In a sermon on the Aaronic Priesthood (October 9, 1880), John Taylor evidences a knowledge of OT Elijah and NT Elias being one and the same person, as well as recognition that the “Elias” who appeared to Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration was not John the Baptist but the OT Elijah, the same person who appeared in the Kirtland Temple in fulfillment of Mal 4:4-5:
John the Baptist came as the
forerunner of Christ, and baptized him as stated. "Then cometh Jesus from
Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbade him,
saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering
said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all
righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up
straightway out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he
saw the spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: and lo, a
voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased."--Matt. iii, 1347. On inquiry being made, Jesus said of John the
Baptist, "Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women, there
hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist; notwithstanding he that is
least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."--Matt. xi, 11. Again
Jesus said, "And if ye will receive it, this is Elias which was for to
come. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." (vers. 14, 15.) But they
would not receive it: they beheaded John and crucified Jesus; hence the
restoration, the mission of Elias was postponed until he appeared to Joseph
Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple. (Doc. and Cov. Sec. cx, p.
405.) At which time Elijah came, as Malachi says: "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 the fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a
curse."--Mal. iv, 5, 6. (John Taylor, Items
on Priesthood Presented to the Latter-day Saints [Salt Lake City:
Deseret News Company, 1881], 16)
Further Reading
