Elijah Part 1: Promises made to the Fathers

Part 1: The following posts are some of my learnings and studies on the subject of Elijah and the promises made to the Fathers. I certainly don't fully understand it all but have jotted down some of my thoughts on the subject. Which could change as more understanding is given.

"The spirits of the just are enveloped in flaming fire,...are not far from us, and know and understand our thoughts, feelings, and emotions.. and are often pained therewith." (Joseph Smith, Teachings, p. 326)

Promises Made To Abraham:
Abraham was promised the following.

9 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee above measure, and make thy name great among all nations, and thou shalt be a blessing unto thy seed after thee, that in their hands they shall bear this ministry and Priesthood unto all nations;
10 And I will bless them through thy name; for as many as receive this Gospel shall be called after thy name, and shall be accounted thy seed, and shall rise up and bless thee, as their father;
11 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee; and in thee(that is, in thy Priesthood) and in thy seed (that is,thy Priesthood), for I give unto thee a promise that this right shall continue in thee, and in thy seed after thee (that is to say, the literal seed, or the seed of the body) shall all the families of the earth be blessed, even with the blessings of the Gospel, which are the blessings of salvation, even of life eternal. (Abraham 2:9-11, See Also Genesis 12:1-3)

Abraham is blessed with "this right" that it shall continue in thee (that is in thy priesthood). What was this right? The right is associated with Abraham's promise. The definition of "rights" is "entitlement".The promise is that all those who receive "this gospel", the same Gospel Abraham received, shall be called after thy name (Abraham), and shall be accounted thy seed (Abraham's seed). Joseph received "This Gospel" therefore became accounted as the seed of Abraham and received "this right" (vs 11) to continue in Joseph and also fulfilling the promises made to Abraham in his generation.

31 This promise is yours also, because ye are of Abraham, and the promise was made unto Abraham; and by this law is the continuation of the works of my Father [The right that Abraham was promised, a continuation of seed or posterity], wherein he glorifieth himself. 22 ...narrow the way that leadeth unto the exaltation and continuation of the lives [lives, or thy seed, or thy priesthood, this extends not to yourself only but those of your posterity if they receive it] 19 ...and they shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their exaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever. (D&C 132:19,22,31)

Abrahams receives three promises.

• Land: "A land that I will show you."
• A Kingdom: "A great nation."
• Posterity, Thy Priesthood, or Seed (These are all related): "All the families of the earth shall be blessed."

A Promised Inheritance:
God fulfills this promise through Abraham's seed telling them "that you may possess the land of your sojournings, which God gave to Abraham" (Gensis 28:4) Also "the land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give it to Jacob" (Genesis 35:12)

“Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made” (Galatians 3:16) and "The LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." (Genesis 12:7) Abraham’s son, Isaac, and grandson, Jacob, were “heirs with him of the same promise” (Hebrews 11:9) Abraham “went out, not knowing where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8) to the land of inheritance.

The descendants will continue to receive the land or what is also known as the "promised land". The children of Israel were promised it,

And I have also established my covenant with them [Abraham, Issac, and Jacob] , to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers. And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant. Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the Lord (Exodus 6:4-8)

The Lord covenanted with Abraham and fulfills that promise through his children. God said to Joshua, "after the death of Moses.", "Arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them..." and "Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers  to give them." (Joshua 1:1-6)

These promises extend spiritually as well as all who receive celestial glory will receive an inheritance.

In Him also we have obtained an inheritance... the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession (Ephesians 1:10-14)

A Nation:

I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. (Genesis 17:6-7)

"I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there." (Genesis 46:3)  This is what God said to Abraham's grandson Jacob (called Israel after Gen. 32) and the descendants of Abraham were called Israel, the children of Israel; Israelites - who went down to Egypt as the family of Joseph, but came out - a great nation.

After the family arrived in Egypt and were cared for by Joseph, he died, and the family grew. Exodus 1:7 says: "But the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, multiplied and grew exceedingly mightily; and the land was filled with them."

By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude-innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore. (Hebrews 11:11-12 )

Through the course of one child a multitude-innumerable as the sand of the seashores were born. Through One that is infinite or eternal, the continuation of the works of God can continue.

Promises Made To Abraham's Fathers:
Abraham (Abram new name) was ordained under the hands of Melchezidek. "Melchizedek lifted up his voice and blessed Abram. [The name for Abraham before the Lord had given him a new name]" who "was ordained an high priest after the order of the covenant which God made with Enoch, It being after the order of the Son of God" (JST Genesis 14:25, 27-28)

The Lord gives a description of the people after this order which Enoch himself received. This is the power that is given to them and the signs that follow.

For God having sworn unto Enoch and unto his seed with an oath by himself; that every one being ordained after this order and calling should have power, by faith, to break mountains, to divide the seas, to dry up waters, to turn them out of their course; To put at defiance the armies of nations, to divide the earth, to break every band, to stand in the presence of God; to do all things according to his will, according to his command, subdue principalities and powers; and this by the will of the Son of God which was from before the foundation of the world (Genesis 14:30:31)

The Lord made an everlasting covenant with Enoch. This covenant contains the promises for a future people that bring Zion and connect with the powers of heaven to receive these promises for themselves.

"this is mine everlasting covenant, that when thy posterity shall embrace the truth, and look upward, then shall Zion look downward, and all the heavens shall shake with gladness, and the earth shall tremble with joy; And the general assembly of the church of the firstborn shall come down out of heaven, and possess the earth, and shall have place until the end come. And this is mine everlasting covenant, which I made with thy father Enoch." (JST Genesis 9:22-23)

Zion (Enoch) shall come down while Zion will look upwards. Truth looking upwards because thtey will have possed the knowledge of God and he shall dwell there. Zion looks downwards because they will finally at last see a resemblance of what is in likeness in heaven and will desire to dwell there among them.

God continues to fulfill his promises as it says in Joshua "...not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you," (Joshua 23:15).

All The Families of the Earth Shall Be Blessed:
This was fulfilled through Jesus Christ. See Acts 3:25-26.

Part 2: The Fathers In Eternal Glory: Future Coming of Elijah: Records