Doctrine and Covenants 110

D&C 110—Visions manifested to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple, April 3, 1836 What is significant about that date?

D&C 110—Visions manifested to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple, April 3, 1836 That weekend was the Jewish Passover. For centuries Jewish families have left an empty chair at their Passover feasts, anticipating Elijah’s return. Elijah has returned—not to a Passover feast, but to the Lord’s temple in Kirtland.

“On that very day Elijah did enter – not in the home of the Jews to partake of the Passover with them – but he appeared in the house of the Lord in Kirtland, and there bestowed his keys to bring to pass the very things for which these Jews, assembled in their homes, were seeking” (Doctrines of Salvation, 2:100-01).

Doctrine and Covenants 110:1-3 Like Joseph and Oliver, John Murdock also saw the Lord. He recorded: “The visions of my mind were opened, and the eyes of my understanding were enlightened, and I saw the form of a man, most lovely! The visage of his face was sound and fair as the sun. his hair, a bright silver gray, curled in most majestic form, His eyes, a keen penetrating blue, and the skin of his neck a most beautiful white, and He was covered from the neck to the feet with a loose garment, pure white, whiter than any garment I have ever before seen. His countenance was most penetrating, and yet most lovely! And while I was endeavoring to comprehend the whole personage, from head to feet, it slipped from me, and the Vision was closed up. But it left on my mind the impression of love, for months, that I never before felt, to that degree” (quoted in Anderson, Joseph Smith’s Kirtland, ).

Moses D&C 110:11 Elias D&C 110:12 Elijah D&C 110:13–16 Priesthood keys restored What these keys direct

Moses D&C 110:11 Elias D&C 110:12 Elijah D&C 110:13–16 Priesthood keys restored The keys of the gathering of Israel What these keys direct

Moses D&C 110:11 Elias D&C 110:12 Elijah D&C 110:13–16 Priesthood keys restored The keys of the gathering of Israel What these keys direct Missionary work

“Missionary work is crucial to the gathering of Israel. … In many nations our missionaries have searched for those of scattered Israel” (“The Gathering of Scattered Israel,” Ensign, Nov. 2006, 81).

Moses D&C 110:11 Elias D&C 110:12 Elijah D&C 110:13–16 Priesthood keys restored The keys of the gathering of Israel What these keys direct Missionary work

Moses D&C 110:11 Elias D&C 110:12 Elijah D&C 110:13–16 Priesthood keys restored The keys of the gathering of Israel The dispensation of the gospel of Abraham What these keys direct Missionary work

Moses D&C 110:11 Elias D&C 110:12 Elijah D&C 110:13–16 Priesthood keys restored The keys of the gathering of Israel The dispensation of the gospel of Abraham What these keys direct Missionary work Celestial marriage and eternal posterity

“Elias brings back ‘the gospel of Abraham,’ the great Abrahamic covenant whereby the faithful receive promises of eternal increase, promises that through celestial marriage their eternal posterity shall be as numerous as the sands upon the seashore or as the stars in heaven for multitude—that in their seed all generations shall be blessed.” (“The Keys of the Kingdom,” Ensign, May 1983, 22).

Moses D&C 110:11 Elias D&C 110:12 Elijah D&C 110:13–16 Priesthood keys restored The keys of the gathering of Israel The dispensation of the gospel of Abraham What these keys direct Missionary work Celestial marriage and eternal posterity

Moses D&C 110:11 Elias D&C 110:12 Elijah D&C 110:13–16 Priesthood keys restored The keys of the gathering of Israel The dispensation of the gospel of Abraham The keys of this dispensation What these keys direct Missionary work Celestial marriage and eternal posterity

Moses D&C 110:11 Elias D&C 110:12 Elijah D&C 110:13–16 Priesthood keys restored The keys of the gathering of Israel The dispensation of the gospel of Abraham The keys of this dispensation What these keys direct Missionary work Celestial marriage and eternal posterity Sealing power, including temple and family history work

“As members of Christ’s restored Church, we have the covenant responsibility to search out our ancestors and provide for them the saving ordinances of the gospel. … For these reasons we do family history research, build temples, and perform vicarious ordinances. For these reasons Elijah was sent to restore the sealing authority that binds on earth and in heaven” (“The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn,” Ensign orLiahona, Nov. 2011, 25–26).

The keys of missionary work, eternal families, and temple work help us to … Read Doctrine and Covenants 110:11–16 to complete this principle. (1) How does missionary work prepare people for the Lord’s Second Coming? (2) How does the promise of eternal marriage and families prepare people for the Lord’s Second Coming? (3) How does temple work prepare people for the Lord’s Second Coming?

Journal:  1) What are you doing to prepare for missionary work?  (2) What are you doing to prepare for your eternal marriage and family?  (3) How are you participating in temple work?

VIDEO: Endowed With Power Endowed with Power A dramatization of President Brigham Young speaking about the Saints receiving temple ordinances before leaving Nauvoo. President Howard W. Hunter and others speak of the blessing of participating in temple ordinances. (12:17)

Doctrine and Covenants 110