Elijah Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! == In Christianity == === New Testament === [[File:Intesa elijah.jpg|thumb|A Northern Russian icon from ca. 1290 showing the ascent of Elijah toward heaven]] In the [[New Testament]], [[Jesus]] would say for those who believed, [[John the Baptist]] was Elijah, who would come before the "great and terrible day" as predicted by [[Malachi]]. Some English translations of the New Testament use [[Elias]], a Greek form of the name. In the [[King James Version]], "Elias" appears only in the texts translated from Greek. ==== John the Baptist ==== [[John the Baptist]] preached a message of repentance and baptism. He predicted the day of judgment using imagery similar to that of Malachi. He also preached that the Messiah was coming. All of this was done in a style that immediately recalled the image of Elijah to his audience. He wore a coat of camel's hair secured with a leather girdle.<ref>[[Matthew 3:4]], {{Bibleverse||Mark|1:6|9}}</ref> He also frequently preached in wilderness areas near the Jordan River. In the [[Gospel of John]], when John the Baptist was asked by a delegation of priests (present tense) "Art thou Elias", he replied "I am not".<ref>{{Bibleverse||John|1:21|9}}</ref> Matthew 11:14 and Matthew 17:10–13 however, make it clear that John was the spiritual successor to Elijah. In the [[Nativity of St. John the Baptist]] in Luke, [[Gabriel]] appears to [[Zechariah (priest)|Zechariah]], John's father, and told him that John "will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God," and that he will go forth "in the spirit and power of Elijah."<ref>{{Bibleverse||Luke|1:16–17|9}}</ref> [[File:Transfigurationbloch.jpg|thumb|right|Elijah appears at the [[Transfiguration of Jesus]] (as recounted in {{bibleverse||Matthew|17:1–8|NIV}}, {{bibleverse||Mark|9:2–8|NIV}}, {{bibleverse|Luke|9:28–36|NIV}})]] ==== Transfiguration ==== Elijah makes an appearance in the New Testament during an incident known as the [[Transfiguration of Jesus|Transfiguration]].<ref>{{Bibleverse||Matthew|17:1–13|9}}, {{Bibleverse||Mark|9:2–13|9}} and {{Bibleverse||Luke|9:28–36|9}}</ref> At the summit of an unnamed mount, Jesus' face begins to shine. The disciples who are with Him hear the voice of God announce that Jesus is "My beloved Son." The disciples also see Moses and Elijah appear and talk with Jesus. This apparently relates to how both Elijah and Moses, the latter according to tradition but not the Bible, both were translated to heaven instead of dying. Peter is so struck by the experience that he asks Jesus if they should build three "tabernacles": one for Elijah, one for Jesus and one for Moses.<!-- I know that there has been a tabernacle built, I just need to find a source. --> There is agreement among some Christian theologians that Elijah appears to hand over the responsibility of the prophets to Jesus as the woman by the well said to Jesus "I perceive thou art a prophet."<ref>John 4:19</ref> Moses also likewise came to hand over the responsibility of the law for the divinely announced [[Son of God]].<ref>Albright, W. F. and C. S. Mann. ''The Anchor Bible: Matthew.'' New York: Doubleday, 1971.</ref><ref>Fitzmyer, Joseph A. ''The Anchor Bible: Luke I–IX.'' New York: Doubleday, 1981.</ref> ==== Other references ==== Elijah is mentioned four more times in the New Testament: in Luke, Romans, Hebrews, and James. In Luke 4:24–27, Jesus uses Elijah as an example of rejected prophets. Jesus says, "No prophet is accepted in his own country," and then mentions Elijah, saying that there were many widows in Israel, but Elijah was sent to one in Phoenicia. In Romans 11:1–6, Paul cites Elijah as an example of God's never forsaking his people (the Israelites). Hebrews 11:35 ("Women received their dead raised to life again...") refers to both Elijah raising the son of the widow of Zarephath and Elisha [[Raising of the son of the woman of Shunem|raising the son of the woman of Shunem]], citing both Elijah and Elisha as Old Testament examples of faith.<ref name="HebrewsGill">{{cite news |last=Gill |first=John |title=Hebrews 11:35 |work=biblestudytools.com |url=http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/hebrews-11-35.html |access-date=25 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="HebrewsHenry">{{cite news |last=Henry |first=Matthew |title=Hebrews 11 |work=biblestudytools.com |url=http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/hebrews/11.html |access-date=25 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="HebrewsJamieson">{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David |title=Hebrews 11 |work=biblestudytools.com |url=http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/jamieson-fausset-brown/hebrews/hebrews-11.html |access-date=25 September 2015}}</ref> In James 5:16–18, James says, "The effectual fervent [[prayer]] of a righteous man availeth much," and then cites Elijah's prayers which started and ended the famine in Israel as examples. === Prophet saint === In [[Western Christianity]], Elijah is commemorated as a [[saint]] with a feast day on 20 July by the [[Roman Catholic Church]]<ref>Martyrologium Romanum (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2001 {{ISBN|88-209-7210-7}})</ref> and the [[Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod]].<ref name="Calendar of Saints Lutheran">[[Calendar of Saints (Lutheran)]]</ref> Catholics believe that he was unmarried and celibate.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.holyspiritinteractive.net/questions/whycelibacy.asp |title=Why are Priests Celibate? |date=19 August 2010 |website=Holy Spirit Interactive |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723144201/http://www.holyspiritinteractive.net/questions/whycelibacy.asp |archive-date=23 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><!---most likely NO ONE believes he was married, but don't have general reference---> In the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] and those [[Eastern Catholic Churches]] which follow the [[Byzantine Rite]], he is commemorated on the same date (in the 21st century, [[Julian Calendar]] 20 July corresponds to [[Gregorian Calendar]] 2 August). He is greatly revered among the Orthodox as a model of the [[monasticism|contemplative life]]. He is also commemorated on the [[Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar|Orthodox liturgical calendar]] on the Sunday of the Holy Fathers (the Sunday before the [[Christmas|Nativity of the Lord]]). Elijah has been venerated as the [[patron saint]] of Bosnia and Herzegovina since 26 August 1752,<ref>{{cite web |date=21 July 2012 |title=Sveti Ilija - zaštitnik Bosne i Hercegovine |url=http://www.vecernji.ba/vijesti/sveti-ilija-zastitnik-bosne-hercegovine-clanak-433510 |access-date=2 July 2013 |publisher=vecernji.ba |language=sh}}</ref> replacing [[George of Lydda]] at the request of Bishop [[Pavao Dragičević]]. The reasons for the replacement are unclear. It has been suggested that Elijah was chosen because of his importance to all three main religious groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina—[[Catholicism in Bosnia and Herzegovina|Catholics]], [[Islam in Bosnia and Herzegovina|Muslims]] and [[Eastern Orthodoxy in Bosnia and Herzegovina|Orthodox Christians]].<ref name=Skoko>{{cite web|last=Skoko|first=Iko| title=Sveti Ilija – zaštitnik Bosne i Hercegovine|publisher=Večernji list|date=21 August 2012|url=http://www.vecernji.ba/sveti-ilija-zastitnik-bosne-i-hercegovine-433510|language=sh}}</ref> [[Pope Benedict XIV]] is said to have approved Bishop Dragičević's request with the remark that a wild nation deserved a wild patron.<ref name="Martić">{{cite web|last=Martić|first=Zvonko|title=Sveti Jure i sveti Ilija u pučkoj pobožnosti katolika u Bosni i Hercegovini|publisher=Svjetlo riječi|date=2014|url=http://www.svjetlorijeci.ba/clanak/940/vjera-i-zivot/sveti-jure-i-sveti-ilija-u-puckoj-poboznosti-katolika-u-bosni-i-hercegovini|language=sh|access-date=6 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822004019/http://www.svjetlorijeci.ba/clanak/940/vjera-i-zivot/sveti-jure-i-sveti-ilija-u-puckoj-poboznosti-katolika-u-bosni-i-hercegovini|archive-date=22 August 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Prophet]] Elias is [[Calendar of saints|commemorated]] by the [[Catholic Church]] on 17 June.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eliasz |url=https://deon.pl/imiona-swietych/eliasz,2573 |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=DEON.pl |language=pl}}</ref> He is also [[Calendar of saints|commemorated]] by [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] on April 14 with all saint [[Sinaia Monastery|Sinai]] monks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Пророк Илия́ Фесвитянин |url=https://azbyka.ru/days/sv-ilija-fesvitjanin |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=Православный Церковный календарь |language=ru}}</ref> ==== Carmelite tradition ==== [[file:Augustins - Le Prophète Élie by Marc Arcis.jpg|thumb|left|1690 [[Musée des Augustins]]]] Elijah is revered as the spiritual Father and traditional founder of the Catholic religious Order of [[Carmelites]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ncregister.com/blog/st-elijah-spiritual-father-of-the-carmelite-order |title=St. Elijah, Spiritual Father of the Carmelite Order |publisher=National Catholic Register |date=20 July 2018}}</ref> In addition to taking their name from Mt. Carmel where the first [[hermit]]s of the order established themselves, the Calced Carmelite and [[Discalced Carmelites|Discalced Carmelite]] traditions pertaining to Elijah focus upon the prophet's withdrawal from public life.<ref>Ackerman, Jane. "Stories of Elijah and medieval Carmelite identity." ''History of Religions.'' 35(2). 1995. 124–47.</ref><ref>Ackerman, Jane. ''Elijah Prophet of Carmel.'' Washington, D.C.: Institute of Carmelite Studies Publications, 2003.</ref> The medieval Carmelite [[Book of the First Monks]] offers some insight into the heart of the Orders' contemplative vocation and reverence for the prophet. In the 17th century the [[Bollandist Society]], whose declared aim was to search out and classify materials concerning the saints venerated by the Church, and to print what seemed to be the most reliable sources of information <ref name=Thurston>{{Cite web |url=http://archive.thetablet.co.uk/article/27th-july-1907/6/the-bollandists-and-their-work-by-herbert-thurston |title=Thurston, Herbert. "The Bollandists and Their Work", ''The Tablet'', July 27, 1907 |access-date=16 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331101713/http://archive.thetablet.co.uk/article/27th-july-1907/6/the-bollandists-and-their-work-by-herbert-thurston |archive-date=31 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> entered into controversy with the Carmelites on this point. In writing of St. [[Albert Avogadro|Albert]], Patriarch of Jerusalem and author of the Carmelite rule, the Bollandist [[Daniel Papebroch]] stated that the attribution of Carmelite origin to Elijah was insufficiently grounded. The Carmelites reacted strongly. From 1681 to 1698 a series of letters, pamphlets and other documents was issued by each side. The Carmelites were supported by a Spanish tribunal, while the Bollandists had the support of [[Jean de Launoy]] and the [[University of Paris|Sorbonne]]. In November 1698, [[Pope Innocent XII]] ordered an end to the controversy.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://carmelitenuns.com/Controversies_Oother_Orders.htm| title = "Controversies with Other Orders", The Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel"}}</ref> ==== Liturgical commemorations ==== [[Image:Prophet-Elias-Grk-ikon.png|thumb|Elias on [[Mount Horeb]], as depicted in a [[Greek Orthodox Church|Greek Orthodox]] [[icon]]]] Since most [[Eastern Churches]] either use Greek as their liturgical language or translated their liturgies from the Greek, ''Elias'' (or its modern [[iotacism|iotacized]] form ''Ilias'') is the form of the prophet's name used among most members of the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] and those [[Eastern Catholic Churches]] which follow the [[Byzantine Rite]]. The [[feast day]] of [[Saint]] Elias falls on 20 July of the [[Eastern Orthodox Church liturgical calendar|Orthodox liturgical calendar]] (for those churches which follow the traditional [[Julian Calendar]], 20 July currently falls on 2 August of the modern [[Gregorian Calendar]]). This day is a major holiday in Lebanon and is one of a handful of holidays there whose celebration is accompanied by a launching of fireworks by the general public. The full name of St. Elias in Lebanon translates to St. Elias the Living because it is believed that he did not die but rode his fiery chariot to heaven. The reference to the fiery chariot is likely why the Lebanese celebrate this holiday with fireworks. Elias is also commemorated, together with all of the righteous persons of the Old Testament, on the Sunday of the Holy Fathers (the Sunday before the [[Christmas|Nativity of the Lord]]). The [[Apolytikion]] in the Fourth Tone for St. Elias: <blockquote>The incarnate Angel, the Cornerstone of the Prophets, the second Forerunner of the Coming of Christ, the glorious Elias, who from above, sent down to Elisha the grace to dispel sickness and cleanse lepers, abounds therefore in healing for those who honor him.</blockquote> The [[Kontakion]] in the Second Tone for St. Elias: <blockquote>O Prophet and foreseer of the great works of God, O greatly renowned Elias, who by your word held back the clouds of rain, intercede for us to the only Loving One.</blockquote> ==== {{anchor|Helios}}Pagan associations and mountaintops ==== {{See also|Peryn#The cult of Peroun in Peryn and in Novgorod}} Starting in the fifth century, Elias is often connected with [[Helios]], the Sun. The two words have very similar pronunciations in post-classical Greek; Elijah rode in his chariot of fire to heaven<ref name="2 Kings 2:11"/> just as Helios drove the chariot of the sun across the sky; and the [[Holocaust (sacrifice)|holocaust sacrifice]] offered by Elijah and burned by fire from heaven<ref name="bibleverse|1|Kings|18:38|9">{{bibleverse|1|Kings|18:38|9}}</ref> corresponds to the sun warming the earth.<ref>J. Theodore Bent, "The Sun Myths of Modern Hellas", ''The Antiquary'' '''20''' (1889), p. 10</ref> [[Coelius Sedulius|Sedulius]] writes poetically in the fifth century that the "bright path to glittering heaven" suits Elias both "in merits and name", as changing one letter makes his name "Helios"; but he does not identify the two.<ref>Patrick McBrine, translator, Sedulius' ''Carmen paschale'', lines 184–187 [http://www.pmcbrine.com/translations/sedulius_carmen_paschale/cpbk1.pdf PDF] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715101210/http://www.pmcbrine.com/translations/sedulius_carmen_paschale/cpbk1.pdf |date=15 July 2011 }}</ref> A homily entitled ''De ascensione Heliae'', misattributed to [[Chrysostom]], claims that poets and painters use the ascension of Elijah as a model for their depictions of the sun, and says that "Elijah is really Helios". [[Saint Patrick]] appears to conflate Helios and Elias.<ref>K. Sarah-Jane Murray, ''From Plato to Lancelot: a preface to Chrétien de Troyes'', Syracuse 2008, p. 148 [https://books.google.com/books?id=1DLN3x2lrA8C&pg=PA148 Google Books]</ref> In modern times, much Greek folklore also connects Elias with the sun.<ref>Mary Hamilton, "The Pagan Element in the Names of Saints", ''Annual of the British School at Athens'' '''13''': 348–56 (1907) [https://books.google.com/books?id=K2gKAAAAIAAJ&q=Elias&pg=PA355 Google Books]</ref> In Greece, chapels and monasteries dedicated to Prophet Elias (Προφήτης Ηλίας) are often found on mountaintops, which themselves are often named after him. Since Wachsmuth (1864),<ref>C. Wachsmuth, ''Das alte Griechenland im neuen'', 1864, p. 23, cited by [[Hippolyte Delehaye]], ''The Legends of the Saints: An Introduction to Hagiography'', 1907, p. 174</ref> the usual explanation for this has been that Elias was identified with Helios, who had mountaintop shrines. But few shrines of Helios were on mountaintops, and sun-worship was subsumed by Apollo-worship by Christian times, and so could not be confused with Elias.<ref>Delehaye, p. 174</ref> The modern folklore is not good evidence for the ''origin'' of the association of the sun, Elias, and mountaintops.<ref name="cook"/> Perhaps Elias is simply a "natural patron of high places".<ref>F. Lenormant, ''Monographie de la voie sacrée Éleusinienne'', 1864, p. 452 as quoted by Delehaye, p. 174</ref> The association of Elias with mountaintops seems to come from a different pagan tradition: Elias took on the attributes and the locales associated with [[Zeus]], especially his associations with mountains and his powers over rain, thunder, lightning, and wind. When Elias prevailed over the priests of [[Baal]], it was on [[Mount Carmel]]<ref name="bibleverse|1|Kings|18:38|9"/> which later became known as Mount St. Elias. When he spent forty days in a cave, it was on [[Mount Horeb]].<ref>{{bibleverse|1|Kings|19:8|9}}</ref> When Elias confronted [[Ahab]], he stopped the rains for three years.<ref>{{bibleverse|1|Kings|17:1-18:1|9}}</ref><ref name="cook">[[Arthur Bernard Cook]], ''Zeus: A Study in Ancient Religion'', 1925, p. 178 [https://books.google.com/books?id=9iShet_ZtHAC&pg=PA178 Google Books]</ref> A map of mountain-cults of Zeus shows that most of these sites are now dedicated to Elias, including [[Mount Olympus]], [[Mount Lykaion]], [[Mount Arachnaion]], and [[Mount Taleton]] on the mainland, and [[Mount Kenaion]], [[Mount Oche]], and [[Mount Kynados]] in the islands. Of these, the only one with a recorded tradition of a Helios cult is Mount Taleton.<ref name="cook" /> Elias is associated with pre-Christian lightning gods in many other European traditions. Among Albanians, pilgrimages are made to mountaintops to ask for rain during the summer. One such tradition that is gaining popularity is the 2 August pilgrimage to [[Ljuboten]] on the Sharr mountains. Muslims refer to this day as ''Aligjyn'' ("Ali Day"), and it is believed that Ali becomes Elias at midday.<ref>{{cite book |last=Elsie |first=Robert |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aAtQZ0vjf5gC&q=%22Ali+day%22+Aligjyni&pg=PA7 |title=A Dictionary of Albanian Religion, Mythology, and Folk Culture |publisher=NYU Press |date=2001 |isbn=978-0814722145 |page=7}}</ref> [[File:Ilia chariot.jpg|thumb|This common depiction of the prophet Elijah riding a flaming chariot across the sky resulted in [[syncretism|syncretistic]] folklore among the [[Slavs]] incorporating pre-Christian motifs in the beliefs and rites regarding him in [[Slavic culture]].]] As Elijah was described as ascending into heaven in a fiery chariot, the Christian missionaries who converted [[Slavic tribes]] likely found him an ideal analogy for [[Perun#Post-Christian Perun|Perun]], the supreme [[Slavic mythology#Pantheon|Slavic god]] of storms, thunder and lightning bolts. In many [[Slavic countries]] Elijah is known as Elijah the Thunderer (''Ilija Gromovnik''), who drives the heavens in a chariot and administers rain and snow, thus actually taking the place of [[Perun]] in popular beliefs.<ref>Lenhoff, Gail. "Christian and Pagan Strata in the East Slavic Cult of St. Nicholas: Polemical Notes on Boris Uspenskij's FilologiÄeskie Razyskanija v Oblasti Slavjanskix Drevnostej." The Slavic and East European Journal. (July 1984) 28.2 pp. 147–63.</ref><ref>McLeish, Kenneth. ''Myth: Myths and Legends of the World Explored.'' London: Facts on File, 1996. p. 506.</ref><ref>Cherry Gilchrist, ''Russian Magic: Living Folk Traditions of an Enchanted Landscape'', {{ISBN|0-8356-0874-3}}, pp. 81ff [https://books.google.com/books?id=uMS2ZTuNGQYC&pg=PA82 full text]</ref> Perun is also sometimes conflated with the legendary hero [[Ilya Muromets|Elijah of Murom]].<ref>Mike Dixon-Kennedy, ''Encyclopedia of Russian and Slavic myth and legend'', {{ISBN|1-57607-130-8}}, p. 218, [https://books.google.com/books?id=eD5AkdM83iIC&pg=PA218 full text]</ref><ref name="mw">''Merriam-Webster's encyclopedia of world religions'', {{ISBN|0-87779-044-2}}, ''s.v.'' "Slavic religion" [https://books.google.com/books?id=ZP_f9icf2roC&pg=PA1016 full text]</ref> The feast of St. Elias is known as ''Ilinden'' in [[South Slavic languages|South Slavic]], and was chosen as the day of the [[Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising]] in 1903; it is now the holiday of [[Republic Day (North Macedonia)|Republic Day]] in [[North Macedonia]]. In [[Estonian folklore]] Elijah is considered to be the successor of [[Ukko]], the lightning spirit.<ref name="mw"/> In [[Georgian mythology]], he replaces [[Elwa]].<ref name="mw"/><!-- can't find corroboration of this figure elsewhere--> A Georgian story about Elijah: <blockquote>Once [[Jesus]], the prophet Elijah, and St. George were going through [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]. When they became tired and hungry they stopped to dine. They saw a Georgian shepherd and decided to ask him to feed them. First, Elijah went up to the shepherd and asked him for a sheep. After the shepherd asked his identity Elijah said that, he was the one who sent him rain to get him a good profit from farming. The shepherd became angry at him and told him that he was the one who also sent thunderstorms, which destroyed the farms of poor widows. (After Elijah, Jesus and St. George attempt to get help and eventually succeed).<ref name="Gabidzashvili">Gabidzashvili, Enriko. 1991. ''Saint George: In Ancient Georgian Literature''. Armazi – 89: Tbilisi, Georgia.</ref> </blockquote> Among other peoples of the Caucasus, including the [[Ossetians]] and [[Kabardians]], Elijah is understood as a kind of [[Uacilla|thunder-divinity named Uac-illa]], Ilia, or Yeli, and was traditionally invoked in "choppa" ritual associated with lightning strikes and certain mental illnesses.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Tuite |first=Kevin |date=2004 |title=Lightning, Sacrifice, and Possession in the Traditional Religions of the Caucasus |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/40466310 |journal=Anthropos |volume=99 |issue=1 |pages=143–159 |jstor=40466310 |issn=0257-9774}}</ref> If a person or animal was struck by lightning, a [[circle dance]] was performed immediately around the site, even if the storm was still ongoing, and Elijah's name was invoked alongside a nonsense word "choppa" or "coppay". If the victim had died, their family were forbidden from grieving and were required to bury them where they fell instead of in the village cemetery. If the victim survived, their lives were dedicated to Elijah: human survivors were prophets, while animals were released with a mark so that others would know not to take them home. In other versions of this tradition, the one venerated was not Elijah, but other traditional thunder-divinities like Shyble (Щыблэ), Afy (Афы), or Antswa (Анцуа). Elias has other pagan associations: a modern legend about Elias mirrors precisely the legend of [[Odysseus]] seeking a place where the locals would not recognize an oar—hence the mountaintops.<ref>Arthur Bernard Cook, ''Zeus: A Study in Ancient Religion'', p. 171</ref> === The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints=== [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] acknowledges Elijah as a prophet. The Church teaches that the Malachi prophecy of the return of Elijah was fulfilled on 3 April 1836, when Elijah visited the prophet and founder of the church, [[Joseph Smith]], along with [[Oliver Cowdery]], in the [[Kirtland Temple]] as a [[resurrection|resurrected]] being.<ref>{{citation |last=Petersen |first=Mark E. |author-link=Mark E. Petersen |title=The Mission of Elijah |journal=[[Ensign (LDS magazine)|Ensign]] |date=August 1981 |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1981/08/the-mission-of-elijah?lang=eng }}</ref> This event is chronicled in {{lds|Doctrine and Covenants|dc|110|13|16}}. This experience forms the basis for the church's focus on genealogy and family history and belief in the eternal nature of marriage and families. In [[Latter-day Saint theology]], the name-title Elias is not always synonymous with Elijah and is often used for people other than the biblical prophet.<ref>{{citation |last=Perkins |first=Keith W. |author-link=Keith W. Perkins |title=I Have a Question: How can Elias, who appeared with Moses on the Mount of Transfiguration, be identified as both the Old Testament prophet Elijah and as John the Baptist? |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1999/07/i-have-a-question/i-have-a-question?lang=eng |date=July 1999 |journal=Ensign }}</ref> According to Joseph Smith, <blockquote>The spirit of Elias is first, Elijah second, and Messiah last. Elias is a forerunner to prepare the way, and the spirit and power of Elijah is to come after, holding the keys of power, building the Temple to the capstone, placing the seals of the Melchizedek Priesthood upon the house of Israel, and making all things ready; then Messiah comes to His Temple, which is last of all.<ref>{{cite book |last=Smith | first=Joseph Jr. |author-link=Joseph Smith |editor-last=Smith |editor-first=Joseph Fielding |editor-link=Joseph Fielding Smith |title=Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith |publisher=[[Deseret Book]] |location=Salt Lake City |orig-year=1938 |year=1976 |isbn=978-0-87579-243-9 |oclc=22984603|title-link=Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (book) }} p. 340</ref></blockquote> People to whom the title Elias is applied in Mormonism include [[Noah]], the angel [[Gabriel]] (who is considered to be the same person as Noah in Mormon doctrine), Elijah, [[John the Baptist]], [[John the Apostle]], and an unspecified man who was a contemporary of [[Abraham]].<ref name="urlElias">{{citation |contribution-url= http://lds.org/scriptures/bd/elias?lang=eng |contribution= Elias |title= Bible Dictionary, KJV (LDS) |publisher= [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] }}</ref> Detractors of Mormonism have often alleged that Smith, in whose time and place the King James Version was the only available English translation of the Bible, simply failed to grasp the fact that the Elijah of the Old Testament and the Elias of the New Testament are the same person.<ref name=burton74/> Latter-day Saints deny this and say that the difference they make between the two is deliberate and prophetic. The names Elias and Elijah refer to one who prepares the way for the coming of the Lord. This is applicable to John the Baptist coming to prepare the way for the Lord and His baptism; it also refers to Elijah appearing during the transfiguration to prepare for Jesus by restoring keys of sealing power.<ref name=burton74>{{citation |last=Burton |first=Theodore M. Burton |author-link=Theodore M. Burton |title=The Power of Elijah |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1974/05/the-power-of-elijah?lang=eng |date=May 1974 |journal=Ensign }}</ref> Jesus then gave this power to the Twelve saying, "Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."<ref>{{bibleverse||Matthew|18:18|9}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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