I used to
think that Elijah’s mission to turn our hearts to our fathers solely meant
motivation to do proxy baptisms for the dead, as was practiced in the meridian
of time according to Paul who used this practice as proof to the Sadducees of
the reality of resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:29). Temple work for the dead was
well and truly operational in the meridian of time because of Elijah’s visit on
Mount of Transfiguration conferring the priesthood power on Peter, James and
John (Matt 17:3). Consider, however, how much more can be accomplished by this
practice:
"Perhaps
we regard the power bestowed by Elijah as something associated only with formal
ordinances performed in sacred places. But these ordinances become
dynamic and productive of good only as they reveal themselves in our daily
lives. Malachi said that the power of Elijah would turn the hearts of the
fathers and the children to each other. The heart is the seat of the
emotions and a conduit for revelation. This sealing power thus reveals
itself in family relationships, in attributes and virtues developed in a
nurturing environment and in loving service. These are the cords that
bind families together, and the priesthood advances their development." (James E. Faust, Father Come Home, May
Ensign 1993)
Sometimes
in ‘turning our hearts to our fathers’, some resolutions need to happen and
most often than not they involve some form of forgiveness. Some of us hail from
dysfunctional families, some from abuse, some from abandonment but all come
from flawed humanity. If something is holding you back from the sealing
ordinances, know that forgiveness is the key. It will free and change you and
it will replace all the grief that is in your heart with unearthly love.
I know something of ‘turning the hearts to the fathers’. I
struggled with a sense of powerlessness most of my life. I knew instinctly that
this is not who I really am but the feeling persisted for most of my adulthood
which led me to feelings of inadequacy.
I came to a realisation at one stage that this weakness had come
to me from many generations of my family. I come from a long line of poor
oppressed European peasants who had lived under the oppression of feudalism
followed by socialism, the oppression which drummed into them that they could
never rise above their station in life. I had seen this mentality of
powerlessness perpetrated in my family throughout my childhood and early adulthood
in Europe. I have known my family's negative thoughts and their beliefs that
influenced their lives and invited suffering.
From the time my family immigrated to Australia when I was 14, and
the Gospel came into my life, I could not understand why I was born into my
family. I am the different one, the one that seeks and knows and loves God. One
day some years ago my frustration over my life which I felt was controlled by
this sense of powerlessness sent me to my knees where through bitter tears I
spat out to God that I hated my family and all the generations I have come
from; that I hated who they were and what they had saddled me with. I felt I
could not rise to my potential because of it.
I had never expressed such venomous thoughts before, to myself or
to others, let alone to God. I begged to understand why I was sent into this
family and why I carried their burden. Within half an hour of my prayer,
my heart and mind were flooded with immense understanding.
When the Saviour said 'my sheep hear my voice' (John 10:27) he was
referring to those who are spiritually
advanced and who, because of it, recognise and wholeheartedly embrace the truth
when it is presented to them. Bruce R. McConkie taught that this is a spiritual
gift that was developed in pre-earth life (Mormon Doctrine, p 81). I
count myself as one of His sheep. I was brought up in a strong Catholic
community but I wanted to know God and I found the religion of my youth
inadequate. I was 16 years of age when I sought and immediately accepted the
Gospel into my life.
What has all this got to do with my ancestors? It has everything
to do with our hearts being turned to our fathers. It was given to me to
understand that those who are His sheep are often sent to families who need a
spiritual shepherd. Someone who will, through their belief, give strength to
those who need to be saved from their disbelief.
I understood through my revelation that what once was a physical
oppression of my ancestors had become a spiritual stumbling block. I understood
that they still lived in a state of powerlessness even though they had passed
over into the spirit world. They needed the saving grace of Christ and they
needed saving. When I understood this my heart was ‘turned’ to my fathers and
the saving ordinances of the priesthood took on a new meaning for me. This
understanding also gave me compassion towards the generations of my family and
freed me to be who I truly am and not what my programming made me to be. This
energy of freedom, I am convinced, reached my ancestors where they are now and paved
the path to acceptance of Christ’s gospel.
If you are the shepherd in your family, you stand on holy ground. You
do not stand alone. The ultimate Shepherd stands beside you gathering all the
sheep. You are in good company. You are the under-shepherd…..yours is a sacred work……
See Father,
I brought home the sheep!
I did all that I could
To save them in my keep.
They come to You Father
In whose arms they belong,
They come to You,
Whom they loved all along.
- CATHRYNE ALLEN
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