D&C Section Two

D&C 2

When Moroni quoted Malach's statement to Joseph Smith in 1823 of turning the hearts of the children to the fathers and the hearts of the fathers to the children, he repeated it three times in three consecutive visits. It's interesting that it would be nearly 20 years later in the 1840's when the prophet would be strongly impressed that this was the most urgent and important work that the Latter-day saints could do (see Section 128 for example where the prophet talks about baptism for the dead). When Moroni quotes Section 2, he says "I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah." He doesn't say restore because the restoration of those keys won't happen until they are in Kirtland. In verse 3, it says if this sealing authority was not restored, "the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming" meaning Christ's 2nd coming. The purpose of the mortal experience on earth is to provide a place for families to be created and sealed together for eternity. If families were for this life only, then it would be a waste.

In the temple, all of the ordinances are provided starting with baptism, confirmation, and ordination to the priesthood. The washing and anointing is perhaps one of the most beautiful because it not only cleanses, but anoints a person for the realization of their potential, both in this life and the next. The endowment is instructive, but also endows a person with a power of righteousness and spirituality. The crowning ordinance is the marriage sealing. All ordinances are preparatory to it. All of the tokens and symbols come together in unity and it is rich in its symbolism. As the bride and groom kneel at the alter and take hands, at the center of everything is the Lord's atonement and resurrection. This ceremony also represents the uniting of families and the continuation of a patriarchal order of fathers to sons and mothers to daughters. Because the sealing is done by the power and authority of the priesthood (the Lord having said that with this authority, what is bound on earth will be bound in heaven) the sealing can be for eternity.

There is no where else on this earth where a person can go that prepares them to meet their potential for this life and the next except the temple. Books have been published, seminars created, drugs have been used, all designed to help a person reach their full potential. All of these are good and enlightening, but they fall short because they are not able to base their instruction on what the true potential of person is. That potential includes not only this life, but the life before and the life after. Only the temple can do that.