Joseph
Smith introduced the doctrine of the spirit and office of ‘an Elias’, one who
prepares the way (see Joseph Fielding Smith, Editor, Teachings of the
Prophet Joseph Smith (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1976), 335-41.)
This doctrine is unique to Latter-day Saints. Elias is the New Testament form
of Elijah. Both Elijah and John the Baptist were acting in the office and
spirit of an Elias (see inspired version John 1:21-28 and Matthew 17:14). The association
of John the Baptist and the prophet Elijah in the minds of the people can be
seen in the Apostles’ answer to Jesus question “Whom do men say that I the Son
of Man am?” (Matthew 16:13-14). In July 1999 Dr. Mohammed Waheeb wrote
concerning this site: “Not far from the Jordan River, at a distance of one mile
to the east, is the place where the Prophet Elijah was taken into heaven in a
chariot of fire “and it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked
that, behold there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses o fire, which parted them
both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it
and he cried.” (II Kings 2:11-13). The itinerary of the Bordeaux pilgrim
(333 A. D.) mentioned that “From there to the Jordan, where the Lord was
baptized by John, is five miles. Here there is a place by the River, a little
hill on the far bank, where Eljah was caught up into heaven.” The Roman five
miles is equal to four and one-half English miles, the distance from the Dead
Sea up stream to Wadi el-Kharrar in Jordan. Theodosius (530 A.D) say that it
was five Roman miles from the Dead Sea to the place where the Jesus was
baptized, where there was a church of St. John, but it is not clear whether the
church was on the east or west bank of the River. He says explicitly that the
Jesus was baptized on the east site (Jordan) and he refers to the little hill
where Elijah was taken up. Obviously he means the little hill which he called Hermon,
Elijah hill, Jebel MarElyas and recently, Tell el Kharrar. In John 1:28 and
10:40 there is a clear reference to a specific place for John’s work, stating
that he was baptizing in Bethabara or Bethay beyond the Jordan (“John
answered them, saying, I baptize with water: in the midst of you standeth one
whom you know not, even he that cometh after me, the laces of whose shoe I am
not worthy to unloose. These things were done in Bethany beyond Jordan where John
was baptizing”) (John 1:23-29). THE question is: where is Bethany beyond
the Jordan? The town of Lazarus, two miles east of Jerusalem, has been
suggested as Bethany, beyond the Jordan. But the Jordan River is about twenty
miles from this town. Bethany is located in the text on the banks of the Jordan,
and John is said to have baptized there. A team from the Department of Antiquities
of Jordan has conducted emergency surveys and systematic excavations in the
area since March 1997. Archaeological excavations on the southern bank of Wadi
el-Kharrar revealed the presence of several sites, with architectural remains scattered
throughout the area approximately two kilometers to the east of the Jordan River.
The discovered sites consisted of churches, water installations, stepped
cisterns, colored mosaic floors, stone piles, caves and other facilities. The discovered
sites in Wadi el Kharar and the recently excavated sites in Wadi el-Kafrein
will shed light on the importance of the eastern side of the Jordan River
during the early years of Christianity.” What better way could John the Baptist
have taught the principles of his calling of an Elias than by choosing to
preach in the same place as the hill where Elias (Elijah) was taken into Heaven.
It is interesting that Joseph Smith taught the doctrine of an Elias when the knowledge
of the relationship between the place where John the Baptist preached and the
hill where Elias (Elijah) was taken into Heaven was only found in an obscure
text. One has to question if this is more than coincidence. (George Potter and
Richard Wellington, Discovering the Lehi-Nephi Trail: Book of Mormon Explorers
[Nephi Project, 2000], 303-4 n. 11)
Further Reading:
“Elias”
as a “Forerunner” in LDS Scripture
