The Mystery of Elias Revealed

From the Bible Dictionary we learn that Elias is a title and refers to a variety of individuals who have held specific roles and missions in the establishment of God's Kingdom here on the earth. Elias is a Forerunner, a Preparer of that which is to come, and a Restorer of that which once was, and is to be again.

Elias's in Chronological Order

Noah (The Angel Gabriel): He who "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 the dominion. These men held keys first on earth, and then in heaven" (HC vol 3. ch 26. pg 385).

Gabriel was sent as an Elias (D&C 27:7) to Zacharias, a priest of Aaron, who was serving in the temple burning the holy incense and offering prayers unto God. Gabriel appeared on the right side of the altar of incense and there gave prophecy that Zacharias would bear a child, and his name would be John and would be given one of the missions of Elias "to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord (Luke 1:5, 8-25,57-80).

He was also sent to Mary to announce that she would bear the Christ child (Luke 1:26-56)

He was also probably the angel sent to Joseph in various dreams to provide reassurance and direction on how to protect the Christ child from evil forces (Matt 1:20-25; 2:13-15, 19-23).

He was probably also the angel who warned the wise men in a dream to depart another way after visiting the Christ child (Matt 2:12).

And as a continuation of his forerunner Elias mission, was also probably the angel who ordained John at 8 days old (the day of his circumcision and naming ceremony) "to overthrow the kingdom of the Jews, and to make straight the way of the Lord before the face of his people, to prepare them for the coming of the Lord, in whose hand is given all power" (D&C 84:27-28). And then once John was baptized when 8 years old, (D&C 84:28; JST Gen 17:11) Gabriel was probably the angel that instructed him to baptize as he (John) had been baptized and gave him this knowledge whereby he might know the Son of Man: "Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he who baptizeth with the Holy Ghost" (JST John 1:31-34).


Esaias: A High Priest and Prophet who lived in the days of Abraham, and who was ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood under the hand of God (D&C 84:11-13). Esaias was also blessed of Abraham and very well could've been given the keys of the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham (which is that through the continuation and bestowal of the Priesthood of God from one High Priest to the next, all the families of the earth who receive the gospel will be blessed and will have opportunity to be heirs of the kingdom of God and partakers of all the blessings associated with that kingdom (D&C 132:28-32; Abr 2:9-11). Esaias ordained Gad to this priesthood, who ordained Jeremy, who ordained Elihu, who ordained Caleb, who ordained Jethro, who ordained Moses (D&C 84:6-11). On April 3rd, 1836, an Elias figure (possibly Esaias in this instance) appeared unto Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdry in the Kirtland Temple and committed unto them "the dispensation of gospel of Abraham, saying that in [them] and [their] seed all generations after [them] should be blessed" (D&C 110:12).


Elijah: A prophet feared by many in his day because of the mighty works wrought among the children of men (1 Kings 17 - 2 Kings 2). To him was given the sealing power, to seal on earth and in heaven. He was the last man who held this power until the days of Christ. This power enabled him to seal up the heavens so that it did not rain for 3.5 years (Luke 4:25-26; 1 Kings 17:1, 9-24; James 5:17-18). This power also included with it the the spirit and mission of Elias "to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make read a people prepared for the Lord" (Luke 1:17; Mal 4:5-6; D&C 2:1-3; 27:9; 110:13-16; 128:17-18). Because of his unforgettable accession into heaven via a chariot of fire, and Malachi's prophesy that he would come again to the earth, many awaited his coming anxiously and even continue to set out a chair for him to this day. And come he did, not just once, but twice as is recorded. He came to the Mount of Transfiguration as an Elias figure and as a translated being, and bestowed this sealing power upon Peter, James, and John (Matt 17:1-9; Mark 9:2-9). He later came to the Kirtland Temple on April 3rd, 1836 as Elijah to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdry and bestowed this sealing power upon them to enable them to begin again the work of baptizing for the dead to create a welding link between all the generations of the earth (D&C 110:13-16). Another one of Elijah's roles was to make intercession to God against Israel (Romans 11:2-4; 1 Kings 19:10-14).


John, Son of Zacharias, The Prophet of the Highest (also known as The Baptist): His mission as an Elias was very specific as he was to prepare the way before the Lord, make straight his way, and to begin to build up followers that would follow Christ (Matt 11:7-11; JST Matt 11:15; JST Matt 17:11-14; Mark 9:11; JST Mark 9:12-13; JST John 1:6-8,15,20-22). As an Elias he was received by only a few and rejected by many. It was prophesied that he would go forth in the spirit and power of an Elias to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children via baptism for the remission of sins (Luke 1:13-17, 76-80; D&C 27:7). He baptized many, including the Son of God and preached that Christ would come as an Elias to restore all things (JST John 1:20-22, 26-28). Although he baptized many, Christ baptized more, and his disciples baptized even more than Christ (JST John 4:1-4). After his death, he came as a translated being to the Mount of Transfiguration to ordain Peter, James, and John to the Aaronic Priesthood (Mark 9:2-3, 5-9; JST Mark 9:4). He later came on May 15, 1829 to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery on the banks of the Susquehanna River to restore the Aaronic Priesthood to them (D&C 13:1; D&C 27:8).


Jesus Christ: In addition to the Elias who would come to prepare the way of the Lord was an Elias who would come to restore all things. John taught that this was Christ (JST John 1:21-22, 26-30).


John the Beloved, (also known as The Revelator): In addition to John's calling to write many things pertaining to the last days, was his calling to be an Elias to gather together the twelve tribes of Israel and restore all things. In the 10th Chapter of Revelations, John was given a little book to eat and was instructed that he would prophesy again among many people, nations, tongues, and kings the things contained therein (Rev 10:1-11). We learn from D&C 77:14 that John eating up this book was his acceptance of the calling to be an Elias to gather the tribes of Israel and restore all things. This is further mentioned in the 7th chapter of Revelations where John comes as The Angel from the East to gather and seal up the twelve tribes of Israel prior to the earth being refined by the 4 angels of each quarter of the earth (Rev 7:1-9; D&C 77:9). We also learn that this Elias who is to gather the twelve tribes of Israel, has been given "the keys to bring to pass the restoration of all things spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began, concerning the last days" (D&C 27:6).


Joseph Smith: Along with Jesus Christ and John the Revelator acting in the mission of Elias to restore all things, Joseph Smith was also given this role to restore all things and received keys and power from previous prophets through a variety of heavenly interactions to do so (D&C 132:40,45; D&C 13, 20, 27, and 110). Of special note is the description of the sealing power and what it really entails as received under the hand of Elijah in the Kirtland Temple (D&C 132:46-48; D&C 110:13-16).


Additional Notes About Elias:
1. He was present in the spirit world when the Lord came to organize his leaders to preach the gospel to them which were spirits (D&C 138:38-60). This was the same Elias as on the Mount of Transfiguration. Elijah was also present in both instances, meaning that this Elias was John the Baptist.
2. Elias was a figure well-known and talked about among the Jews.
3. Elias was thought to be a savior figure (Matt 27:46-49; Mark 15:34-36).
4. Elias was often seen as not from of this earth as he was given powers over earthly elements, including death, and did things that the people could not understand, and prophets including Christ were often thought of to be the return of Elias, since many of their prophets would disappear from among the people and not come back (Moses, Elijah, etc.) (Mark 6:14-16; Mark 8:27-29; Matt 16:13-16; Luke 9:7-9).
5. Many to this day claim to be followers of Elias and some of the other prophets, even though they never have received the gospel, the prophets, nor the everlasting covenant (D&C 76:98-101).