My View of Life - Never Better!

The Return of Elijah

Some twenty two years ago I was serving as a stake missionary in Las Vegas, Nevada. I was walking with my companion down a street when I noticed a man sitting on the hood of his car. We stopped. "We're missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints," I said.

"So you are," he stated dully. I've talked with many missionaries from all kinds of churches, and they can't answer one simple question. I won't listen to you either, because no one can answer it."

"What's your question," I asked.

"Malachi 4 verses 5 and 6 read: Behold, 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 their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. Looks like the earth is cursed," he said smugly. "Take sin city here for example."

"I will answer your question," I said, looking him in the eyes. His smug countenance faltered for moment, but he quickly regained his composure. It is true, the great and dreadful day of the Lord is soon at hand. All we need to do is look at the signs. And Elijah did come, and he did turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers.

"He came April 3^rd, 1836 to the Prophet Joseph Smith along with a man named Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Ohio Temple. It is documented in a cannon of scripture called the Doctrine and Covenants section 110. You may know the truth of this event by reading this." I reached out my hand holding a Book of Mormon. As you read these pages with a sincere heart and real intent, and having faith in Jesus Christ, he will manifest the truth unto you by the power of the Holy Ghost."

He looked at me incredulously. I'm not going to change my ways,' he scoffed. He turned and went into his home. I've never seen or heard from him since.

But never-the-less, my testimony of that event has held true to the present day. For I have put to the test the challenge I gave to this man. This morning I finished reading the Book of Mormon for the 44^th time, not to mention the thousands of times I've researched its individual passages. I testify that the Lord is true to his promise found in Moroni chapter 10 verse 4. He will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. The Book of Mormon has literally changed my life. It will change all who put it's promise to the test.

And Elijah, how could he not have come? God is a God of purpose and fulfillment. This earth that was created by his Son would be baron and desolate--cursed without Elijah's return. For Elijah held the highest order of the priesthood, even the sealing power, the power that what he sealed on earth would be sealed in heaven. He asked for a famine to spread across the land. God sealed his petition in heaven, and the famine lasted 3 and 1/2'' years.

Finally, after all these years, last fall, my wife, Lisa and I were able to visit the Kirtland, Ohio Temple. I stood at the foot of the alter where Elijah stood. The spirit manifested unequivocally that this prophesied event really took place at that very spot. Peace spread over my being--the earth is no longer cursed.

For who is God if he's not our Father. And his glory is in us. Moses 6:31 For behold, this is my work and my glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. If, as Paul testified many times that we are heirs of the Father's Kingdom, how be it that we children have no eternal increase. We too, left baron, single, and divorced at death.

But Elijah came, and men and women can be sealed--married for time and all eternity. They can have their children sealed to them forever. An eternal chain of joy and rejoicing in their posterity--their hearts turned to each other. Our Father's purpose is fulfilled, and we are fulfilled as his children.