Keys Held by Numerous Prophets Have Unlocked Blessings for Us
Doctrine and Covenants 27:5–14
5 Behold, this is wisdom in me; wherefore, marvel not, for the hour cometh that I will drink of the fruit of the vine with you on the earth, and with Moroni, whom I have sent unto you to reveal the Book of Mormon, containing the fulness of my everlasting gospel, to whom I have committed the keys of the record of the stick of Ephraim;
6 And also with Elias, to whom I have committed the keys of bringing to pass the restoration of all things spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began, concerning the last days;
7 And also John the son of Zacharias, which Zacharias he (Elias) visited and gave promise that he should have a son, and his name should be John, and he should be filled with the spirit of Elias;
8 Which John I have sent unto you, my servants, Joseph Smith, Jun., and Oliver Cowdery, to ordain you unto the first priesthood which you have received, that you might be called and ordained even as Aaron;
9 And also Elijah, unto whom I have committed the keys of the power of turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers, that the whole earth may not be smitten with a curse;
10 And also with Joseph and Jacob, and Isaac, and Abraham, your fathers, by whom the promises remain;
11 And also with Michael, or Adam, the father of all, the prince of all, the ancient of days;
12 And also with Peter, and James, and John, whom I have sent unto you, by whom I have ordained you and confirmed you to be apostles, and especial witnesses of my name, and bear the keys of your ministry and of the same things which I revealed unto them;
13 Unto whom I have committed the keys of my kingdom, and a dispensation of the gospel for the last times; and for the fulness of times, in the which I will gather together in one all things, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth;
14 And also with all those whom my Father hath given me out of the world.
Elder Hyrum M. Smith and Janne M. Sjödahl wrote:
“To most Christians, the statement that our Lord, in His glorified state, can partake of earthly food, is incomprehensible. Hence the admonition, ‘Marvel not!’ though He speaks about eating on Earth with His people. After His Resurrection He ate with His disciples. The tree of life will bear fruit on the glorified earth. Do not marvel at these things; rather believe. What a glorious company! Moroni will be there; and Elias; and John the Baptist; and Elijah; and Joseph, Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham; and also Adam, who is Michael, the Ancient of Days; and Peter, James, and John, and finally, ‘all those whom my Father hath given me out of the world’ [see D&C 27:5–14].
“Michael [see D&C 27:11] means, ‘Who is as God?’ a name properly given to Adam, who was created in the image of God. In Daniel (10:13–21; 12:1) we learn that Michael is ‘one of the chief princes,’ and that he has special charge of Israel. Jude refers to his controversy with Satan regarding the body of Moses, and in [Revelation] 12:7–9 he and his angels are represented as warring with Satan and his angels.
“. . . Paul, writing to the Ephesian Saints, declared ‘[t]hat in the dispensation of the fulness of times he [Christ] might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him’ [Ephesians 1:10]. According to Peter the Father spoke by the mouths of all the holy prophets since the world began, of the day when there should come the restitution of all things since the world began [see Acts 3:21]. This restoration was to be in the dispensation of the fulness of times.
“‘By a dispensation, in connection with the work of God, we mean “the opening of the heavens to men, the bestowing of the Holy Priesthood with all its powers upon them, and the organization and building up of the Church of Christ upon the earth, for the salvation of all who will obey the gospel” (Jaques Catechism, p. 77). By the dispensation of the fulness of times we mean the last dispensation, the one in which all things, in Christ, whether in heaven or in earth, shall be gathered together in one; a dispensation which will include all other dispensations—one which will encompass all truth. As the rivers of the earth all eventually find their way to the ocean and empty into it, so all former dispensations will run into, and become part of, the dispensation of the fulness of times, in which the work of God, in respect to the salvation of man and the redemption of the earth, will be consummated’ (B. H. Roberts, Outlines of Ecclesiastical History [1893], p. 303).
“. . . Christ has redeemed His flock with the ransom paid by Himself, and yet He regards it as a gift of the Father. John 6:37 is a parallel passage, ‘All that the Father giveth me shall come to me.’”
(The Doctrine and Covenants Commentary, rev. ed. [1951], 136.)
