Malachi 3

This morning, I wanted to touch on several important prophecies and teachings of ancient prophets. 
First, Haggai says twice  -

"Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways."  (Old Testament | Haggai 1:7) (See verse 5)

What great counsel as we weekly attend sacrament meeting.

Zechariah prophesied of the Savior -

"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass."  (Old Testament | Zechariah 9:9)

And of the last days -

"Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.
3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it."  (Old Testament | Zechariah 12:2 - 3)

We have seen this prophecy fulfilled on several occasions.  In addition -

"Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
4 ¶ And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south."  (Old Testament | Zechariah 14:3 - 4)

This prophecy is repeated in modern day -

"...then shall the Lord set his foot upon this mount, and it shall cleave in twain, and the earth shall tremble, and reel to and fro, and the heavens also shall shake."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 45:48)

And the last recorded prophet being Malachi where he writes that -

"...I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:
3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifer of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness."  (Old Testament | Malachi 3:1 - 3)

I believe that offering of righteousness will be those that hold the Aaronic priesthood serving in the temple.

The Lord then states -

"Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you..."  (Old Testament | Malachi 3:7)

Then the Lord addresses how we return to Him -

"...But ye said, Wherein shall we return?
8 ¶ Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.
12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts."  (Old Testament | Malachi 3:7 - 12)

The Lord continues with his rebuke, man's reasoning, and again, how we return to Him saying -

"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?
15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.
16 ¶ Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not."  (Old Testament | Malachi 3:13 - 18)

Then Malachi provides a doctrine that few in Christendom understand -

"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."  (Old Testament | Malachi 4:5 - 6)

This is the restoration of the great sealing power or linkage of the family of Israel, living, and those that have passed on (ordinance work) as an eternal family and lives for -

"Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?"  (New Testament | 1 Corinthians 15:29)