Study Guide for "Keys, Covenants, and Easter"

In this Easter message, Elder Quentin L. Cook connects the Savior’s Atonement and Resurrection with the Restoration of priesthood keys in the Kirtland Temple. He teaches that Jesus Christ accomplished the Father’s plan of salvation and that the return of sealing keys through Elijah is essential to temple ordinances, eternal families, and our covenant relationship with God. The talk weaves together Easter, Church history, temple worship, and personal witness, inviting readers to deepen their gratitude for the Savior and for the restored keys and covenants that help prepare us to return to Heavenly Father.

Before Reading

Before reading or listening to the talk, consider the following questions:

How are Easter and the Restoration connected in Elder Cook’s message?
Why are the Savior’s Atonement and Resurrection central to the plan of salvation?
What role did Elijah play in the Restoration of the gospel?
Why are priesthood keys, especially sealing keys, essential to eternal families?
How do temple ordinances connect us to our ancestors and to the promises made to the fathers?
What can I do to receive spiritual confirmation of these truths for myself?

Topics

Center your faith on the Savior’s Atonement and Resurrection

Elder Cook begins by focusing on Easter and the eternity-shaping events of Gethsemane, Calvary, and the Garden Tomb. He testifies that Jesus Christ accomplished the Father’s plan of salvation. Because of the Resurrection, all mankind will be freed from death, and because of the Atonement, all can be freed from sin through repentance. These doctrines are foundational to the gospel and to the hope of eternal life.

Our emphasis at Easter encompasses the eternity-shaping events that occurred in the Garden of Gethsemane, on the cross at Calvary, and in the Garden Tomb where Jesus Christ was resurrected.

It is my witness that His Atonement accomplished His Father’s plan of salvation and provides the way for everyone who has ever lived to be free of death unconditionally and free of sin on condition of repentance.

Therefore, the seminal doctrines of the Resurrection and the Atonement have been accomplished by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I testify of His Atonement and Resurrection and rejoice with you on this special Easter Sunday for all that the Savior has accomplished that we might have eternal life.

What does Elder Cook teach that the Savior’s Atonement accomplished?
In what way are all people freed from death?
On what condition are people freed from sin?
Why does Elder Cook describe the Resurrection and Atonement as seminal doctrines?
How has the Savior’s Atonement brought hope or healing into my life?
What does Easter help me remember about Jesus Christ personally?
How can I show greater gratitude for the Savior’s sacrifice and Resurrection this week?
What do I need to repent of so I can more fully receive the blessings of the Atonement?

Recognize the Kirtland Temple vision as central to the Restoration

Elder Cook teaches that the Savior’s appearance to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple on Easter Sunday 1836 was a magnificent and pivotal event in the Restoration. He explains that the appearance of the Savior and the conferral of keys by Moses, Elias, and Elijah are central to the restored gospel in the latter days. These events established essential authority and power needed for God’s covenant people to return to Him.

This Easter Sunday also coincides with the magnificent vision of the Savior that occurred in the Kirtland Temple on Easter Sunday of 1836—190 years ago—just one week after the Kirtland Temple was dedicated.

The appearance of the Savior to the Prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery and the keys committed by Moses, Elias, and Elijah are central to the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the latter days.

I testify that the keys committed by ancient prophets to the Prophet Joseph Smith in the Kirtland Temple are an essential part of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

What happened in the Kirtland Temple that Elder Cook says is central to the Restoration?
Who appeared or committed keys in connection with the Kirtland Temple vision mentioned in the talk?
Why are these keys essential to the restored gospel?
How does knowing about the Kirtland Temple vision strengthen my testimony of the Restoration?
What can I study next about the Kirtland Temple and priesthood keys?
How can I better appreciate the role of temples in God’s work today?

Understand Elijah’s mission in restoring sealing keys

Elder Cook explains that Elijah is a crucial figure in God’s plan. Moroni quoted prophecies about Elijah to Joseph Smith, showing that Elijah would reveal priesthood authority and turn hearts across generations. Elder Cook teaches that Elijah previously held the sealing power, appeared at the Transfiguration, and was referenced by the Savior among the Nephites. In the Restoration, Elijah committed the sealing keys to Joseph Smith, making eternal family relationships and temple ordinances possible.

The role of Elijah in restoring the priesthood keys of the sealing power is crucial in our journey of returning to our Father as a covenant people.

“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.”

“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.”

Because of the Restoration, we understand the important and pivotal role Elijah has played in the salvation of mankind.

Elijah committed to Joseph Smith the priesthood keys pertaining to the sealing power to bind sacred ordinances and covenants on earth and in heaven.

What did Moroni teach Joseph Smith about Elijah?
What is the sealing power that Elijah restored?
Why does Elder Cook say Elijah’s role is crucial in our return to the Father?
How does Elijah’s mission connect ancient prophecy with the Restoration?
How has my understanding of Elijah’s mission affected the way I view temple work?
What family or temple experiences have helped turn my heart to my fathers?
What can I do to learn more about the promises made to the fathers?
How can I act on my responsibility to participate in family history and temple ordinances?

Value temple ordinances that unite families eternally

A major emphasis of the talk is that sealing ordinances, performed by proper priesthood authority in temples, bind sacred ordinances and covenants on earth and in heaven. Elder Cook teaches that these ordinances include vicarious ordinances for the dead and the sealing of husbands and wives, parents and children. Without these keys and ordinances, there would be no eternal families, and the earth would be wasted at the Lord’s coming.

This includes the vicarious ordinances of salvation and exaltation that must be performed here on earth in the temples of the Lord.

The sealing ordinances are effective after this life and in the eternities—to seal husbands and wives, parents and children.

Without these keys, there are no eternal families, and “the whole earth would be utterly wasted.”

I promise to you on this Easter Day that as you adhere to His ordinances, covenants, and commandments, you will grow closer in your relationship with our Savior as well as your appreciation and gratitude for the sealing keys that have been restored in this dispensation.

What ordinances does Elder Cook say are made possible through sealing keys?
How are sealing ordinances effective beyond this life?
Why are temples necessary in God’s plan for salvation and exaltation?
What does Elder Cook teach would be lost without sealing keys?
How can I more faithfully honor the ordinances and covenants I have made?
What steps can I take to prepare for or more fully participate in temple worship?
How has the doctrine of eternal families influenced my choices?
Who in my family might need my help through family history or temple service?

See how hearts turn to ancestors through temple and family history work

Elder Cook shares experiences guiding Jewish leaders through temples and explaining baptism for deceased ancestors. He connects this doctrine to Malachi’s prophecy that children’s hearts would turn to their fathers. He notes the significance of the baptismal font resting on twelve oxen, echoing Solomon’s temple, and shows how temple worship reflects ancient patterns and fulfills prophecy by linking generations through sacred ordinances.

At the baptismal font, I had the opportunity to explain to them the doctrine of baptism for our deceased ancestors.

This relates directly to Malachi’s promises of turning the hearts of children to their deceased fathers.

I read to them from 1 Kings 7:25, where Solomon’s temple is described.

The baptismal font sits on top of the hinder parts of twelve oxen representing the twelve tribes of Israel.

This brought both recognition and tears to some.

How does baptism for the dead relate to Malachi’s prophecy?
What temple symbol did Elder Cook explain from Solomon’s temple?
Why did this temple symbolism have special meaning for the Jewish visitors?
What experiences have helped turn my heart to my ancestors?
How can I participate more intentionally in family history work?
What names or family lines should I begin researching or preparing for temple ordinances?
How can I teach others about the love and doctrine behind work for the dead?

Bear witness that Elijah restored sealing authority in this dispensation

In the sealing room, Elder Holland bore emotional testimony to Jewish leaders that Elijah had indeed come and restored sacred keys. Elder Cook uses this experience to emphasize that the sealing room is a place where restored keys are exercised. This witness underscores that the Restoration is not symbolic only; it involved real priesthood authority returned by ancient prophets for the blessing of families.

Then, in a very spiritually powerful way, he explained that Elijah indeed had come and restored the sacred keys that allow the eternal sealing of husbands and wives and their families.

He explained that the sealing room, where we were assembled, is a place where the restored keys are exercised.

Our Jewish friends appreciated the fact that Old Testament scriptural accounts of prophets are featured so prominently in our temples and doctrine.

What testimony did Elder Holland share in the sealing room?
What does it mean that restored keys are exercised in the sealing room?
How does this experience strengthen Elder Cook’s message about the Restoration?
How do I feel about the reality of priesthood keys in the Church today?
What experiences have strengthened my testimony of temple sealing authority?
How can I speak more confidently and reverently about temple blessings with others?

Seek spiritual confirmation through study rather than place alone

After describing sacred experiences in Jerusalem and near the Garden Tomb, Elder Cook teaches that one does not need to visit the Holy Land to feel the Spirit of the Savior’s life, Atonement, and Resurrection. He promises that spiritual knowledge and confirmation come through studying the Savior’s life, the restoration of the priesthood, and Elijah’s return. Through the Spirit, disciples can know that Christ accomplished the Father’s plan and opened the way back to the Father and the Son.

Let me assure you that you do not need to physically visit Jerusalem to feel the same things that we felt that day and have many times since.

You can have that knowledge and confirmation by the Spirit when you study the life of our Savior, the restoration of the priesthood, and the return of the sealing keys by Elijah that unite our families for eternity.

You can feel by the surety of spiritual confirmation that our Savior accomplished the Father’s plan.

He atoned for our sins and broke the bands of death so that we might return to the Father and the Son in the celestial kingdom.

According to Elder Cook, how can we gain spiritual confirmation of these truths?
Why is a physical visit to Jerusalem not necessary for spiritual witness?
What truths does Elder Cook say the Spirit can confirm to us?
How can I make my study of the Savior’s life more spiritual and intentional?
When have I felt spiritual confirmation while studying the gospel?
What can I do to invite the Holy Ghost more fully into my scripture and conference study?
What truths from this talk do I want to seek confirmation of through prayer?

Adhere to covenants and commandments to grow closer to Christ

Elder Cook concludes with a promise that as members adhere to the Savior’s ordinances, covenants, and commandments, they will grow closer to Him and increase in gratitude for restored sealing keys. His closing testimony links covenant faithfulness with a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. The restored gospel is not only about doctrine and history but about living in a way that draws disciples to the Savior and prepares them for eternal life.

I promise to you on this Easter Day that as you adhere to His ordinances, covenants, and commandments, you will grow closer in your relationship with our Savior as well as your appreciation and gratitude for the sealing keys that have been restored in this dispensation.

As an Apostle, I bear my sure and certain witness of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, who leads His Church.

What promise does Elder Cook make to those who adhere to ordinances, covenants, and commandments?
How does covenant faithfulness affect our relationship with the Savior?
What connection does Elder Cook make between obedience and gratitude for restored keys?
Which covenant or commandment do I need to honor more fully right now?
How have ordinances and covenants helped me come closer to Jesus Christ?
What is one specific act of obedience I can offer this week as an expression of faith in the Savior?
How can I remember more often that Jesus Christ leads His Church today?