controlled by Laban (1 Nephi 1:18). Although Joseph used the term often and meant many things by it, the challenge is to understand priesthood without being distracted by a poorly defined, and often used term. Mormon institutions now use the term most often to connote their exclusive right, license or control. The LDS Handbook of Instructions states the following, ‘Priesthood keys are the authority God has given to priesthood leaders to direct, control, and govern the use of His priesthood on Earth.’ This definition is the opposite of the way scripture directs priesthood be used (see T&C 139:5–7). The LDS Handbook approach turns this scripture upside down and backwards: by virtue of priesthood keys they have the right to direct, control and exercise influence over others. Mormon institutions in general all use their preferred meaning of the term keys to denounce anything or anyone they view as a rival. That is nonsense, and I avoid using the term because of widespread abusive practice.” If a Dispensation was given and the recipient failed to complete the work God assigned, then he acquires no key, no honor, no right, no authority from the Lord and therefore, has nothing to account for. The notion that someone can obtain keys without receiving a Dispensation from the Lord and successfully completing the work of God is a false idea that should be rejected.
Keys are knowledge.
“A particular key is knowledge or instruction received from the Lord on how to do something. If one has the key, then one has the ability or power to do something. And conversely, if one is powerless to do or accomplish something (bind and loose, request ministering angels, command the elements or spirits, etc.), then they do not possess a key. “Then knowledge through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the grand key that unlocks the glories and mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven…the key that unlocks the Heavens and puts in our possession the glories of the celestial world.” “There are many things which belong to the powers of the Priesthood and the keys thereof that have been kept hid from before the foundation of the world; they are hid from the wise and prudent to be revealed in the last times.”5Now the great and grand secret of the whole matter, and the summum bonum [highest good] of the whole subject that is lying before us, consists in obtaining the powers of the holy [Order of] Priesthood. For him to whom these keys are given there is no difficulty in obtaining a knowledge of facts in relation to the salvation of the children of men, both as well for the dead as for the living (T&C151:9). The Melchizedek Priesthood…is the grand head, and holds the highest authority which pertains to [the Holy Order] and the keys of the Kingdom of God in all ages of the world, to the latest posterity on the earth; and is the channel through which all knowledge, doctrine, the plan of salvation, and every important matter is revealed from Heaven.”6 “In knowledge there is power. God has more power than all other beings because He has greater knowledge; and hence He knows how to subject all other beings to Him. He has power over all.”7 Joseph Smith also used the term keys to mean understanding, the greatest key being the ability to ask God and receive an answer (see T&C 147:7; 141:32,33” (A Glossary of Gospel Terms, Key(s) p. , emphasis added).
Simply stated, keys are knowledge. Knowledge enabling us to accomplish something. Once we obtain the necessary knowledge, we then must apply the knowledge or turn the key opening a door to greater knowledge. The greatest key to be obtained is the key to the knowledge of God. The understanding that enables us to ask God and obtain and answer.
Obtaining the Spirit of Elijah
Once God endows us with knowledge to access the Spirit of Elijah or the key to the Spirit of Elijah, we must then turn the key to access the Priesthood blessings and powers accompanying God’s authorization to identify and use it. It is the “key that unlocks the glories and mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven . . . the key that unlocks the Heavens and puts in our possession the glories of the celestial world.”
“The spirit, power, and calling of Elijah is, that ye have power to hold the key of the revelations, ordinances, oracles, powers and endowments of the fullness of the Melchizedek Priesthood and of the kingdom of God on the earth; 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 . . . Elijah was to come and prepare the way and build up the kingdom before the coming of the great day of the Lord, although the spirit of Elias might begin it….The spirit of Elias is first, Elijah second, and Messiah last. Elias is a forerunner to prepare the way, and the spirit and power of Elijah 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; then Messiah comes to His temple, which is last of all . . . . the Spirit of Elijah is represented by Enoch who, when the Earth was threatened with violence and men were to be destroyed because of the wickedness upon the face of the earth, was able to gather people into a city of peace and to have the Lord come to their city of peace and remove them from the coming violence and destruction. Enoch is a type of the Spirit of Elijah, because it is the Spirit of Elijah that ascends into Heaven to prefigure [be an early indication or version of something] the return of the Spirit of Messiah in the last day. The Spirit of Elijah is needed to gather a people to a place that God will acknowledge, will visit, and will shield from the coming violence at the destruction of the world. And so Enoch becomes the great type of the Spirit of Elijah, although the name of Elijah is associated with a man who lived later. (Elijah would likewise ascend in the fiery chariot into Heaven. He duplicated, among a hardened people in a fallen world, the same achievement as Enoch accomplished; albeit, Enoch did so with a city, and Elijah did it as a solitary figure.) It will be Elijah and his spirit that, in the last days, will likewise prepare a city for salvation and preservation . . . . It has always been in the heart of the Lord, from before the foundation of the world, for the Fall of man to be reversed. Man will return through the same stages as man fell. The Spirit of Elias, declaring the gospel, will come again into the world and has returned in the person of Joseph Smith — in the message he delivered, in the scriptures that he restored, and in the message and practices he taught. No matter how short-lived his message was, he laid a foundation in the Spirit of Elias. Without Joseph’s ministry, we could not now move forward. Elias — and the Spirit of Elias — came through Joseph Smith into the world . . . . Whether the light now offered will achieve anything more than came in Joseph’s time remains an unanswered question. The Lord cannot force anyone to receive Him; He can only offer. We must accept. This generation is now facing a crossroads in which it is possible to continue the work and move forward. Moving forward successfully, however, will require an acceptance of the Spirit of Elijah. This time, the Spirit of Elijah is not coming to prepare a people to ascend into Heaven, but instead to prepare a people so that those who come will not utterly destroy them. There must be a people prepared to endure the burning that will come. Just as Enoch’s people were prepared, shielded, and then worthy to ascend (so as to avoid destruction by the flood), the Spirit of Elijah must prepare people to endure the day that shall burn the wicked as stubble. The Spirit of Elijah will gather people to a place of peace, to be the only people who are not at war one with another (see T&C 31:15). They must be people willing to accept the Lord’s teachings and allow those teachings to govern their daily walk — with each other and with God. Being eager to receive commandments, not a few, and also revelations from the Lord is what the people of Zion must necessarily be willing to do . . . . I expect Elijah to return the same way he departed. That’s one of the great assignments to him. He must return because he will reopen the way through which others will follow. It will be, I believe, the same person as departed and not someone who self-proclaims or self-identifies as being Elijah. It will be him. Not another. Anyone making that claim would (to me at least) be someone who does not understand the scriptures and is not to be taken seriously . . . . Elijah is the spirit and assignment to reconnect Heaven and earth; he who unites realms and initiates man’s access to ministering angels and the church of the Firstborn by opening the stairway of ascent [an axis mundi or columna lucis] into Heaven” (A Glossary of Gospel Terms, Elias, Elijah, and Messiah, pp. , emphasis added).
The Spirit of Elijah is sent to prepare a city for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Ironically, the key to the Spirit of Elijah is openly stated but not taken seriously. Therefore, few are the people who turn the key to receive the blessings of Elijah that opens the Heavens to them.
To understand the key to the Spirit of Elijah, we must understand a “key” definition. The definition is the “Powers of Heaven.”
The Powers of Heaven
“A title referring to a specific group with status on the other side of the veil; a proper noun, not just an abstraction. In the afterlife there are different rungs on Jacob’s ladder where different Powers are fixed: Angel, Archangel, Principality, Power, Dominion, Throne, Cherubim, and Seraphim — they may all be called Powers of Heaven. These Powers have no desire to control or compel others to rise on Jacob’s ladder. Each rung is a developmental stage of growth through which all must pass if they want to ascend nearer to God. Each individual on Jacob’s ladder should be moving toward perfection” (A Glossary of Gospel Terms, Powers of Heaven, p. , emphasis added).
The Powers of Heaven are angels of God who are at different levels of progression on Jacob’s ladder. When Elijah returns he opens a conduit
between Earth and Heaven. There is one key to opening access to these angelic ministrants and the key is more plainly stated than most keys.
“Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen, and why are they not chosen? Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson — that the rights of the Priesthood are inseparably connected with the Powers of Heaven and that the Powers of Heaven cannot be controlled nor handled, only upon the principles of righteousness . . . .” T&C 139:5, emphasis added).
The Powers of Heaven are only controlled or handled according to righteous principles. Determining what righteous principles can be deduced by assuming righteous principles are the opposite of behaviors listed above. If one desires to know and abide by righteous principles they should not set their hearts upon the things of this world or aspire to the honors of men. Those steps are beginning points.
A Glossary of Gospel Terms contains an explanation of righteousness.
“Conformity to the Divine Law.1 God measures differently than does man. Being “righteous before God” may not mean the same thing one thinks “righteousness” means. Man wants outward signs, symbols, dress, grooming, and conformity. God looks at the intent of the heart.2 Righteousness comes by obedience. Obedience requires action. Without conforming conduct to the Lord’s commandments, it is impossible to enter into the kingdom of heaven” (A Glossary of Gospel Terms, Righteousness, p. , emphasis added).
The concept of righteousness is intimately link with the concept of faith.
There are three principle requirements of faith in the Lectures on Faith:
“First, the idea that he actually exists.
Secondly, a correct idea of his character, perfections, and attributes.
Thirdly, an actual knowledge that the course of life which he is pursuing is according to his will. For without an acquaintance with these three important facts, the faith of every rational being must be imperfect and unproductive, but with this understanding it can become perfect and fruitful, abounding in righteousness unto the praise and glory of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (T&C 110, Lectures on Faith, Lecture 3:3-5, emphasis added).
Righteousness in the eyes of men is different than righteousness before God. The latter requires more, significantly more. While man may be deemed righteous in the eyes of their peers through acts of charity and kindness, more is required before God. Exercising faith in God requires us to first believe in Their existence. Next, faith requires we have a correct idea of the character, perfections, and attributes of God. When we attain to those steps, we must conform our lives to God’s will. When we know God’s will and harmonize our lives with it, we have faith and are righteous in His eyes. Accomplishing this is the reason so few in mortality learn this lesson and connect with the Powers of Heaven.
“The Powers of Heaven, wherever they are on Jacob’s ladder, are all appropriately called “Powers.” The real definition of priesthood is an association between mankind on the one hand, and those on the other side of the veil. It is a brotherhood. It is also potentially a sisterhood. It is a fellowship wherein mortals are connected with the “Powers of Heaven . . . . The scriptures refer to a relationship between the Powers of Heaven and the few men who qualify to associate with them. That priesthood has power because of the association with the Powers of Heaven. When the Powers of Heaven are offended, they withdraw from the fellowship, and when they withdraw, “Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.”[449] Nothing done thereafter is approved by heaven. Men are left to their own vain ambition at that point and they become part of the great whore, or church of the devil. “…and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness. That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.” [An association with heaven is critical to obtain power in the priesthood.]
Mortal priesthood empowerment is never granted to man and left to their discretion. Priesthood empowerment is more like a flow of righteousness. When a person joins the flow of righteousness, like a river, they gain support from the current or Powers of Heaven in accomplishing the Lord’s will. Going contrary to the current leaves us feckless and ineffective, subject to Satan’s will. From outward appearances they appear righteous, but their efforts impede the Lord’s work through misdirection.
They may receive the mortal Priesthood of men, failure to connect with the Powers of Heaven leaves them subject to the influence of the devil in his efforts to subject men to his will.
The same revelation explains how this heavenly authority can be used. It is what distinguishes the pretenders from actual priests endowed by heaven. Pretenders almost always work outside the bounds heaven permits, using tools explicitly condemned: “No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile—” Those, who like Melchizedek, are endowed with this priesthood, will only persuade others; not demand or control them. Their only call is to administer spiritual things, and not control others. They are not even to call for a meeting of elders without the consent of the elders themselves [Spirit of Elias].[450] Like Enoch [Spirit of Elijah], they use knowledge of the truth to invite others to believe.[451] Like Christ [Spirit of Messiah], they will act as servants, elevating others and not themselves.[452] Their words will be filled with new truth and shed light on what is dark or mysterious. Those with such authority abide in light and truth. The reason authority is given is to make men more like God; to lift and to elevate them. Those with this priesthood will produce a flood of new truths. They are revelators.
Personal ambition, pride, and imposing control on others are all outside of the order of Heaven. When any of these are present, Heaven is not, nor Heavens power or authority.
Righteousness seeks equality amongst men and women. It gently persuades, enlightens, is patient, is gentle and meek. They are also long-suffering. Rather than using force to impose submission, a servant of God enlightens, inspires, and invites all to find righteousness and become like God.
D&C 132:19 mentions the Powers behind the veil, referring to “thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths—” [This is a partial list of the different rungs in the ladder to the Throne of the Father.] Joseph Smith explained that when you begin to climb a ladder you always begin at the bottom, and climb step-by-step until you reach the top.[453] This fallen world is the bottom of that process. The challenge here is to get the opportunity to continue to develop hereafter. Men have tried to correctly identify the various stages of the ladder. I am not persuaded they know what they are talking about. Men who do know are often forbidden from explaining. Some have tried to use existing scripture to discuss hidden truths. Nephi did this with Isaiah.[454] There are those who rank the heavenly ascent from the bottom as: angels, archangels, principalities, powers, dominions, thrones, then Cherubim, and finally Seraphim. “Seraphim” dwell in everlasting burnings. They are the glorious ones in flames of glory.[455] These stages are developed by degree and are not achieved in a single step. When achieved, it is by obedience to the laws upon which such blessings are predicated. Knowledge exalts. Light and truth are the glory of God.[456] The ministries of Enoch and Melchizedek were to give light and truth. The list in section 132 reveals a hierarchy in the Powers of Heaven. There are not three levels of glory neatly divided. Within each level, there are stages of development. This world is a fallen, Telestial kingdom, but we are told the Celestial kingdom will be here.[457] We distinguish between them by using time frames we are familiar with.
What is discussed involves other worldly matters that are strictly guarded by Heaven. Someone, like me, may gain access to this knowledge through scriptures like the here-to-fore mentioned passage. In referencing the passage imply greater understanding than they may possess. Denver states that all though some may use prophecies from earlier prophets to convey the knowledge regarding these rungs on a ladder, most are forbidden to openly share their understanding. Being aware of the existence of these steps is beneficial because it invites us to pray and ask God to reveal to us this knowledge after adequate preparation.
The Telestial is now, Terrestrial in the Millennium, and Celestial post-Millennial. However, using time seems an ill fit to measure the timelessness of the afterlife.[458] Scripture reveals a more complex afterlife, where ascent to God’s Throne is more than a single step upward after this life. Joseph said it will be a great time after we have crossed through the veil before we will have learned all that needs to be learned in order to qualify for our salvation and exaltation. Moses 7:27: “And Enoch beheld angels descending out of heaven, bearing testimony of the Father and Son; and the Holy Ghost fell on many, and they were caught up by the powers of heaven into Zion.” (Emphasis added.) [“The powers of heaven” as a title shows up again in the same verse describing angels descending out of heaven.] In what we regard as priesthood, there are two brotherhoods. One is between men (or women) and it is here among mortals. There is a second one between mortal man and the “Powers of Heaven.”
The Powers of Heaven are the Patriarchal Fathers whom the Lord sends to Earth to minister to “heirs of salvation.” The Lord sends them to “chosen vessels” to instruct them about ascending the rungs on Jacob’s ladder to God’s presence. Once an heir of salvation receives direction, they become teachers to those whom they minister. In this process, two fellowships are in place. First, the chosen vessels establish fellowships with their fellow men and women and Second, the Powers of Heaven connect with the chosen vessels and enlist them to fulfill or bridge the gap between Heaven and Earth. This is the power of Elijah that facilitates the connection between the Heavenly kingdom of God with the Earthly.
It is the fellowship, association, or priesthood with the Powers of Heaven that gives to man the power. When the Lord embraces any individual through the veil, He who is the power of heaven itself can give a person power in the priesthood, for himself and his posterity. The scriptures reflect the two fellowships: D&C 107:52: “Noah was ten years old when he was ordained under the hand of Methuselah.” [Moses was ordained by a man, Methuselah, to a priesthood fellowship or brotherhood among his brethren in mortality.] Moses 8:19 records: “And the Lord ordained Noah after his own order, and commanded him that he should go forth and declare his Gospel unto the children of men, even as it was given unto Enoch.” [Noah’s first priesthood fellowship with his older brothers was expanded into a fellowship with the Powers of Heaven. Noah fellowshipped with men and immortals.] Enoch also belonged to two associations. D&C 107:48: “Enoch was twenty–five years old when he was ordained under the hand of Adam...” [He received an ordination when 25 years old. Later, when he was 65 years old:] “…and he was sixty–five and Adam blessed him. And he saw the Lord, and he walked with him, and was before his face continually; and he walked with God three hundred and sixty–five years, making him four hundred and thirty years old when he was translated.” [These are two separate stages. The earthly association is just the beginning. It should lead to a heavenly association.] Jethro the father-in-law, ordained Moses to a mortal brotherhood. D&C 84:6 says, “And the sons of Moses, according to the Holy Priesthood which he [that is Moses] received under the hand of his father–in–law, Jethro.” [Then beginning at verse 21:] “And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh; For without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live. Now this Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness, and sought diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God; But they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence; therefore, the Lord in his wrath, for his anger was kindled against them, swore that they should not enter into his rest while in the wilderness, which rest is the fulness of his glory. Therefore, he took Moses out of their midst, and the Holy Priesthood also.” [This is the other, higher brotherhood involving Powers beyond the veil.]” (Snuffer, Denver. Preserving the Restoration, pp.173-178, Mill Creek Press, emphasis added).
“The description of two separate associations is common in scripture. These few illustrate the concept. There are two levels of priesthood; the more important one requires a connection beyond the veil. It is not enough to only have the association among mortal men. One should always seek to know and associate with “the Powers of Heaven” (Snuffer, Denver. Preserving the Restoration, p.179, Mill Creek Press, emphasis added).
When Israel rejected the Lord’s covenant to ascend Sinai and enter into God’s presence, They rejected the full benefit derived from the Atonement of Jesus Christ. If the Fall of Adam removed mankind from God’s presence, the Atonement of Jesus Christ repairs the effects of the fall and prepares mankind to return to the presence of God.
After mankind establishes an association or fellowship with one another, which is preparatory, Aaronic and the Spirit of Elias, with the assistance of angelic ministrants. Angels prepares them for the second association. The second association leads to a fellowship with immortals, the Patriarchal Fathers who obtained covenants with God on behalf of themselves and their posterity. The Patriarchal Fathers in Heaven or Powers of Heaven possess unspeakable knowledge than is shared with “chosen vessels” or “heirs of salvation” who then receive instructions to minister to their brethren and sisters.
The Patriarchal Fathers instruct us vicariously through the “chosen vessels” how to begin our individual ascent to the second fellowship and eventually with Christ and the Father and our Heavenly Mother.
It is to this end the Spirit of Elijah opening the conduit between Heaven and Earth leads to a joyous reunion of the Family of God.
“And righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out my own elect from the four quarters of the earth unto a place which I shall prepare, a holy city, that my people may gird up their loins and be looking forth for the time of my coming. For there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem. And the Lord said unto Enoch, Then shall you and all your city meet them there, and we will receive them into our bosom. And they shall see us, and we will fall upon their necks, and they shall fall upon our necks, and we will kiss each other; and there shall be my abode. And it shall be Zion which shall come forth out of all the creations which I have made, and for the space of a thousand years shall the earth rest” (RE Genesis 4:22, emphasis added).
The joyous reunion will not be due to a first introduction between Heaven and Earth. A reunion is reuniting two families whose hearts are turned to one another, the children because their Patriarchal Fathers blessed them. Through adoption into their families and attendant blessings promised by God, we become recipients of the blessings God grants to their posterity. And the Patriarchal Fathers rejoice over their righteous posterity they present to the Father and Son as the fruit of their collective efforts. One may scarcely reflect on how joyous a reunion this will be in the Family of God. This because they all share one heart, one mind, and have all things in common.
Scott Roderick