1. Moroni’s Rendition of Malachi 4:5-6

2. “Plant into the Heart the promises”
To Joseph Smith, Moroni quoted Malachi’s prophecy of Elijah’s return, but with a variation—
King James Version of Malachi 4:5
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
Moroni’s rendition in JS Hist 1: 38; also D&C 2:1
Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

3. “Plant into the Heart the promises”
King James Version of Malachi 4:6
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.
Moroni’s rendition in JS Hist 1: 38; also D&C 2:1
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. (D&C 2:1-3; JS Hist 1: 38-39)

4. Moroni’s rendition raises some important questions—
Who are the fathers? Who are the children? What are the promises? How are “the promises made the fathers” planted in the hearts? If this does not happen, why will the earth be utterly wasted at the Lord’s coming?

5. Who are the Fathers?
D&C 27:10
And also with Joseph and Jacob, and Isaac, and Abraham, your fathers, by whom the promises remain;

6. Who are the Fathers?
D&C 107:40-41 The order of this priesthood was confirmed to be handed down from father to son, and rightly belongs to the literal descendants of the chosen seed, to whom the promises were made. This order was instituted in the days of Adam, and came down by lineage in the following manner . . .

7. Who are the Fathers?
An examination of the scriptures reveal a focus on four sets of fathers and the promises made to each set.