Keys, Covenants, and Easter

Testify of the Savior’s Atonement and Resurrection

Elder Cook centers the talk on Jesus Christ’s redeeming mission. He teaches that the Savior’s Atonement and Resurrection fulfilled the Father’s plan of salvation, making freedom from death universal and forgiveness from sin available through repentance.

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.

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.

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

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.

• Easter focuses on Gethsemane, Calvary, and the Garden Tomb.
• Jesus Christ’s Atonement fulfilled the Father’s plan of salvation.
• All people will be freed from death through the Resurrection.
• People can be freed from sin through repentance because of the Atonement.
• The Savior broke the bands of death and made return to the Father possible.
• A personal spiritual witness of Christ can come through study and the Spirit.

• When have you felt special gratitude for the Savior during Easter season?
• What experience has helped you feel that Jesus Christ truly lives?
• When have you felt peace through repentance because of the Savior’s Atonement?
• How has the doctrine of the Resurrection brought comfort to you or your family?
• What scripture or hymn has strengthened your testimony of Christ’s redeeming mission?

Connect Easter to the Kirtland Temple vision

Elder Cook highlights that Easter Sunday coincided with remembrance of the Savior’s appearance in the Kirtland Temple in 1836. He teaches that this vision and the keys restored there are foundational to the Restoration of the gospel in the latter days.

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.

• The Kirtland Temple vision of the Savior occurred on Easter Sunday in 1836.
• This event took place shortly after the temple’s dedication.
• The Savior’s appearance to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery was a major Restoration event.
• Keys restored by Moses, Elias, and Elijah are central to the latter-day work.
• The Restoration is closely connected to temple worship and covenant blessings.

• Have you ever felt a stronger testimony of the Restoration while studying temple history?
• What does it mean to you that the Savior directs His Church in our day?
• When has learning Church history increased your faith in modern revelation?
• How has the temple helped you feel connected to the Restoration?

Understand Elijah’s role in restoring sealing keys

A major focus of the talk is Elijah’s divinely appointed mission. Elder Cook explains that Elijah held sacred priesthood keys anciently and restored the sealing power in this dispensation, 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.

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

• Moroni taught Joseph Smith about Elijah early in the Restoration.
• Elijah was a prophet who held sacred priesthood keys.
• He exercised the sealing power of the Melchizedek Priesthood anciently.
• Elijah restored sealing keys in this dispensation.
• These keys allow ordinances and covenants to be bound on earth and in heaven.
• Without sealing keys, eternal families would not be possible.

• How has your understanding of Elijah and sealing keys grown over time?
• What family experience has helped you appreciate eternal sealing blessings?
• When have you felt your heart turn to your ancestors or descendants?
• How has temple worship helped you understand the importance of priesthood keys?

Recognize how temple ordinances unite families eternally

Elder Cook teaches that the sealing power makes temple ordinances effective beyond mortality. Through these ordinances, husbands and wives, parents and children can be united eternally, and saving ordinances can be performed vicariously for the dead.

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."

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.

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.

• Temple ordinances must be performed on earth by proper authority.
• Vicarious ordinances bless deceased ancestors.
• The hearts of children turn to their fathers through temple and family history work.
• Sealing ordinances unite spouses and families eternally.
• The sealing room is a sacred place where restored keys are exercised.
• Temple worship reflects ancient patterns and fulfills prophecy.

• What temple experience has deepened your understanding of eternal families?
• Have you participated in family history or temple work that felt especially meaningful?
• When have you felt connected to deceased ancestors?
• How has your family been blessed by making and keeping temple covenants?
• What have you learned from seeing children’s hearts turn to their fathers?

See the Restoration fulfill ancient prophecy

Elder Cook shows that Elijah’s mission was foretold in scripture and recognized across dispensations. He explains that Elijah appeared at the Transfiguration and that Christ Himself taught about Elijah’s role when ministering to the Nephites.

The Jews have been waiting for Elijah’s return for over 2,900 years as a forerunner to the coming of the Messiah.

Prior to Jesus Christ’s mortal ministry, the prophet Elijah exercised the sealing power of the Melchizedek Priesthood.

It is noteworthy to me that Elijah also appeared, with Moses, at the time of the transfiguration of Christ.

Elijah conferred priesthood keys of the sealing power upon Peter, James, and John.

It is also significant that when Christ visited the people on the American continent, He specifically recited to them the Old Testament account in Malachi concerning Elijah and his role in uniting families eternally prior to the Second Coming of Christ.

• Elijah’s return was prophesied long before the Restoration.
• Jewish expectation of Elijah reflects the importance of his mission.
• Elijah exercised sealing power before Christ’s mortal ministry.
• He appeared at the Transfiguration and conferred keys on Peter, James, and John.
• Jesus taught the Nephites about Malachi’s prophecy concerning Elijah.
• The Restoration fulfills ancient prophecies about priesthood keys and family unity.

• When has seeing prophecy fulfilled strengthened your testimony?
• What scriptures have helped you understand the continuity of God’s work across dispensations?
• How does it affect your faith to know that temple blessings were part of God’s plan from ancient times?
• What connections have you noticed between the Old Testament and the Restoration?

Build bridges through temple truth and shared scripture

Elder Cook recounts experiences with Jewish leaders in temples and in Jerusalem. These moments illustrate how temple doctrine, Old Testament prophecy, and the restoration of sealing keys can be shared with respect, love, and spiritual power.

Starting in 2009, Elder Holland and I had the privilege of escorting various groups of people—including Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox Rabbi leaders, as well as secular Jewish leaders—through open-house tours in temples here in Utah.

This brought both recognition and tears to some.

They realized that they were essentially looking at certain aspects of Solomon’s temple, which has sacred significance to both Jews and Muslims.

Elder Holland was overcome with emotion and, with tears in his eyes, explained to them that he did not want to offend them but felt compelled to share something.

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.

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

• Temple open houses can create meaningful interfaith understanding.
• The doctrine of baptism for the dead connects directly to Malachi’s prophecy.
• Temple symbols and structure echo ancient worship.
• Truth can be shared with both conviction and respect.
• The Restoration resonates with scriptural expectations found in the Old Testament.

• Have you ever had an opportunity to explain your beliefs about temples to someone of another faith?
• When have you felt the Spirit help you share truth with both love and boldness?
• What experience has shown you that gospel truths can touch people from many backgrounds?
• How have temple open houses or conversations about the temple strengthened your testimony?

Seek spiritual confirmation through study and covenant living

Near the end of the talk, Elder Cook promises that people do not need to visit Jerusalem to feel close to the Savior. Through study, ordinances, covenants, and obedience, they can receive spiritual confirmation and draw nearer to Jesus Christ.

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.

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.

• Spiritual witnesses do not depend on visiting holy places physically.
• Studying the Savior’s life invites confirmation by the Spirit.
• Studying the Restoration and Elijah’s keys strengthens testimony.
• Keeping ordinances, covenants, and commandments brings people closer to Christ.
• Gratitude for restored sealing keys grows through faithful covenant living.

• When have you felt close to the Savior through scripture study rather than a physical place?
• How have your covenants helped you grow nearer to Jesus Christ?
• What spiritual confirmation have you received while studying the Restoration?
• When has obedience brought greater appreciation for temple blessings?
• What simple practice helps you remember the Savior more consistently?