In the Book of Mormon, whenever it refers to "power and authority" that is a direct reference to the Holy Priesthood. The Priesthood is the power and authority of God given to man to perform ordinances and other sacred rites in His name, serving His children as He would do himself. The crowning authority of the Priesthood is the sealing power. Those who have been called to exercise this power are called "sealers." While the keys of sealing are only vested in one individual at any time (the Prophet and President of the Church), he shares responsibility for sealing with those who are thus called in an effort to extend these blessings to all those who desire them.
And what are these blessings?
While the sealing power can be used in temporal ways, the highest use of this power is to seal families together forever. Thus, in our temple marriage and sealing ceremonies, couples and families are not sealed "until death do you part" or "for the duration of your mortal lives" but for "time" (meaning this mortal life) "and all eternity" (meaning exactly that).
These are the keys that were restored to Joseph Smith by Peter, James, and John who appeared as glorified, resurrected beings (except for John, who was translated that he should never taste of death until the Savior comes again) and bestowed this power and authority. It had been lost from the world throughout the generations, eliminated from the earth through transgression and apostasy. But now it has been restored and there are men on this earth who have this authority.
This is why temples are so important to Latter-day Saints. There are many in the world who do not understand these things, and that's OK. They are really not truly understood in their fullness by Latter-day Saints, either. The point, however, seems not to understand everything but to take action based on information received and in the hope of greater understanding of things to come. Inaction seems to lead to less understanding, while continuous application of faith and works seems to enhance and augment those things already received, building on truths and precepts already understood the way a home or temple is built on a solid foundation.
And what are these blessings?
While the sealing power can be used in temporal ways, the highest use of this power is to seal families together forever. Thus, in our temple marriage and sealing ceremonies, couples and families are not sealed "until death do you part" or "for the duration of your mortal lives" but for "time" (meaning this mortal life) "and all eternity" (meaning exactly that).
These are the keys that were restored to Joseph Smith by Peter, James, and John who appeared as glorified, resurrected beings (except for John, who was translated that he should never taste of death until the Savior comes again) and bestowed this power and authority. It had been lost from the world throughout the generations, eliminated from the earth through transgression and apostasy. But now it has been restored and there are men on this earth who have this authority.
This is why temples are so important to Latter-day Saints. There are many in the world who do not understand these things, and that's OK. They are really not truly understood in their fullness by Latter-day Saints, either. The point, however, seems not to understand everything but to take action based on information received and in the hope of greater understanding of things to come. Inaction seems to lead to less understanding, while continuous application of faith and works seems to enhance and augment those things already received, building on truths and precepts already understood the way a home or temple is built on a solid foundation.
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