The Coming of Christ (Part 5) The Old Jerusalem and its Temple

During the Millennium the Lord will have two capitals from which he will govern the world. One capital will be in the New Jerusalem (Independence, Missouri) which will be his political seat of government. The other capital will be in the Old Jerusalem which will be his ecclesiastical seat of government. Both capitals and their temples must be in place before the Lord's second coming. Today the Old Jerusalem and the temple mount is one of the most controversial pieces of real estate on the face of the earth. A major world war will be fought, and this area will be part of the focus of the war.

Here is what the Prophet Joseph Smith said about Jerusalem and its temple,

Judah must return, Jerusalem must be rebuilt, and the temple, and water come out from under the temple, and the waters of the Dead Sea be healed. It will take some time to rebuild the walls of the city and the temple, &tc.; and all this must be done before the Son of Man will make His appearance. (emphasis added) There will be wars and rumors of wars, signs in the heavens above and on the earth beneath, the sun turned into darkness and the moon to blood, earthquakes in divers places, the seas heaving beyond their bounds; then will appear one grand sign of the Son of Man in heaven. But what will the world do? They will say it is a planet, a comet, etc. But the Son of man will come as the sign of the coming of the Son of Man, which will be as the light of the morning cometh out of the east. (April 6, 1843.)
(Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, selected and arranged by Joseph Fielding Smith, p.286)

There are controversies as to how the temple will be built, where the temple will be built, which temple will be built, and who will build it.

How the temple will be built according to Jewish thought:

Some Jews feel that the temple will be built in heaven and will descend upon the correct spot. Others feel that the Messiah will build the temple miraculously at his coming, other feel he will build the temple, but not miraculously. Others feel a prophet must be commanded by God to build the temple and start sacrifices. Others think that man will build the temple and then God will lower the heavenly temple. Some Christian Jew believe the temple will be built before Christ comes, it will exist only a short time, then be destroyed, and then Christ will then come and build the fourth temple after the pattern of Ezekiel 40-45. (For more information see Jerusalem, The Eternal City by, Galbraith, Ogden, and Skinner pp. 477-479)

Where the temple will be built:

Some Jews feel that the temple has to be built on the exact spot where David was shown by the angel. The Holy of Holies must be properly located to be accepted by God. There are no less than twelve different locations that some feel the temple must be built. (see Secrets of Jerusalem Temple Mount by, Leen and Kathleen Ritmeyer)

Some Latter-day Saints feel that the temple can be built on the property owned by the Church where the Jerusalem Center now stands.

Which temple will be built:

As already pointed out, some Jewish Christians feel that it will the the Ezekiel Temple that will be built. I had a chance to speak with a representative of one of the groups that is active in preparing to build the Third Temple. I asked him which temple they were planning on building? His answer was, "Herod's Temple." I asked him why they were not going to build the temple in Ezekiel? His answer, "No one is righteous enough to interpret the Ezekiel Temple."

One highly respected LDS scholar, who will remain anonymous, that I had a conversation with felt that it would be the Temple from the Dead Sea Scrolls that would be built in Jerusalem.

Who will build the temple:

There are at least two groups in Jerusalem that are anxious to build the third temple. 1. The group from the Temple Institute (see website), they have already manufactured many of the implements to be used in the temple including the priestly clothing. 2. The Temple Mount Faithful (see website). This group has made several efforts to move a cornerstone to the location of the temple mount.

We have several important statements by LDS Prophets and an Apostle about who will build the temple:

The following is part of a conversation that President John Taylor had with Baron Rothschild (as Jew) while showing him the Salt Lake Temple,

said I, "you will build a temple, for the Lord has shown us, among other things, that you Jews have quite a role to perform in the latter days, and that all the things spoken by your old prophets will be fulfilled, that you will be gathered to old Jerusalem, and that you will build a temple there; and when you build that temple, and the time has arrived, 'the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple."
. . .
Said I-"You can do nothing unless God directs. You as a people are tied hand and foot, and have been for generations, and you can't move a peg unless God strikes off your fetters. When he says the word the things spoken of by the prophets will be fulfilled. Then, the measuring line will go forth again in Jerusalem, then your Messiah will come, and all those things spoken of by the prophets will be fulfilled."

(John Taylor, The Gospel Kingdom: Selections from the Writings and Discourses of John Taylor, selected, arranged, and edited, with an introduction by G. Homer Durham, p.293)

President Wilford Woodruff made this statement,

. . . the Jews have got to gather to their own land in unbelief. They will go and rebuild Jerusalem and their temple. They will take their gold and silver from the nations and will gather to the Holy Land. When they have done this and rebuilt their city, the Gentiles, in fulfilment of the words of Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and other prophets, will go up against Jerusalem to battle and to take a spoil and a prey; and then, when they have taken one-half of Jerusalem captive and distressed the Jews for the last time on the earth, their Great Deliverer, Shiloh, will come. They do not believe in Jesus of Nazareth now, nor ever will, until he comes and sets his foot on Mount Olivet and it cleaves in twain, one part going towards the east, and the other towards the west.

-JD 15:277-278, January 12, 1873.
(Wilford Woodruff, The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, edited by G. Homer Durham, p.118)

Elder Bruce R. McConkie felt that the Jews who build the temple will be members,

A house of the Lord-the Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah of the Jews-shall rise again in Jerusalem, perhaps on the very site where the ancient holy house stood, because the remnants of Judah shall accept their King, believe his gospel, and walk in his paths. A holy temple, the house of the Lord-a sacred sanctuary with its Holy of Holies where the Divine Presence, the Shekinah of old, shall once more be manifest to Israel-shall be built in Old Jerusalem. It shall be built by the Jews: Jews who believe in Christ; Jews who are converted to the truth; Jews who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Jews who hold again the powers and priesthoods possessed by their ancestors. The keys and powers whereby temples are built vest in the President of the Church, the presiding high priest among the Lord's latter-day people. These keys, first conferred by angelic ministrants-Moses, Elijah, Elias, and others-upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, have come down in direct succession and rest upon and are exercised by the prophet of God on earth, the one who, as it were, wears the mantle of Joseph Smith. And so it is that the Jews shall build their temple, and the Jews who do it will be Mormons; they will be Jews who are the converted and baptized saints of the latter days.

(Bruce R. McConkie, The Mortal Messiah: From Bethlehem to Calvary, 4 vols., 1:, p.116)

We all have our eyes on this sacred site. We are watching and waiting to see how our marvelous, sacred, and holy Savior will bring about the miracle of preparing Jerusalem for his coming.

A Glorious Easter Gift

Brought to my attention by a friend

The Coming of Christ (Part 4) The New Jerusalem

One of the great events that must be accomplished before the coming of Christ in glory to the world, is the building up of the New Jerusalem. This New Jerusalem must have a glorious temple as it's center piece. According to the Prophet Joseph Smith, this temple will actually be a 24 building complex. D&C 42 reveals that the saints are to build up the New Jerusalem living the law of consecration. President Joseph Fielding Smith made this declaration about the New Jerusalem and the law of consecration,

D&C 42:30–35. What Is the Relationship between the Building of Zion and the Law of Consecration?

“In this revelation the Law of Consecration is stated definitely as the law on which the New Jerusalem is to be built. This law is given for the benefit of the poor, for the building of Zion and the work of the ministry. . . . Through this celestial law (Consecration) the Saints are to become the covenant people of the Lord. We cannot enter into the fulness of the covenants pertaining to Zion until we have reached the point where we can live such a divine law. Those who cannot abide the law of tithing cannot partake of this law of consecration, or the higher law and they will be deprived of an inheritance when the inheritances are divided.” (Smith, Church History and Modern Revelation, 1:168)

As mentioned in the post on April 5, by Elder Charles W. Penrose, the Savior will visit the people in the New Jerusalem and instruct them further in the building of Zion. As pointed out so far there is much to do to prepare the saints for the coming of Christ and to live in the Millennium. Remember that there is a very important organization that will be put in place at Adam-Ondi-Ahman that is a part of the concept of Zion and the New Jerusalem (see previous post).

The Prophet Enoch, who built the Zion of old, was instructed that the New Jerusalem would be the place where the righteous will be gathered to prepare them for the coming of the Lord, and that Enoch and his people will meet them there,

Moses 7:60-64
60 And the Lord said unto Enoch: As I live, even so will I come in the last days, in the days of wickedness and vengeance, to fulfil the oath which I have made unto you concerning the children of Noah;
61 And the day shall come that the earth shall rest, but before that day the heavens shall be darkened, and a veil of darkness shall cover the earth; and the heavens shall shake, and also the earth; and great tribulations shall be among the children of men, but my people will I preserve;
62 And righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten; his resurrection from the dead; yea, and also the resurrection of all men; and righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare, an Holy City, that my people may gird up their loins, and be looking forth for the time of my coming; for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem. (emphasis added)
63 And the Lord said unto Enoch: Then shalt thou and all thy city meet them there, and we will receive them into our bosom, and they shall see us; and we will fall upon their necks, and they shall fall upon our necks, and we will kiss each other;
64 And there shall be mine abode, and it shall be Zion, which shall come forth out of all the creations which I have made; and for the space of a thousand years the earth shall rest.

Here we can see that even before the flood, it was known that the New Jerusalem was a "gateway" to the coming of the Lord and Millennial life. It is one of the major signs or "fig leaves" as it were, to key us in to the time when the Lord will come.

This New Jerusalem is to be a place of peace and safety for the righteous while much of the world is in anarchy,

D&C 45:67-70
67 And the glory of the Lord shall be there, and the terror of the Lord also shall be there, insomuch that the wicked will not come unto it, and it shall be called Zion.
68 And it shall come to pass among the wicked, that every man that will not take his sword against his neighbor must needs flee unto Zion for safety.
69 And there shall be gathered unto it out of every nation under heaven; and it shall be the only people that shall not be at war one with another.
70 And it shall be said among the wicked: Let us not go up to battle against Zion, for the inhabitants of Zion are terrible; wherefore we cannot stand.

In other words, we should not be looking for the coming of Christ until the New Jerusalem and its temple is built by the law of consecration. It is to be a haven and a safe place for the righteous. Also, the stakes of Zion will serve this same purpose (see D&C 115:5-6). There is no way of knowing the speed by which some of these things may take place, but we do have the Lord's promise that he will hasten his work.

D&C 88:73
73 Behold, I will hasten my work in its time.

The Coming of Christ (Part 3) Adam-Ondi-Ahman

There are not many events in the history of the world that are more exciting than the great meeting to be held at Adam-Ondi-Ahman. One of the major purposes for this meeting is to prepare the righteous for the coming of Christ (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith p. 157). President Joseph Fielding Smith referred to the business conducted there as the "most momentous matters concerning the destiny of the earth..." Way to Perfection p. 289.

President John Taylor said that the meeting will "adjust the affairs of the world." President Taylor also said that this meeting will be a part of the restoration of all things. He also point out that the kingdom will be both Church and state together. (see The Gospel Kingdom p. 102, 116-118)

Adam comes to set in order the righteous and those who have held keys. It is truly the setting up of the kingdom in preparation to the coming of Christ. Elder Orson Pratt stated the all would be in confusion at the coming of Christ without the meeting at Adam-Ondi-Ahman (Journal of Discourses vol. 18 p. 344).

Elder Orson Pratt at another time explained the organization at Adam-Ondi-Ahman,

He (Adam) comes, then, as a great judge, to assemble this innumerable host of which Daniel speaks. He comes in flaming fire. The glory and blessing and greatness of his personage it would be impossible even for a man as great as Daniel fully to describe. He comes as a man inspired from the eternal throne of Jehovah himself. He comes to set in order the councils of the Priesthood pertaining to all dispensations, to arrange the Priesthood and the councils of the Saints of all former dispensations in one grand family and household.
(Journal of Discourses, 26 vols., 17:, p.186)

One of the most sacred and critcal parts of the meeting will be when the Savior is sustained as King of Kings and Lord of Lords,

THE ANCIENT OF DAYS. Daniel speaks of Adam as the Ancient of Days. In this dispensation the Ancient of Days will sit in the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman; and the judgment will be set; Christ will come; and the kingdom will be turned over to Christ; and he will be sustained in his calling as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. [emphasis added] (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 3 vols., edited by Bruce R. McConkie, 1:, p.106)

President Joseph Fielding Smith saw the process of giving an account of keys that had been held as a form of judgment,

COMING OF CHRIST AT ADAM-ONDI-AHMAN. Daniel speaks of the coming of Christ, and that day is near at hand. There will be a great gathering in the Valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman; there will be a great council held. The Ancient of Days, who is Adam, will sit. The judgment-not the final judgment-will be held, where the righteous who have held keys will make their reports and deliver up their keys and ministry. Christ will come, and Adam will make his report. At this council Christ will be received and acknowledged as the rightful ruler of the earth. Satan will be replaced. Following this event every government in the world, including the United States, will have to become part of the government of God. Then righteous rule will be established. The earth will be cleansed; the wicked will be destroyed; and the reign of peace will be ushered in.
(Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 3 vols., edited by Bruce R. McConkie, 3:, p.13)

Elder Bruce R. McConkie points out that it will precede the other appearances of the Lord that are associated with his second coming. The meeting will include all those who were at the first meeting at Adam-Ondi-Ahman and all faithful saints of all the ages past. It will be the greatest congregation of faithful saints ever assembled on planet earth. Elder McConkie suggests that there will be numerous meetings held. There will be the sacrament meeting that is mentioned in D&C 27. Some meetings may be for instruction of leaders, others for edification of all, some for worship, and some to conduct business. (see Millennial Messiah pp. 575-588)

For another post on Adam-Ondi-Ahman see the April 1 post on In The Doghouse blog.

The Coming of Christ (Part 2) Parable of the Fig Tree

We all look forward to the coming of Christ to usher in a period of peace and security. We would like to bask in the light of a Millennial Terrestrial life and have our children grow up in righteousness. When should we look for the coming of Christ is the big question? We are all familiar with the scripture that says the no man knows the day or the hour,

Matt 24:36
36 But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

The Prophet Joseph Smith felt that it would be revealed to the Prophet when the coming of Christ would be,

Remarks on the coming of the Son of Man by Joseph Smith the Prophet. Made in Nauvoo Christ says no man knoweth the day or the hour when the Son of Man cometh. This is a sweeping argument for sectarianism against the latter day ism. Did Christ speak this as a general principle throughout all generations Oh no he spoke in the present tense no man that was then liveing upon the footstool of God knew the day or the hour But he did not say that there was no man throughout all generations that should not know the day or the hour. No for this would be in flat contradiction with other scripture for the prophet says that God will do nothing but what he will reveal unto his servants the prophets consequently if it is not made known to the Prophets it will not come to pass . . .
(Joseph Smith, The Words of Joseph Smith:, The Contemporary Accounts of the nauvoo Discourses of the Prophet Joseph, compiled and edited by Andrew F. Ehat and Lyndon W. Cook [Provo: BYU Religious Studies Center, 1980], 180-181)

The most important help that the Savior gave to help us understand the time of his coming were these statements concerning the fig tree,

Matt 24:32
32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer [is] nigh:

D&C 45:36-39
36 And when the light shall begin to break forth, it shall be with them like unto a parable which I will show you--
37 Ye look and behold the figtrees, and ye see them with your eyes, and ye say when they begin to shoot forth, and their leaves are yet tender, that summer is now nigh at hand;
38 Even so it shall be in that day when they shall see all these things, then shall they know that the hour is nigh.
39 And it shall come to pass that he that feareth me shall be looking forth for the great day of the Lord to come, even for the signs of the coming of the Son of Man.

The Prophet Joseph smith taught that the coming of the Son of Man could not come until the judgments spoken of had commenced,

The coming of the Son of Man never will be-never can be till the judgments spoken of for this hour are poured out: which judgments are commenced. . . . It is not the design of the Almighty to come upon the earth and crush it and grind it to powder, but he will reveal it to His servants the prophets.
(Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, selected and arranged by Joseph Fielding Smith, p.286)

As pointed out in the Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual p. 398,

The signs of the Lord’s coming may be classified into two main categories: (1) Signs that are part of the Restoration of the gospel and its eventual expansion throughout the world; and (2) signs that are part of the increase of evils and the calamities and judgments to come upon the world. These two movements are taking place simultaneously in the last days. President Spencer W. Kimball said that “the progress of the church will be paralleled by a growing wickedness among mankind” and, citing Brigham Young, “in proportion to the spread of the gospel among the nations of the earth so would the power of Satan rise” (in Church News, 30 June 1979, p. 5).

The purpose of the next several posts is to examine some of the signs that must be in place before the coming of Christ. We have already seen in the previous post that there are three major appearances of Christ that must take place before he comes in glory to the whole world: (1) His coming at Adam-Ondi-Ahman, (2) His coming to the New Jerusalem, and (3) His coming to the Old Jerusalem. We will look at these three comings first in the next three posts.

The Coming of Christ (Part 1) Four major appearances

There are at least four major events associated with the coming of Christ to the world. The Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual gives an understanding of these events. This material comes out the enrichment material section H on the Last Days:

(H-10) Christ’s Appearance to Mankind

When the Lord returns He will make some appearances to specific groups and then culminate His return by His appearance in great power, majesty, and glory, in such a manner that all the world will see Him (see D&C 133:17–22 and 101:22–23). Four appearances of the Lord have had particular mention by the prophets: two of these appearances will be to the Saints; one appearance will be to the Jews; and the fourth will be His final coming to the world.

The appearance at the city of New Jerusalem. The Lord “shall suddenly come to his temple” (D&C 133:2), a temple yet to be built in Jackson County, Missouri (see D&C 84:1–5; 97:10, 15–16). Elder Charles W. Penrose said that the Lord would make His appearance first among the Saints and “that appearance will be unknown to the rest of mankind. He will come to the Temple prepared for him, and his faithful people will behold his face, hear his voice, and gaze upon his glory. From his own lips they will receive further instructions for the development and beautifying of Zion and for the extension and sure stability of his Kingdom.” (Millennial Star, 10 Sept. 1859, pp. 582–83.)

The appearance at Adam-ondi-Ahman. The Lord will appear to the Saints at a great sacrament meeting at Adam-ondi-Ahman in Daviess County, Missouri, attended by those who have held the keys of the priesthood during all the gospel dispensations and by faithful Saints from all ages. The Prophet Joseph Smith said that “Daniel in his seventh chapter speaks of the Ancient of Days; he means the oldest man, our father Adam, Michael, he will call his children together and hold a council with them to prepare them for the coming of the Son of Man. He (Adam) is the father of the human family and presides over the spirits of all men, and all that have had the keys must stand before him in this grand council.” (History of the Church, 3:386–87; see also D&C 116.)

The appearance at the Mount of Olives. The Savior’s appearance to the Jews will occur when Jerusalem and its environs are besieged by many nations. At the close of a long and costly war, known as the battle of Armageddon, the Jews will flee for safety to the Mount of Olives. There the Savior will make His appearance. (See D&C 45:48–53; 77:15; 133:35; Revelation 11:1–13; Zechariah 14:1–9).

The Second Coming: the appearance to the whole world. As the Lord’s Second Coming approaches, signs will mark this epochal event. One of the last of these signs is the sign of the Son of Man (see D&C 88:93; JS—M 1:36). The Prophet Joseph Smith said: “Then will appear one grand sign of the Son of Man in heaven. But what will the world do? They will say it is a planet, a comet, &c. But the Son of Man will come as the sign of the coming of the Son of Man, which will be as the light of the morning cometh out of the east.” (History of the Church, 5:337.)

Following the sign there will be “silence in heaven for the space of half an hour, and immediately after shall the curtain of heaven be unfolded” and the Lord will make His appearance (D&C 88:95). So great will be the glory and power of His coming that the earth will tremble, the sun shall hide his face in shame, the mountains will melt and flow down, and the waters of the seas will boil (see D&C 133:40–42, 49; 101:25). All that is corruptible will be consumed and destroyed by the brightness of His presence (see D&C 5:19; 101:24–25). The Lord will wear red clothing, signifying His great atoning sacrifice and also His judgments upon the wicked (see D&C 133:48–51).

At this long-awaited day the Lord’s people will receive the reward for their faithfulness and endurance (see D&C 54:10; 133:52–53). Both the righteous living and the celestial dead will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air to be rewarded according to their deeds while the wicked are destroyed and cast into outer darkness (see D&C 88:96–97; 101:89–91). This will be the “great and dreadful day of the Lord” (D&C 110:14, 16).

Malachi Prepares Us For Christ's Coming (Part 7) The Sealing Power of Elijah

Malachi 4:4-6
4 ¶ Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, [with] the statutes and judgments.
5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
6 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.

We learn from the Prophet Joseph Smith that the law revealed to Moses on Horeb (Sinai) was never revealed to the children of Israel as a nation.

How shall God come to the rescue of this generation? He will send Elijah the prophet. The law revealed to Moses in Horeb never was revealed to the children of Israel as a nation. Elijah shall reveal the covenants to seal the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers.

The anointing and sealing is to be callled, elected and made sure.
(Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, selected and arranged by Joseph Fielding Smith, p.323)

As Latter-day Saints we are aware that Moroni quoted part of these verses differently,

JS-H 1:39
39 He also quoted the next verse differently: And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers. If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming.

Again, President Joseph F. Smith referred to these verses in his great vision of the spirit world,

D&C 138:47-48
47 The Prophet Elijah was to plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to their fathers,
48 Foreshadowing the great work to be done in the temples of the Lord in the dispensation of the fulness of times, for the redemption of the dead, and the sealing of the children to their parents, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse and utterly wasted at his coming.

The Prophet Joseph Smith also referenced these verses in telling of the visit of Elijah when he brought the sealing powers,

D&C 110:13-15
13 ...Elijah the prophet, who was taken to heaven without tasting death, stood before us, and said:
14 Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi--testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come--
15 To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse--

There are several ramifications to the promises made to the fathers that are to be planted in the hearts of the children. The fathers, in this instance, are Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Part of the promise is that they and their posterity are to inherit the earth as a Celestial Kingdom, all being sealed together in the New and Everlasting Covenant (D&C 88:17-20). The other part of the promise is that each one of them are sealed as husband and wife and are priests and kings, priestesses and queens modeled after their heavenly parents (D&C 132:29-33). This is all part of the Abrahamic Covenant that is designed to exalt our Heavenly Father's children.

If there is no one sealed together so that they can inherit the earth as it becomes the Celestial Kingdom, we can certainly see how it would be wasted, as it would sit empty without any inhabitants.

Here we see just the opposite of what the Malachi said of the wicked in Malachi 4:1, that they would be left without root or branch. The righteous have the promise of the coming of Elijah to seal them to their progenitors and their posterity and to their spouses, thus blessing them with both roots and branches. Therefore, the holy Tree of Life becomes alive and eternal with its roots and branches fastened in place.

Several years ago, I gave a talk at BYU Women's Conference on the Abrahamic Covenant. If you are interested you can email me and I will attach a copy of the talk. bobnormanutah@gmail.com

Malachi Prepares Us For Christ's Coming (Part 6) Calves of the stall?

Mal 4:1
1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

The wicked that had become cynical in their worship of Jehovah will now see the difference between those who served Jehovah and those who did not. The wicked will now be consumed at the coming of Christ. Moroni taught the Prophet Joseph Smith that it would be those that come with the Lord that would burn them up (Joseph Smith-History 1:37). In D&C 5:19 it says that the wicked will be destroyed by the brightness of the Lord's coming. It appears that the second coming of Christ and those that he brings with him will be so bright that all things not transfigured will be destroyed. Another scripture teaches a very similar principle,

D&C 97:7
7 The ax is laid at the root of the trees; and every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewn down and cast into the fire. I, the Lord, have spoken it.

Being left without root or branch in Latter-day Saint doctrine is to be without progenitors and posterity, or as D&C 132:17 puts it, they are separate and single without exaltation in a saved condition.

Sometime in another post, we need to look closer at this chapter as a reference to the universal TREE OF LIFE that is patterned after Christ.

Mal 4:2
2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

Mal 4:2 (New International Study Bible)
² But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.

This verse is an obvious reference to the power of the second coming of Christ, and the healing that he brings with him, and the great power that will be poured out on those who have served him. I also, used the NIV translation because it gives a better impression of the calves being released from the stall.

Having been raised on a small farm I have been able to observed calves released from the stall. The stall appears to be a metaphor for this restricted telestial mortal life that we live. We have the necessities to keep us alive but we are tremendously limited like the calf of the stall. The calf's world is very small, they have the necessities brought to them to keep them alive but there is very little freedom, both their movement and perceptions are very restricted. They cannot run and are not even aware that it is possible to run and to leap.

The day that they are released from the stall and put into the large pasture they, at first, seem a little intimidated and not sure what to do. However, in a few minutes it is a delight to watch them as they now explore the new powers they have been given in their new world. They run and kick up their heels as their tails are lifted corkscrew like to the heavens. They are finally free and have powers that they never knew were possible.

This all appears to be a metaphor to understand the power of the coming of Christ to bless the righteous. They will truly understand the promise made, that as many as come unto him he will give power to become the sons of God (D&C 11:30). In their new Millennial life, where the earth is transfigured, and the Holy Ghost is poured out on the whole earth as a baptism, they will have power and strength beyond their Telestial comprehension. This is the time that is given to them to make their final preparations to become Celestial beings, and the power that is given them is a gift from the Savior's healing powers of the atonement. These verses give great hope to those who love the Lord and desire to become like him. The Millennial powers will lift them to heights of growth and progression toward perfection that they had never experienced or known.