"The Sealing Power" Talk Outline

Last updated on November 25th, 2023 at 11:41 pm

General Conference Applied

“The Sealing Power” by Elder D. Todd Christofferson; October 2023 General Conference

Corresponding General Conference Applied episode show notes: S2 E8

Talk Outline

Invitations

“This is a scene taking place constantly all over the world in temples [i.e., the sealing of spouses and family members]. This is the ultimate step in gathering the covenant people. It is the highest privilege of your membership in the Church of Jesus Christ. I promise that as you faithfully seek that privilege, in time or eternity it will surely be yours.”

Directives (“an official or authoritative instruction”)

None.

Promises

Action: “I promise that as you faithfully seek that privilege [of being sealed to your spouse and to your family members], in time or eternity”
Promise: “it will surely be yours.”

Doctrines

Plan of Salvation: “Because of the plan of salvation, we can be perfected through the Atonement, receive a fulness of joy, and live forever in the presence of God. Our family relationships can last through the eternities.”
Atonement of Jesus Christ: “Jesus Christ overcame physical and spiritual death… Those who repent, obey the commandments, receive the saving ordinances, and keep their covenants will receive the gift of eternal life (see Articles of Faith 1:3).”
Restoration: “Restoration refers to God’s reestablishment of the truths and ordinances of His gospel among men on earth. The most recent and last restoration (often referred to as ‘the Restoration’) began in 1820 when God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph Smith in response to his prayers (see Joseph Smith—History 1:15–20). The fulness of the gospel has been restored, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is ‘the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth’ (D&C 1:30).”
Prophets and Revelation: “Revelation is communication from God to His children. When the Lord reveals His will to the Church, He speaks through His prophet… The President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God’s prophet on earth today.”
Priesthood and Priesthood Keys: “Priesthood keys are given to men to direct God’s kingdom on earth. Through these keys, priesthood holders can be authorized to preach the gospel, administer the ordinances of salvation, and govern the kingdom of God on the earth. All who serve in the Church are called under the direction of one who holds priesthood keys. Thus, they are entitled to the power needed to serve and fulfill the responsibilities of their calling.”
Ordinances and Covenants: “Ordinances are performed by the authority of the priesthood and under the direction of those who hold priesthood keys. Some ordinances are essential to exaltation and are called saving ordinances. They include baptism (see John 3:5; renewed by the ordinance of the sacrament), confirmation (see Acts 2:36–38), and, for men, ordination to the Melchizedek Priesthood (see D&C 84:33–34). Other saving ordinances—the endowment and the marriage sealing—are performed only in temples. The temple is one of the most sacred places on earth. It is the house of the Lord. All of the saving ordinances can also be performed vicariously for the dead in the temple. Vicarious ordinances become effective only when the deceased persons accept them in the spirit world and honor the related covenants (see D&C 138:32–34, 58).”
Marriage and Family: “Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God, and the family is central to His plan of salvation and to happiness (see Genesis 2:24).”
Commandments: “Commandments are the laws and requirements that God gives to mankind. When we keep the commandments, we manifest our love for the Lord and receive blessings from Him (see Leviticus 26:3–12; John 14:15; Mosiah 2:41).”

Principles

Prophets of God: “We have a prophet living on the earth today. This prophet is the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has the right to revelation for the entire Church. He holds ‘the keys of the kingdom,’ meaning that he has the authority to direct the entire Church and kingdom of God on earth, including the administration of priesthood ordinances (see Matthew 16:19). No person except the chosen prophet and President can receive God’s will for the entire membership of the Church. The Lord said, ‘There is never but one on the earth at a time on whom this power and the keys of this priesthood are conferred’ (D&C 132:7).”
The Atonement of Jesus Christ: “Our wise Heavenly Father prepared a wonderful, merciful plan to save us from physical and spiritual death. He planned for a Savior to come to earth to ransom (redeem) us from our sins and from death. Because of our sins and the weakness of our mortal bodies, we could not ransom ourselves (see Alma 34:10–12). The one who would be our Savior would need to be sinless and to have power over death.”
The Priesthood: “We must have priesthood authority to act in the name of God when performing the sacred ordinances of the gospel, such as baptism, confirmation, administration of the sacrament, and temple marriage. If a man does not have the priesthood, even though he may be sincere, the Lord will not recognize ordinances he performs (see Matthew 7:21–23; Articles of Faith 1:5). These important ordinances must be performed on the earth by men holding the priesthood.”
The Church of Jesus Christ Today: “In restoring the gospel, God again gave the priesthood to men. John the Baptist came in 1829 to confer the Aaronic Priesthood on Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery (see D&C 13; 27:8). Then Peter, James, and John, the presidency of the Church in ancient times, came and gave Joseph and Oliver the Melchizedek Priesthood and the keys of the kingdom of God (see D&C 27:12–13). Later, additional keys of the priesthood were restored by heavenly messengers such as Moses, Elias, and Elijah (see D&C 110:11–16). Through the Restoration, the priesthood was returned to the earth. Those who hold this priesthood today have the authority to perform ordinances such as baptism. They also have the authority to direct the Lord’s kingdom on earth.”
The Family Can Be Eternal: “Families can be together forever. To enjoy this blessing we must be married in the temple. When people are married outside the temple, the marriage ends when one of the partners dies. When we are married in the temple by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood, we are married for time and eternity. If we keep our covenants with the Lord, our families will be united eternally as husband, wife, and children. Death cannot separate us.”
Eternal Marriage: “An eternal marriage must be performed by one who holds the sealing power. The Lord promised, ‘If a man marry a wife by … the new and everlasting covenant … by him who is anointed, … and if [they] abide in [the Lord’s] covenant, … it … shall be of full force when they are out of the world’ (D&C 132:19). Not only must an eternal marriage be performed by the proper priesthood authority, but it must also be done in one of the holy temples of our Lord. The temple is the only place this holy ordinance can be performed.”
The Law of Chastity: “Like other violations of the law of chastity, homosexual behavior is a serious sin. Latter-day prophets have spoken about the dangers of homosexual behavior and about the Church’s concern for people who may have such inclinations. President Gordon B. Hinckley said:

“‘In the first place, we believe that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God. We believe that marriage may be eternal through exercise of the power of the everlasting priesthood in the house of the Lord.

“‘People inquire about our position on those who consider themselves so-called gays and lesbians. My response is that we love them as sons and daughters of God. They may have certain inclinations which are powerful and which may be difficult to control. Most people have inclinations of one kind or another at various times. If they do not act upon these inclinations, then they can go forward as do all other members of the Church. If they violate the law of chastity and the moral standards of the Church, then they are subject to the discipline of the Church, just as others are.

“‘We want to help these people, to strengthen them, to assist them with their problems and to help them with their difficulties. But we cannot stand idle if they indulge in immoral activity, if they try to uphold and defend and live in a so-called same-sex marriage situation. To permit such would be to make light of the very serious and sacred foundation of God-sanctioned marriage and its very purpose, the rearing of families’ (in Conference Report, Oct. 1998, 91; or Ensign, Nov. 1998, 71).”
Temple Work and Family History: “All temple ordinances are performed by the power of the priesthood. Through this power, ordinances performed on earth are sealed, or bound, in heaven. The Savior taught His Apostles, ‘Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven’ (Matthew 16:19; see also D&C 132:7). Only in the temple can we be sealed together forever as families. Marriage in the temple joins a man and woman as husband and wife eternally if they honor their covenants. Baptism and all other ordinances prepare us for this sacred event.”
The Gathering of the House of Israel: “God gathers His children through missionary work. As people come to a knowledge of Jesus Christ, receiving the ordinances of salvation and keeping the associated covenants, they become ‘the children of the covenant’ (3 Nephi 20:26). He has important reasons for gathering His children. He gathers them so they can learn the teachings of the gospel and prepare themselves to meet the Savior when He comes again. He gathers them so they will build temples and perform sacred ordinances for ancestors who have died without having this opportunity. He gathers them so they can strengthen one another and be unified in the gospel, finding protection from unrighteous influences in the world. He also gathers them so they can prepare themselves to share the gospel with others. The power and authority to direct the work of gathering the house of Israel was given to Joseph Smith by the prophet Moses, who appeared in 1836 in the Kirtland Temple (see D&C 110:11). Since that time, each prophet has held the keys for the gathering of the house of Israel, and this gathering has been an important part of the Church’s work. The covenant people are now being gathered as they accept the restored gospel and serve the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (see Deuteronomy 30:1–5).”

Christlike Attributes

Faith: “I have faith that God will bring about good things in my life and the lives of others as we devote ourselves to Him and His Son. (Ether 12:12)”
Hope: “One of my greatest desires is to inherit eternal life in the celestial kingdom. (Moroni 7:41)”
Patience: “I wait patiently for the blessings and promises of the Lord to be fulfilled. (2 Nephi 10:17)”
Obedience:
- “I am worthy to have a temple recommend. (Doctrine and Covenants 97:8)”
- “I strive to live in accordance with the laws and principles of the gospel. (Doctrine and Covenants 41:5)”

Most Important Quote

“The validity that the sealing power gives to priesthood ordinances includes, of course, vicarious ordinances performed in the place designated by the Lord—His temple. Here we see the majesty and sacredness of the sealing power—it makes individual salvation and family exaltation universally available to the children of God wherever and whenever they may have lived on the earth. No other theology or philosophy or authority can match such an all-inclusive opportunity. This sealing power is a perfect manifestation of the justice, mercy, and love of God.”

Powerful Stories

“Not long ago, my wife and I joined a dear friend in a sealing room of the Bountiful Utah Temple. I first met this friend when she was a child in Córdoba, Argentina. My missionary companion and I were contacting people in a neighborhood just blocks away from the mission office, and she answered the door when we came to her home. In due time, she and her mother and siblings joined the Church, and they have remained faithful members. She is now a lovely woman, and this day we were in the temple to seal her deceased parents to one another and then seal her to them.

“A couple who over the years have become close friends represented her parents at the altar. It was an emotional moment that became even sweeter when our Argentine friend was sealed to her parents. There were just six of us present on a quiet afternoon away from the world, and yet one of the most important things that ever takes place on the earth was happening. I was gratified that my role and association had come full circle from knocking on her door as a young missionary to now, these many years later, performing the sealing ordinances that linked her to her parents and past generations.”

The Best Footnote

Footnote 19: “Without these ‘welding links’ (see Doctrine and Covenants 128:18) between the fathers and the children created via temple ordinances, the Lord states, ‘ye shall be rejected … with your dead’ (Doctrine and Covenants 124:32). No wonder the Prophet warned: ‘Let me assure you that these are principles in relation to the dead and the living that cannot be lightly passed over, as pertaining to our salvation. For their salvation is necessary and essential to our salvation, as Paul says concerning the fathers—that they without us cannot be made perfect—neither can we without our dead be made perfect’ (Doctrine and Covenants 128:15).”

Questions for Reflection Asked by the Speaker