Much has been written about what the Prophet Joseph Smith called "the spirit of Elijah."
According to Church leaders, this spirit, or authority, describes a key aspect in the mission of the restored Church, and offers a vital authority for completing that mission.In Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, it is recorded: "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 fulness 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."
Continuing, the Prophet emphasized, "I wish you to understand this subject, for it is important; and if you will receive it, this is the spirit of Elijah, that we redeem our dead and connect ourselves with our fathers which are in heaven, and seal up our dead to come forth in the first resurrection; and here we want the power of Elijah to seal those who dwell on earth to those who dwell in heaven. This is the power of Elijah and the keys of the kingdom of Jehovah."
LDS scholar Sidney B. Sperry wrote of the broader view of the power of Elijah.
"The mission of Elijah has to do with the higher spiritual functions of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Elijah was the last prophet to hold the keys of the sealing powers of the priesthood - that is, to seal in heaven what is bound upon earth.
"The spirit of Elijah implies the power to invoke a fulness of the priesthood."
Elder Joseph Fielding Smith, then of the Council of the Twelve, commented at general conference April 6, 1948: "Elijah restored to this Church and, if they would receive it, to the world, the keys of the sealing power; and that sealing power puts the stamp of approval upon every ordinance that is done in this Church and more particularly those that are performed in the temples of the Lord. . . .
"Our duty is to search out our dead, and I am very grateful that the Church is helping us in these matters by securing the record of the dead that we might have them, and our duty is to perform the necessary ordinances in their behalf in our temples."
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Power, miracles characterized dynamic service
Elijah ministered with power as he sought to turn back the influence of evil kings who were introducing idol worship. Elijah's actions account for some of the great miracles of the Old Testament.
Among the miracles during Elijah's ministry are:
He sealed the heavens from raining. (1 Kings 17:1.)
He was fed by ravens. (1 Kings 17:3-7.)
He was fed by a widow whose barrel of meal and cruse of oil didn't empty. (1 Kings 17:13-16.)
He raised the widow's son from the dead. (1 Kings 17:17-23.)
He called down fire from heaven to consume a sacrifice. (1 Kings 18:22-39.)
He opened the heavens to rain. (1 Kings 18:41-46.)
He was fed by an angel. (1 Kings 19:4-8.)
He heard the Lord speak in a still, small voice. (1 Kings 19: 9-12.)
He prophesied against Ahab's posterity and foresaw Jezebel's death. (1 Kings 21:20-24.)
He predicted the death of wicked king Ahaziah. (2 Kings 1:6.)
He called down fire to consume captains and their fifties. (2 Kings 1:9-15.)
He smote the River Jordan with his mantle and parted it. (2 Kings 2:8.)
He was taken in a chariot of fire by whirlwind into heaven. (2 Kings 2:11.)
Articles on this page may be used in conjunction with the Gospel Doctrine course of study.
Information compiled by John L. Hart
Sources: Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith; The Old Testament and the Latter-day Saints, Sperry Symposium paper, 1986; The Spirit of the Old Testament, Sidney B. Sperry; general conference report, April 1948.
