A vision was manifested to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. Part of it is as follows:

"The veil was taken from our minds and the eyes of our understanding were opened...For Elijah the prophet, who was taken to heaven without tasting death, stood before us, and said: Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi - testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come - To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse - Therefore, the keys of this despensation are committed into your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors."

The spirit of Elijah is family history work and it was first conferred upon Joseph Smith and has now gone forth into the world.