Were it not for the realization of a glorious promise the earth, because of the corruption of those living upon it, would be smitten with an irretrievable curse. The nature of that promise is set forth in the 5th and 6th verses of the last chapter of Malachi: "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he will 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."
What a beautiful and singular harmony is presented between the nature of this great promise and the principles set forth in the present writing—the Gospel to the dead as well as the living. In the dispensation of the meridian of time, introduced by the Redeemer in person, the heavenly message of glad tidings was, as herein exhibited, not only to men dwelling in the flesh, but also to those living in the spirit. The Latter-day Saints claim that the latter-day dispensation was opened by the raising up of the Prophet Joseph Smith. That great and good man, and his brother Hyrum, Patriarch of the Church, met a fate similar to that of the Savior. They were slain by a furious mob of religious bigots, for no other reason than asserting that God had again spoken from heaven as of old. Like the ancient prophets they clung to their integrity with their latest breath, and sealed their testimony with their blood. But, like their great Master, their mission was not confined to the sphere of the living. As in His case, it extended also to that of the spirits of the departed. Hence, when the prophet had accomplished the work by revelation from God, of setting up the true Church of Christ, with apostles and prophets, high priests, seventies, elders, priests, teachers, deacons, and every other officer, and all the necessary councils, courts and other organizations, as in former days, he was called hence to open up a new and later dispensation in the life beyond. The work he had been the honored instrument in inaugurating here could be perpetuated, under divine guidance, by those remaining behind who held similar priesthood and authority to that which had been conferred upon him, and which belongs to him in eternity. That same commission that enabled him to perform a work here, is of effect in the realms beyond the grave. Thus an unbroken chain is formed, welding the visible Church of the First Born on this side with the same eternal system behind the veil. By this means there is established a common bond of union between the children—the obedient in this generation—and the fathers who have passed to the other sphere.
Malachi, whom we have quoted, spoke the words of inspiration, and we claim they have received a literal fulfillment. If our reader profess to be a believer in the Bible he must, to be consistent, either accept as a truth that Elijah the prophet has come, or that he will come some time in the future. Seeing the finger of prophecy points to the coming of that departed prophet, for a special purpose, our claim that his visit is an accomplished fact is worthy of investigatory consideration. We declare that he actually appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, in a temple that had been reared by the Latter-day Saints, and dedicated to the Lord for holy purposes, at Kirtland, State of Ohio, United States of America. This visitation occurred on the 3rd of April, 1836. They were visited by others of the ancient prophets successively on the same occasion, each conferring upon them the keys and authority pertaining to his special dispensation, that all the powers pertaining to each might be incorporated in the most stupendous of them all—that of the latter days to prepare for the coming of the Son of Man. We quote from the account of the event, given on page 405 of the latest edition of the Book of Doctrine and Covenants: "After this vision had closed, 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 come, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse. Therefore the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands, and by this ye may know the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors."
From the hour that that glorious vision was opened to the view of those whose eyes were favored to behold it, the effects of the visit of the great Elijah took root, until the outspreading branches from the seed then sown have extended to the uttermost parts of the earth. A great work is in progress, but because "darkness covers the earth and gross darkness the people," the world comprehend it not. This is because they are not repentant, neither are they born of water and of the spirit, without which process man cannot even see, to say nothing of entering, the kingdom of God. The elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are carrying the Gospel to the nations, travelling without purse and scrip, as in olden times. Great companies of those who believe their testimonies are departing for the gathering place of the Church, month by month and year by year. A leading influence that causes them to wend their way to the appointed land where the latter-day Zion is to be built up, is the turning of their hearts to the fathers who have passed before them without the privilege of embracing the plan of salvation on the earth. Baptism, confirmation and other ordinances can only be attended to in holy structures called temples, reared to the Most High for sacred purposes. The Saints flock together to aid in the rearing of such buildings, that they may enter them and officiate for the fathers who have gone before, that they may be "judged according to men in the flesh, live according to God in the spirit," and have part in the blessings and privileges of the Gospel of the Redeemer.
Thus are the words of Malachi fulfilled, in the turning of the hearts of the children to the fathers. The children are manifesting their solicitude for the salvation of the dead by their works. The Saints, in the fruitful valleys of the mountains of the north-western portion of America, are engaged in the building of temples to the God of Heaven, and they operate in full faith of co-operation on the part of the fathers for whom they are working. They have abundant evidence that the turning of their hearts to the fathers is met with a responsive reciprocal echo from the spirits of the departed, to whom the Gospel is being preached. One temple, devoted to the performance of vicarious and other ordinances, is completed and two others are in the course of construction. It is a portion of the faith of the Saints also that the great work of redemption of the dead will be prosecuted throughout the Millennial reign, until, at the end of the thousand years of peace, Christ shall have put all things under his feet, being the great conqueror of "death, hell and the grave." When the great work of redemption is completed, He will present the Kingdom, in its perfection, to His Father, who shall tell His Only Begotten to retain it and reign over it for ever and ever.
We are aware of our inability to present even a remote portrayal of the greatness of the glorious plan arranged in heaven for the redemption of humanity. But however faint the result of our endeavor, it is perhaps sufficient to show that the saving plan bears upon it the stamp of Deity. It is a system that, because of its magnitude, magnanimity and beauty, appeals to the intellectual, moral and religious nature of man. And when the hosts of the redeemed shall sing the new song of praise to God and the Lamb, it will be the manifestation of a clear comprehension of so grand a scheme, taking within its broad folds not only living races of men but, stretching wide into eternity, embracing all things that were, that are, and that still lie in the bosom of the future.
Summary.
It may be well to consider what, in the foregoing pages, we have been successful in establishing. The points which have been the most conspicuously and clearly defined may be stated as follows:
Firstly.—That the true Church of Christ is, in the nature of its doctrines, principles, authority, gifts, power and organization, peculiar and distinct from all other systems.
Secondly.—That the sects claiming to be Christian widely differ in numerous essential vital particulars from the true Church as described in the Scriptures, this discrepancy being sufficient to invalidate their claim to being the Churches of Christ. It would be illogical and unscriptural to assume that anything that differs from that which is true can possibly be in itself correct.