Duncan Posted March 18, 2014 Posted March 18, 2014 Let's say you joined the Church in 1833 and were baptized. Then three years later we know that Elijah gave the sealing power to Joseph and Oliver so that ordinances were sealed in heaven. Does that sealing power work from then on or would that person's baptism in 1833 be sealed in heaven-provided they lived worthy and all that? it seems that we talk about the sealing power only in conjunction with marriage but what about baptism, ordination to the priesthood, endowment etc.?
JLHPROF Posted March 18, 2014 Posted March 18, 2014 Let's say you joined the Church in 1833 and were baptized. Then three years later we know that Elijah gave the sealing power to Joseph and Oliver so that ordinances were sealed in heaven. Does that sealing power work from then on or would that person's baptism in 1833 be sealed in heaven-provided they lived worthy and all that? it seems that we talk about the sealing power only in conjunction with marriage but what about baptism, ordination to the priesthood, endowment etc.? Personally, I don't see a true sealing component to non-temple ordinances. There is the non-specific way the early members would "seal" each other up at meetings etc, but I think there wasn't any effective sealing ordinance until Elijah restored the temple keys. But that's just my opinion. A priesthood holder could seal a blessing but that would be a different thing, sealing a blessing on someone, not binding on earth and in heaven. 1
Wanderer7 Posted March 18, 2014 Posted March 18, 2014 Plus I think the Holy Spirit of Promise is only functional after we have kept the covenant fully. I suspect not many people had done that before 1836.
Duncan Posted March 18, 2014 Author Posted March 18, 2014 Personally, I don't see a true sealing component to non-temple ordinances. There is the non-specific way the early members would "seal" each other up at meetings etc, but I think there wasn't any effective sealing ordinance until Elijah restored the temple keys. But that's just my opinion. A priesthood holder could seal a blessing but that would be a different thing, sealing a blessing on someone, not binding on earth and in heaven. how do you see baptisms being binding then if they weren't sealed in heaven? what good were they?
JLHPROF Posted March 18, 2014 Posted March 18, 2014 how do you see baptisms being binding then if they weren't sealed in heaven? what good were they? I didn't say they weren't "sealed in heaven" but we are confusing "sealing in heaven" aka "ratifiying the ordinance" with a "sealing ordinance" aka "creating an eternal family". Not the same thing in my opinion. We use the word seal interchangeably but I don't know that they should be. I don't think being sealed up to eternal life is the same as being sealed to my wife which I don't think is the same as having a priesthood blessing sealed upon my head. They are all performed by priesthood but I don't see them as the same kind of "sealing". 1
Storm Rider Posted March 18, 2014 Posted March 18, 2014 I agree; I don't see the sealing authority applying to the baptism, Gift of the Holy Ghost, or ordaining the priesthood. These ordinances are written in heaven because of their very function or purpose. The sealing authority applies directly to the sealing of individuals to another a husband and wife and their children.
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