Malachi 1 - 4

Alma taught -

"...I would that ye should remember that the Lord God ordained priests, after his holy order, which was after the order of his Son, to teach these things unto the people." (Book of Mormon Alma 13:1)

And they were ordained as priests -

"...in a manner that thereby the people might know in what manner to look forward to his Son for redemption." (Book of Mormon Alma 13:2)

"And thus being called by this holy calling, and ordained unto the high priesthood of the holy order of God, to teach his commandments unto the children of men, that they also might enter into his rest—" (Book of Mormon Alma 13:6)

Malachi understood this and was greatly disturbed with the behavior of the priest in his day. But as I read his words, I felt strong impressions that he was also seeing the priests of our day as the Lord says -

"...O ye priests, this commandment is for you.
2 If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart." (Old Testament Malachi 2:1 - 2)

Speaking of the oaths and covenants he has made with those of the priesthood, the Lord states -

"My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.
6 The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.
7 For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts." (Old Testament Malachi 2:5 - 7)

As the messenger of the Lord, the faithful priesthood bearer is a sincere worshiper. He acts as if he were in the Lord’s presence when upon the Lord’s errand. He is honest in all his dealings with others, and his speech is dignified and appropriate. He walks with the Lord with confidence and assurance and is comfortable in his role of blessing others and leading them into a better way of life. He is a student of the scriptures and has the capacity to teach the words of life to others. The Lord speaks to those priesthood holders that have not kept their covenants -

"...ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi..." (Old Testament Malachi 2:8)

The Lord goes on to give several examples how they have corrupted their covenants that are very much apparent today -

"...why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?" (Old Testament Malachi 2:10)

Many of his priests have married women who worship other things in doing so -

"...dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god." (Old Testament Malachi 2:11)

Not only married women of the world but have abandoned their wives, leaving them in tears of suffering, while pursuing the younger woman of the world for -

"...this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand.
14 ¶ Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant." (Old Testament Malachi 2:13 - 14)

This angers the Lord greatly as he states -

"For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away..." (Old Testament Malachi 2:16)

Many priesthood holders go through the motions suggesting they are keeping their covenants but -

"...offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible." (Old Testament Malachi 1:7)

To which the Lord answers -

"...if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil?" (Old Testament Malachi 1:8)

There is no question that offering the best of the sacrifice to the Lord is much different that offering that which a priests does not want. The is angered as he says -

"...Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?
14 Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?" (Old Testament Malachi 3:13 - 14)

It may appear that these men may seem to prosper in their corruption, to possess many of the things of this world, where there doesn't seem like there is much justice, for -

"...now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered." (Old Testament Malachi 3:15)

But eventually, the promise is -

"...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." (Old Testament Malachi 4:1)

But to the repentant, the promise is to them -

"...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.
3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts." (Old Testament Malachi 4:2 - 3)