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Some critics have seen Joseph's ideas above as completely ''ad hoc'': but, he was not the only one to understand Elias in this sense. Alexander Campbell, a noted American clergyman, wrote an attack on the Book of Mormon in which he expressed a similar idea: | Some critics have seen Joseph's ideas above as completely ''ad hoc'': but, he was not the only one to understand Elias in this sense. Alexander Campbell, a noted American clergyman, wrote an attack on the Book of Mormon in which he expressed a similar idea: | ||
− | :The Jews gave up their business and attended to him. He obtained one Nathan in Jerusalem to pass for his Elias, or forerunner.{{ | + | :The Jews gave up their business and attended to him. He obtained one Nathan in Jerusalem to pass for his Elias, or forerunner.<ref>{{CriticalWork:Campbell:Delusions/Full title|pages=xxx}} </ref> |
===Identity of Elias at Kirtland=== | ===Identity of Elias at Kirtland=== | ||
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====Unknown prophet from era of Abraham?==== | ====Unknown prophet from era of Abraham?==== | ||
− | Elder Bruce R. McConkie suggested that this Elias was a prophet who lived at the time of Abraham.{{ | + | Elder Bruce R. McConkie suggested that this Elias was a prophet who lived at the time of Abraham.<ref>{{MD1|start=219}}</ref> |
====Abraham?==== | ====Abraham?==== | ||
− | Elder McConkie was apparently not wedded to interpretation #2, since he later suggested that this "Elias" might be Abraham himself.{{ | + | Elder McConkie was apparently not wedded to interpretation #2, since he later suggested that this "Elias" might be Abraham himself.<ref>{{MillennialMessiah|start=102|end=104}}</ref> |
====Noah?==== | ====Noah?==== | ||
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:7 And also John the son of Zacharias, which Zacharias he (Elias) visited and gave promise that he should have a son, and his name should be John, and he should be filled with the spirit of Elias;({{s||D&C|27|6-7}}.) | :7 And also John the son of Zacharias, which Zacharias he (Elias) visited and gave promise that he should have a son, and his name should be John, and he should be filled with the spirit of Elias;({{s||D&C|27|6-7}}.) | ||
− | Elias is here said to be the person who came to Zacharias to announce the birth of John the Baptist. The angel Gabriel is well known to have been the messenger of John's birth (see {{b||Luke|1|19}}.) Who is Gabriel in LDS thought? Joseph Smith taught that Gabriel was the mortal Noah.{{ | + | Elias is here said to be the person who came to Zacharias to announce the birth of John the Baptist. The angel Gabriel is well known to have been the messenger of John's birth (see {{b||Luke|1|19}}.) Who is Gabriel in LDS thought? Joseph Smith taught that Gabriel was the mortal Noah.<ref>{{TPJS1|start=157}}</ref> |
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Elder John A. Widtsoe wrote of these theories: | Elder John A. Widtsoe wrote of these theories: | ||
− | :From this reference to "the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham," it has been concluded that Elias was a prophet who lived near the time of the patriarch, Abraham. Really, nothing more definite is known about the person Elias and his activity on earth… It should be said that some students believe that Elias who appeared in the Kirtland Temple was Noah, the patriarch. Modern revelation informs us that Elias visited Zacharias to inform him that he should have a son known later as John the Baptist. ({{s||D&C|27|7}}) The Bible says that it was the angel Gabriel who visited Zacharias. ({{b||Luke|1|19}}) Joseph Smith said that Gabriel is Noah. These students conclude therefore, that Elias is another name or title for Noah. This inference may or may not be correct. The name Gabriel may be borne by more than one personage or it may be a title as in the case of Elias. When Elias, the man, lived, and what he did in his life, must for the present remain in the field of conjecture.{{ | + | :From this reference to "the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham," it has been concluded that Elias was a prophet who lived near the time of the patriarch, Abraham. Really, nothing more definite is known about the person Elias and his activity on earth… It should be said that some students believe that Elias who appeared in the Kirtland Temple was Noah, the patriarch. Modern revelation informs us that Elias visited Zacharias to inform him that he should have a son known later as John the Baptist. ({{s||D&C|27|7}}) The Bible says that it was the angel Gabriel who visited Zacharias. ({{b||Luke|1|19}}) Joseph Smith said that Gabriel is Noah. These students conclude therefore, that Elias is another name or title for Noah. This inference may or may not be correct. The name Gabriel may be borne by more than one personage or it may be a title as in the case of Elias. When Elias, the man, lived, and what he did in his life, must for the present remain in the field of conjecture.<ref>{{EaR |start=243|end=244}}</ref> |
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Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery reported a vision in the Kirtland Temple on 3 April 1836 (see D&C 110꞉1-16). They reported that they received priesthood keys from three angelic messengers:
Critics points out that "Elias" is merely the Greek name of the Hebrew prophet "Elijah." Thus, they charge, Joseph Smith made a fatal error by having Elias and Elijah be two different people, when they are in fact one and the same.
To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, [[../CriticalSources|click here]]
Elder McConkie provides a good summary:
It is certainly true that "Elias" is the Greek form of the Hebrew "Elijah." And, there are times within scripture where "Elias" is clearly meant to refer to the Elijah of 1 Kings. (See, for example, Matthew 27:47-49, Romans 11:2, James 5:17).
However, there are also cases when the name "Elias" is applied to someone besides Elijah. For example, Jesus himself applied it to John the Baptist (see Matthew 11:13-15.)
The Hebrew name, often transliterated "Isaiah," Yesha'yah[u] appears in the Hebrew bible on many occasions, but used to denote different "Isaiahs" than the prophet who authored the Book of Isaiah. These names are rendered Esaias in the Septuagint (LXX), and are rendered Jesiah and Jesaiah in the KJV and many other translations of the Old Testament. In D&C 84, Joseph Smith may have used a different transliteration of the Semitic name to differentiate one Isaiah from another. Indeed, we have many New Testament parallels in translation literature, such as the Jude/Judas variant for the same name in the New Testament.
Jesus' use of "Elias" to refer to another forerunner prophet (John the Baptist) illustrates the LDS concept of "Elias" as a calling or name-title for someone in a prepratory role.[2] And, the angel Gabriel applied the "spirit of Elias" to John even prior to his birth. (See Luke 1:15-17.)
The Mount of Transfiguration account (Matthew 17:, Mark 9:, Luke :9) has Jesus speaking to Moses and "Elias." Joseph Smith's translation of the Bible expands upon the concept of "Elias" as name-title:
The JST of Mark makes John the Baptist's appearance explicit:
Interestingly, the LDS Bible Dictionary (prepared under the direction of Elder Bruce R. McConkie) says that "[t]he curious wording of JST Mark 9:3 does not imply that the Elias at the Transfiguration was John the Baptist, but that in addition to Elijah, the prophet, John the Baptist was present."[1]
And, elsewhere, the JST associates the "Elias" role with Jesus himself:
Some critics have seen Joseph's ideas above as completely ad hoc: but, he was not the only one to understand Elias in this sense. Alexander Campbell, a noted American clergyman, wrote an attack on the Book of Mormon in which he expressed a similar idea:
Having shown that "Elias" may refer to someone other than the Hebrew "Elijah," both biblically and in Joseph Smith's thought (see D&C 77꞉9,14 for other uses as forerunner), we can now ask: Who, then, appeared with Elijah and Moses at Kirtland? There are several possible options:
Elias as John the Baptist: this is analogous to the JST usage of the term. However, this seems unlikely given that a previous appearance of John the Baptist identified him as such.(See D&C 13꞉1
Elder Bruce R. McConkie suggested that this Elias was a prophet who lived at the time of Abraham.[4]
Elder McConkie was apparently not wedded to interpretation #2, since he later suggested that this "Elias" might be Abraham himself.[5]
The association of Noah with Elias is based in part upon D&C 27:
Elias is here said to be the person who came to Zacharias to announce the birth of John the Baptist. The angel Gabriel is well known to have been the messenger of John's birth (see Luke 1:19.) Who is Gabriel in LDS thought? Joseph Smith taught that Gabriel was the mortal Noah.[6]
Person | Keys | Mission of the Church? |
---|---|---|
Moses | Gathering of Israel; leading the 10 tribes | Proclaiming the gospel |
Elijah | Turn hearts of the children to the fathers | Redeem the dead via sealing power; vicarious work for the dead |
Elias | Dispensation of the Gospel of Abraham | "Through you [the Church members] all generations after us should be blessed”—Perfecting the Saints, by the restoration of all things in the gospel. This might work well with Noah, who serves as a "second Adam" figure, restoring the human race and its covenant relationship with God after the world was engulfed in wickedness. |
Elder John A. Widtsoe wrote of these theories:
Notes
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