1. In the most direct way the Lord showed mercy to his people in his temple by sending Elijah the prophet so that the keys of sealing could be restored. We read in Malachi that, "if it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming." So merely restoring the keys was an act of mercy that helps us to prevent our destruction at the second coming. More generally, the Lord's mercy is felt as people feel of the Lords spirit and gain knowledge. We learn how to return to God and how we are supposed to live in this life. What mercy to give us so much knowledge.
2. In the 3rd paragraph of page 309 we learn that what Elijah was restoring was the Priesthood or at least some part of it. The 4th paragraph has different wording that gives us more insight into the relationship between the children and the fathers. Moroni says that the children would have the promises made to the fathers (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?) planted in their hearts. That means a lot more than the hearts of the fathers being turned to the children. We know that the ordinances administered in the temple make the blessings of the "fathers" real in our own lives.
3. The sealing power allows laws to be made on earth and they remain in force in heaven outside of this earth life. It's significance is that it allows me to be bound to my family, those I love most. Besides this it allows me to grow in knowledge in the things of God.
4. Elijah's work is to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the children to the fathers. One way of viewing this is to understand that the 'turning' might also be understood as 'linking' or 'binding'.
When the Lord comes those that are not sealed, and those that are not righteous, will be burned. We must have this priesthood power that Elijah brought to save anyone from this great burning.
5. I have not done enough to turn myself closer to my deceased parents. I do intend to know my family history, do work for those in my mother's line, and have a collection of documents to justify the dates of my more recent ancestors (4 generations).
6. As for most things in this existence there is a spiritual meaning and a physical meaning. When Malachi says their would be a curse without the Priesthood blessings brought by Elijah, I believe we would be smitten by a physical curse, which might be the burning talked about at the Lord's coming, but also a spiritual curse. This spiritual curse could have been just as simple as not having the day to day blessings of the Priesthood.
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