Why Did Genealogy Suddenly Become Important After 1836?

Welcome to Day 25 of our 60-Day Challenge! But before we tackle today’s question, let’s take a moment to reflect on the question from Day 24.

Question 24—a prophecy so important that it’s the very last message in the Old Testament.

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”
— Malachi 4:5-6

It’s a powerful passage, but what does it actually mean? And why does it matter right now?

The Traditional Christian Interpretation

Most Christian churches see this prophecy as a call to repentance and reconciliation. Many believe:

• John the Baptist fulfilled this prophecy by preparing the way for Christ.

• Turning the hearts means restoring relationships—both within families and between people and God.

• It’s a reminder of faithfulness to God’s covenant across generations, keeping the faith alive from father to son, mother to daughter.

That’s an essential lesson on its own, but what if there’s more to this prophecy?

Elijah’s Role in the Last Days

Malachi prophesied that Elijah himself would return before the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And here’s where things get fascinating.

Did you know that Jewish families set an empty chair for Elijah at their Passover meal every year? They are literally waiting for his return.

Now, here’s something incredible: On April 3, 1836—during Passover—Elijah did return.

He appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith in the Kirtland Temple, fulfilling Malachi’s prophecy and restoring the sealing power—the ability to bind families together, not just for this life, but for eternity.

Coincidence? Or divine fulfillment?

The Restoration of the Sealing Power

The sealing power Elijah restored allows for:
🔹 Eternal Families – Families can be sealed together beyond death.
🔹 Temple Work for the Dead – Sacred ordinances like baptisms can be performed on behalf of ancestors.
🔹 Genealogical Work – Efforts to connect past and future generations.

This isn’t just about sentimental family history. It’s about God’s eternal plan, ensuring that no soul is forgotten and that salvation extends across time.

Christ Himself gave Peter this power in Matthew 16:18-19:

“And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven.”

That same priesthood power was restored through Elijah in 1836, and it’s at the heart of temple work today.

Why Does This Matter Today?

Without sealing families together, Malachi warns that the earth would be cursed at Christ’s return. That’s how central this work is—it’s part of preparing for the Second Coming.

And guess what? The rise of genealogical research didn’t happen randomly. Right after Elijah’s return in 1836, the world saw a sudden global interest in genealogy.

Coincidence? Or a direct fulfillment of prophecy?

Your Next Challenge: Question 25

Why was there a sudden global interest in genealogical research? And why were genealogical societies formed immediately following Elijah’s appearance in 1836?

Think about it. Was this part of God’s greater plan?

Transcription:

    Hi, my name is Joe Cirillo with Gospel First, and thanks for your decision to follow me on this exciting journey to find Christ's restored church in our day. But before I give you question number 25, did you get to question number 24? The last chapter of the Old Testament seems kind of important. Does anyone have any idea what it means to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers?

It says, behold, I will send you Elijah, the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children and the heart of the children to their fathers. Lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. Now, most Christian churches interpret the passage as a prophecy about repentance, reconciliation, and preparing for the Messiah.

They believe that John the Baptist fulfilled the role of Elijah, calling people to repent and turn back to God, thus preparing the way for Jesus. The turning of hearts symbolizes restoring relationships, both within families and spiritually with God. It is also a call to prevent divine judgment and prepare for Christ's second coming through repentance and renewed faith.

Many also see it as a reminder of generational faithfulness to God's covenant. Isn't it interesting that the Jews prepare for Elijah's return every year during Passover? Well, on April the 3rd, 1836, Elijah did return to the earth and appeared in the Kirtland Temple on the exact day that the Jews around the world had prepared an empty chair for Elijah at their Passover meal.

Is that a coincidence? Well, in the restored church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, Malachi chapter 4, verses 5 to 6, is seen as a prophecy about Elijah's return to restore the sealing keys of the priesthood, which allow families to be sealed for eternity. It's interesting to note that every year, Jews prepare for Elijah's return during Passover.

Remarkably, on the exact day that the Jews prepared an empty chair for Elijah, Elijah did return to the earth on April 3rd, 1836, and appeared to the prophet Joseph Smith in the Kirtland Temple. He restored the sealing power, which enables important temple ordinances, like eternal marriages and family sealings.

Now, that can't be a coincidence. These temple ordinances ensure that families can be united, not just in this life, but for eternity. This fulfills God's plan for his children to live together as eternal families. Through the sealing power, families are bound together beyond death, which is a central part of the, uh, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saint theology.

The phrase, Turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, is interpreted as a call for genealogy and temple work, where living members of the church perform saving ordinances on behalf of their deceased ancestors. This effort connects past and future generations and is vital in preparing for Christ's second coming.

Without this work of sealing families, the earth would be utterly wasted at the Lord's return as eternal family connections are central to God's plan of salvation. Now this sealing power of uniting families together for eternity is what Jesus gave Peter when he said in Matthew chapter 16 verses 18 to 19, And I say also unto thee that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church.

And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Isn't it wonderful that a loving God has provided a way that families can be together forever?

So here's question number 25. Why was there a sudden global interest in genealogical research? And why were these genealogical societies formed immediately following Elijah's appearance in the temple in 1836? And I'd love to hear your thoughts.