Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 1:17

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 1:17
"And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

This reminded me of this verse known so well regarding family history work and the redemption of the dead.

"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
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."
(Malachi 4:5-6)

John had the power of Elias to prepare the way of the Lord. Elijah also had a role to play in preparing for the great and dreadful day of the Lord. Did both of these roles include the redemption of the dead? We know they practiced this in the early church.

"Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?"
(1 Corinthians 15:29)

I wonder if John was the one to establish baptism for the living and the dead?

Day 4098

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 27:7

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 27:7
"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;"

I am always fascinated with angel's names and who they are identified as when living on the earth. The footnote takes me to Luke 1:17-19, where an angel that appeared to Zacharias is called Gabriel, here we also know he was an Elias. Elias as a title can be a forerunner or restorer. There was also a man named Elias that appears to have lived in the time of Abraham but those scriptures are lost to us.

"Elias came and restored the gospel of Abraham. Who was Elias? That question is frequently asked. Well, Elias was Noah (D&C 110:12) who came and restored his keys. [Footnote: "The priesthood was first given to Adam; he obtained the First Presidency and held the keys of it from generation to generation. He obtained it in the Creation, before the world was formed, as in Gen. 1:26, 27, 28. He had dominion given him over every living creature. He is Michael the Archangel, spoken of in the scriptures. Then to Noah, who is Gabriel; he stands next in authority to Adam in the priesthood; he was called of God to this office, and was the father of all living in his day, and to him was given dominion. These men held keys first on earth, and then in heaven." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, page 157) It was Gabriel who appeared to Zacharias and promised him a son, and who appeared to Mary and announced the coming of the Son of God as recorded by Luke. It was also Gabriel as an Elias who is mentioned in the Doctrine and Covenants, section 27, verse 7. It was Gabriel, or Noah, who stands next to Michael or Adam in the priesthood.]"
(Joseph Fielding Smith, "Joseph Smith's First Prayer", April 1960 General Conference)

The angel Gabriel also appeared to Mary.
"And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary."
(Luke 1:26, 27)

Elias also appeared to Joseph Smith, Jr, and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple on April 3, 1836.
"After this, Elias appeared, and committed the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham, saying that in us and our seed all generations after us should be blessed."
(Doctrine and Covenants 110:12)

"And again, the voice of God in the chamber of old Father Whitmer, in Fayette, Seneca county, and at sundry times, and in divers places through all the travels and tribulations of this Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! And the voice of Michael, the archangel; the voice of Gabriel, and of Raphael, and of divers angels, from Michael or Adam down to the present time, all declaring their dispensation, their rights, their keys, their honors, their majesty and glory, and the power of their priesthood; giving line upon line, precept upon precept; here a little, and there a little; giving us consolation by holding forth that which is to come, confirming our hope!"
(Doctrine and Covenants 128:21)

Day 3616

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Thessalonians 1:5

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Thessalonians 1:5
"For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake."

That power comes from priesthood authority. Paul was an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. Those same keys were given to this dispensation.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:“The true gospel consists of two things: The Word, and The Power. Anyone can have the word; the books in which it is written are universally available. But the power must come from God; it is and must be dispensed according to his mind and his will to those who abide the law entitling them to receive it. The word of the gospel is the spoken or written account of what men must do to be saved. …“But actual salvation comes only when the power of God is received and used; and this power is the power of the priesthood and the power of the Holy Ghost. These must operate in the lives of men; otherwise their souls cannot be cleansed; they cannot be born again; they cannot become new creatures of the Holy Ghost; they cannot put off the natural man and become saints; they cannot be sanctified by the Spirit”
(Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [1965–73], 3:42–43).
(New Testament Student Manual, "Chapter 46: 1 Thessalonians and 2 Thessalonians")

Those priesthood keys were restored by heavenly messengers to the prophet Joseph Smith. First, came John the Baptist and the restoration of the Aaronic priesthood. Then came Peter, James and Johns to restore the Melchizedek priesthood. Followed by Moses committing the keys of the gathering of Israel, Elias the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham, and Elijah with the sealing power. All I know is belonging to a church that holds these priesthood keys. I am so grateful for the blessing it has brought into my life.

Day 3271

Today's Favorite Verse: Mark 9:9-10

Today's Favorite Verse: Mark 9:9-10

"And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.

And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean."

Jesus took Peter, James and John with him to the mount of transfiguration. They saw Elias and Moses, they heard God the Father say "This is my beloved Son: hear him". They saw and heard much but didn't understand what Jesus meant that he would be risen from the dead.

"For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead."

(John 20:9)

They knew this event would happen but didn't understand how or why. It made me ponder on how it is like us with Jesus' second coming. We know there are prophesies but we don't understand how they will all come about. It's OK not to know all the details.

"For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.

But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him."

(Mark 9:31-32)

Yet, the Lord knew what they were thinking. It shows it in this chapter when the apostles disputed amongst themselves who would be the greatest. They didn't tell him that is what they were discussing, but he answered their question anyways. The Lord could have just as easily explained every part of this death and resurrection that was to take place, but he didn't. There must be something to the experience of recognizing a prophesy fulfilled when it has happened.

Day 3125

Today's Favorite Verse: Genesis 8:9

Today's Favorite Verse: Genesis 8:9

"But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark."

I pondered on how the ark was Noah and his family's place of security. The world at the moment was not a safe place. I then thought about the dove and Noah putting forth his hand, and taking her, and pulling her into him in the ark. There is some symbolism here. I went on a wonderful adventure searching in the scriptures and bible dictionary about the Holy Ghost, sign of the dove, the doctrine of Elias, baptism of the earth, and so many other things. It was just wonderful reading all these different subjects as the spirit guided me. Now I come back to writing about it. I have to say I have no conclusion on all the symbolism and its meaning. But, I do know when I am ready to understand all these wonderful pieces will fit together. It is so exciting to see this process taking shape.

Day 2167

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 1:17

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 1:17
"And he shall go before him in spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared fro the Lord."

I hadn't noticed before the part of "turn the hearts of the fathers to the children". I sounded like Elijah's mission. I looked at the footnote it even said "This is the Greek form of the Hebrew name, Elijah."  Yet, I knew John the Baptist was an Elias (preparer/forerunner) and not Elijah. So I turned to this wonderful April 1965 General Conference talk by Theodore M. Burton, "The Work of Elijah". I will just quote it.

"Because of a misunderstanding of Luke 1:17, which states that the child later to be named John the Baptist would come in the spirit and power of Elias to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children many persons have thought that John the Baptist who held the office of an Elias, or messenger, was the Elijah who was to return. This verse explains that John's work was a preparatory work to "make ready a people prepared for the Lord" and not the work of sealing or completion, which keys Elijah held. When John was bluntly asked the question, he said:"

. . . I am not the Christ.

"And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias [Elijah]? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No" 

This, of course, had to be true, for the prophecy stated that Elijah the Prophet should return before the second coming of the Lord, when Jesus was to come in great power, majesty, and glory as judge of all the earth. The mission of Elias held by John the Baptist comes first, and so just as John came before Elijah in the days of Jesus Christ, so John came before Elijah in these latter days to restore the preparatory Aaronic Priesthood before the greater power in the priesthood was given."

Day 1549