"THE MIGHTY SPIRIT OF ELIJAH"

Sisters, for the past three months we have been preparing for our Dallas 4th Ward Generations Project. If your hearts have been turned to think of your ancestors, you have been touched by the "Spirit of Elijah". Elijah was a magnificent prophet and perhaps much of his stewardship is reaching it's zenith in our day, as we go forth with family names to baptize, endow and seal in our own Dallas Temple.

WHAT DID ELIJAH DO AS A PROPHET?
1. When he first became prophet, he immediately confronted King Ahab, and he "sealed" the heavens and it did not rain for 3 1/2 years.

2. He fled for his life, and was fed by Ravens.

3. He encountered the widow and her son and asked to be fed with her last bit of meal, and promised she would always have enough and to spare.

4. When the Widow's son took ill and died, Elijah raised him from the dead.

5. In a dispute with the Priests of Baal, he called down fire from Heaven on at least 4 occasions to burn the offerings on the altar when the priests had failed.

6. He fasted for 40 days and nights.

7. He was cared for by angelic ministrants.

8. Finally, he was taken into Heaven without tasting death--translated.

Centuries later, Malachi prophesied that Elijah would return before "the great and dreadful day of the Lord" to turn the heart of the fathers to their children and the children to their fathers.

During September of 1823, Moroni told Joseph Smith that the Lord would soon reveal unto him the Priesthood by the hands of Elijah the Prophet.

On April 1836 in fulfillment of both Malachi and Moroni's revelations, Elijah appeared in the Kirtland Temple to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdrey and conferred upon them the priesthood, complete with the sealing powers.

Joseph Smith said of the mission of Elijah, "The spirit, power and calling of Elijah is, that ye have power to hold the keys of the revelations, ordinances, oracles, powers and endowments of the fullness 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. Then Joseph went on to say "I shall not have time to do justice to the spirit and power of Elijah."

People come from all over the world to work in our Genealogical Library in Salt Lake City, and smaller libraries around the world, members and nonmembers alike. The internet has vast genealogy sites, family organizations. and research domains. The Lord has given us more than 100 temples throughout the land, to do the work. The Spirit of Elijah is strong in this last dispensation of time - CATCH THE FEVER