Why Malachi?

In 3 Nephi 24 and 25 the Savior gives the people 2 chapters from Malachi (4 and 5 as it reads in our Old Testament) and explains that, “These scriptures, which ye had not with you, the Father commanded that I should give unto you; for it was wisdom in him that they should be given . . .”

These are some of the same scriptures that the Angel Moroni quoted to Joseph when he visited him:

38 Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
39 And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers. If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming. (Joseph Smith – History)

It has always caused me to ponder and to ask why is this the case? What is it about his coming that will utterly waste the whole earth without the promises made to the fathers being planted into our hearts? What is it that pertains to the priesthood that needs to be revealed to us in order for us to abide the day?

The Angel also quoted these verses from Malachi to Joseph, albeit with a little variation:

37 For behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven, and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly shall burn as stubble; for they that come shall burn them, saith the Lord of Hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. (JS-H)

Who or what is coming that will burn us if we don’t obtain an order of priesthood and promises that pertain to it?

These Malachi verses are so important that the resurrected Lord gave them to the children of Lehi in America when he learned that they were not had in their records. Nephi quoted them in part in 2 Nephi 26:4. They were so important that the Angel Moroni quoted them 4 separate times to Joseph Smith. They were also repeated and given by revelation in D&C 64:24 and again in 133:64.

There is a key to understanding these verses and it is found in the Joseph Smith translation of Genesis 14. These verses shed light on an order of priesthood that these “Fathers” Enoch and Melchizedek obtained. Maybe their promises need to be planted in our own hearts and obtained by us so that Zion can be established and so we can abide they that come and the day that is coming.

26 Now Melchizedek was a man of faith, who wrought righteousness
27 And thus, having been approved of God, he was ordained an high priest after the order of the covenant which God made with Enoch,
28 It being after the order of the Son of God; which order came, not by man, nor the will of man; neither by father nor mother; neither by beginning of days nor end of years; but of God;
29 And it was delivered unto men by the calling of his own voice, according to his own will, unto as many as believed on his name.
30 For God having sworn unto Enoch and unto his seed with an oath by himself; that every one being ordained after this order and calling should have power, by faith, to break mountains, to divide the seas, to dry up waters, to turn them out of their course;
31 To put at defiance the armies of nations, to divide the earth, to break every band, to stand in the presence of God; to do all things according to his will, according to his command, subdue principalities and powers; and this by the will of the Son of God which was from before the foundation of the world.
32 And men having this faith, coming up unto this order of God, were translated and taken up into heaven.
33 And now, Melchizedek was a priest of this order; therefore he obtained peace in Salem, and was called the Prince of peace.
34 And his people wrought righteousness, and obtained heaven, and sought for the city of Enoch which God had before taken, separating it from the earth, having reserved it unto the latter days, or the end of the world;
35 And hath said, and sworn with an oath, that the heavens and the earth should come together; and the sons of God should be tried so as by fire. (Genesis 14, JST)

It is said that the Father dwells in everlasting burnings, think about this for moment. This last verse says that the joining of the heavens and the earth is associated with the sons of God (i.e. the covenant people of the Lord) being tried by fire.  Perhaps Seraphs who abide with God in this holy state are the ones who are coming and the uninitiated and unprepared will not be able to abide.

There seems to be a connection here between a power of this order and calling of the priesthood (by which those possessing it may break mountains, divide the seas, dry up waters, turn rivers out of their course, put at defiance the armies of nations, divide the earth, break every band, stand in the presence of God, become translated and obtain heaven) and a protection from the events of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. The spirit and power of Elijah is so much more than inspiration to seek after our dead ancestors and providing ordinances for them.

Russell Nelson, speaking as president of the quorum 12 apostles taught in the April 2016 general conference: “In a coming day, only those men who have taken their priesthood seriously, by diligently seeking to be taught by the Lord Himself, will be able to bless, guide, protect, strengthen, and heal others. Only a man who has paid the price for priesthood power will be able to bring miracles to those he loves”. Notice he didn’t say we will need to be taught by prophets, presidents, priests or even the Holy Ghost however important these teachers may be. These talks are carefully worded, and his message was deliberate. We need to be taught by the Lord himself in this coming day of which he (and perhaps Malachi) make reference to.

Let me leave you with a different way of seeing the restoration as started by the prophet Joseph Smith in this dispensation of the fullness of times. It is a common belief that the return of a new testament church was the restoration. I am inclined disagree with this. I submit to any who may read these words or hear my voice that the Lord was restoring a covenantal relationship and the ability to receive the order of the priesthood that is described in Genesis 14. The Lord was restoring the knowledge and covenants so that we could become sons and daughters of God. The restoration of promises which were made to our fathers Adam, Noah, Enoch, Melchizedek, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob etc., all of whom lived before any new testament type of church.  These blessings and promises need to be planted in us and in our hearts. The church was established as a vehicle, not the end goal.  Here is a scripture that captures the essence of the restoration.

5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. (Exodus 19:5-6)

As we learn from the scriptures, the Jews rejected the fullness of this covenantal relationship but nevertheless continued on as God’s chosen people, albeit in a limited state having a lesser law. The question that we must ask ourselves today is how much of this covenant and order and calling of priesthood do we currently possess? How much did our spiritual fathers of the restoration accept and did they reject anything like the jews did? Is there more to be obtained? Ask the Lord if you lack wisdom about these things. I add my witness to James and Joseph that He gives to all men liberally who ask in faith, and he upbraids not.