The sealing power is "the priesthood power given to authorized servants of the Lord to perform certain acts on earth and have them recognized (sealed) or validated in heaven."¹ This power includes the keys of the kingdom of heaven² promised to Peter in Matthew 16:19, saying, "whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."³ By this power, according to Doctrine and Covenants Section 132:7, "all covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations [attain] efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead."⁴ This power to save and exalt God's children on earth is also the power to seal the wicked to death and hell.⁵

The prophet Elijah⁶ held the keys of the sealing power⁷ and was the last prophet of the Old Testament to possess this power in its fulness.⁸ He appeared as a translated person⁹ on the Mount of Transfiguration¹⁰ where he bestowed the keys of the sealing power¹¹ on Jesus Christ¹² and on Peter, James, and John.¹³ When Jesus performed the atonement,¹⁴ he exercised the sealing power to infinitely extend the reach of his atonement¹⁵ to all his creations on all worlds and throughout all eternity.¹⁶ At the time of his ascension, Christ referred to the sealing power when he declared that he possessed all power under heaven.¹⁷ Joseph Smith referred to Christ's sealing power as the keys of the universe.¹⁸

On April 3, 1836, Elijah appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple and bestowed on them the keys of the sealing power.¹⁹ Family history work and genealogy are frequently said to be inspired and motived by the spirit of Elijah²⁰ because they are closely associated with the sealing power he restored.²¹ The keys of the sealing power are vested solely in the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.²² He delegates some of these priesthood keys to others,²³ including those that preside at all levels of the church.²⁴ Since 1836‒when Elijah restored the sealing power‒sealing ordinances have been performed in latter-day temples according to the same pattern²⁵ and established order²⁶ that existed in prior gospel dispensations.²⁷ The ordinance is highly sacred²⁸ and can only be administered in a temple²⁹ dedicated for this purpose.³⁰

People sometimes use the names of Elias and Elijah interchangeably,³¹ but they are two different prophets.³² Elias is also a title used to identify several prophets,³³ including Noah.³⁴ Elias (Noah) and Elijah both had a role in the restoration of the sealing ordinance in this dispensation.³⁵ The same day Elijah restored the sealing power in the Kirtland Temple, Elias restored the covenants and authority possessed and administered by Abraham.³⁶ The Abrahamic Covenant includes the Lord's promises to Abraham³⁷ that are embodied in the sealing ordinance administered in temples today.³⁸ These covenants include the Patriarchal Order of the Priesthood.³⁹ Therefore, Elias restored priesthood keys for the covenants of the Patriarchal Order, and Elijah restored the sealing power to make those covenants endure beyond death and throughout eternity.⁴⁰