A Daughter Request's Information on the Spirit of Elijah

Our oldest daughter requested help with a lesson she is giving on the Spirit of Elijah. Bob sent her this:

Joseph Smith,  " The most important responsibility we have is to seek after our dead." How could this be the most important responsibility?  

Look at the consequences in Malachi and D & C 2.  Of all the scriptures that Christ and Moroni could relate why did both relate Malachi or a version of Malachi.  Read Joseph Smith History V-36 and 3 Nehpi 25 1-5

D&C 2:

What is planted in the hearts of the children is the desire to do genealogy work, based on the promises made to Abraham. Abraham was promised that all his descendants would have a chance to hear the gospel.  Since many of them lived when the gospel was NOT on the earth how could that happen?

Why would we choose to come to earth if we knew we would be here without the blessing of the gospel?

Because Abraham was promised that all would have a chance to accept the gospel regardless whenever they happen to live. D&C 138 V-56 indicates we had instruction (lessons) as spirits and were prepared for this life. 

This is an elect generation. This is a generation that has a special responsibility.  A generation that promised God as well as their spirit family in heaven that they would find them and give them the same opportunities they were receiving on earth.  A generation that would be given special knowledge by the Holy Spirit that had not been revealed since the world was to help accomplish the great work.  (D&C 121- V-26-27) 

This great desire for family history was to come before the great work would be done in the Temples. (Read Section 138 V-47 & 48 the word Foreshadowing has great meaning and gives insight into why people were collecting genealogy information before the church was organized.  

Malachi:

Some members say these two scriptures are the same and that Moroni just added to Malachi version.  Not so.  3 Nephi 25 reads word for word like Malachi. This proves the Bible has it correct and Moroni added to the information and gave it greater/ broader meaning.  

So, What was the insight Moroni added? 

D&C 2  The consequence is much greater than the earth being smite with a curse as Malachi reads. The information about planting in the hearts happened before the church was organized. 

The Keys of this dispensation have been committed into our hands.  No other dispensation has had the temples and special technology necessary to accomplish this work.

They cannot be saved without us and we can not be saved without helping them.  This work is a life's effort and cannot be accomplished in a day or a year. Slow and study progress will make us Saviors on Mount Zion, assure our eternal family of the same blessings we have been afforded on earth, and help with our own eternal salvation.  

The phrase "we can not be saved without them" is something for deep consideration. Understanding that others are depending on us for heavenly blessings, because they are helpless to help themselves, is a great responsibility. Our willingness to help others from an impossible situation helps us better understand and appreciate the atonement. And to a smaller degree helps us serve others in a like way as Christ served all of mankind.   

Hope this will help you. 

Love you