Thursday, January 12, 2023

Ernest Eberhard, Jr. on Moses and OT Elijah, not John the Baptist, Appearing on the Mount of Transfiguration

  

The apostles saw two other personages, also clothed in glory. These they learned were Moses and Elijah. Peter and his fellow apostles were confused and frightened. Bewildered and not knowing what to do or say, Peter suggested, “Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.” (Luke 9:33.) It is supposed that it was his desire to prolong the visitation by providing a little bower into which each could go for individual devotions.

 

But the visitation had not yet reached its climax, for “behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” When the apostles heard the voice of God, they fell prostrate to the ground. Jesus came over and touched them, saying, “Arise, and be not afraid.” When they looked up, they found themselves alone again with the Lord.

 

As may well be imagined, the apostles never forgot the events of the Transfiguration, but they were warned to tell no one until the Savior had risen from the dead. Slowly they were beginning to understand that their beloved Master was to “suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed.” (Mark 8:31.) But even so, they seemed to have no clearer understanding of the resurrection than they had had before. “And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.” (Mark 9:10.)

 

After the Savior’s ascension, Peter told the whole Church of this experience. (Read 2 Peter 1:16-18.) John also so testified, “and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14.)

 

This visitation was a source of strength to Jesus, who most likely felt somewhat depressed and disheartened by what we knew was about to happen. The mortal part of his soul needed to be strengthened. As after the forty-day fast and temptation and during his agony in Gethsemane, personages from the heavens came to comfort and support him. All that was actually discussed during the Transfiguration is not known.

 

God had spoken to the three apostles rather than to Jesus. He had put beyond the shadow of doubt the authentic nature of the Savior’s ministry. Moses, the giver of the Law, and Elijah, one of the greatest of prophets, had been seen ministering unto Jesus and serving under him. The words “Hear ye him” had established a new dispensation of the gospel, for which the law of Moses had dispensation of the gospel, for which the law of Moses had been but a preparation. The apostles were to now consider themselves under the direction of Jesus, not Moses and Elijah.

 

One thing greatly bothered the apostles. All of their lives, they had heard that Elijah would come before the appearance of the Messiah. As they walked down the mountainside, they asked him, “Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?” (Read Matt. 17:10-13.) Gabriel had announced to Zacharias, before John’s birth, that his son should be that particular Elias who would be a forerunner for Jesus. The angel’s statement that the unborn John should manifest “the spirit and power of Elias” (Luke 1;17) indicates that Elias is also the title of an office, a forerunner, a restorer or one sent to prepare the way for a new dispensation. It is both a name and a title and should be considered as such, depending on the situation.

 

In the dispensation of the fulness of times both Elias, who belonged to the Abrahamic dispensation, and also the prophet Elijah, have appeared in person and have conferred their separate authority upon latter-day bearers of the holy priesthood. The keys of the powers they exercised are found today in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

 

The calling of Elias is a function of the Aaronic Priesthood. That of Elijah belongs to the Melchizedek Priesthood. John the Baptist restored the keys of the Aaronic Priesthood on May 15, 1829. On April 3, 1836, Elijah appeared in the Kirtland Temple and committed the keys of the priesthood power vested in him to the same two men on whom John the Baptist had conferred his keys, namely Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. The great dreadful day of the Lord which Malachi predicted had been ushered in. It was not yet here, but was now even at the doors. (Ernest Eberhard, Jr., I am the Way [n.p., Ernest Eberhard, Jr., 1978], 146-49)

 

Further Reading:

 

“Elias” as a “Forerunner” in LDS Scripture

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