Elijah was an important Israelite prophet whose name in Hebrew means "My Lord is Jehovah" . Eliljah lived during the first half of the 9th century, BCE. His first recorded appearance is about halfway through the rein of King Ahab, son of Omri, (who founded the northern kingdom in Samaria) which would put him at about 864 BCE.Elijah is regarded as a "reformer prophet" - his purpose was to call the Israelites back to the worship of Yahweh and away from the evil pagan religious cults that were growing in popularity. The conflicts between Elijah and the Priests of Baal are struggles to see which was stronger: Hebrew monotheism or Pagan polytheism.
According to 2 Kings, Elijah was taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire. Jewish tradition has it then that Elijah is not really dead-- some say he continues to wander the earth and will reappear when it is time to announce the arrival of the Messiah. For this reason many early Christians identified John the Baptist with Elijah, because John announced the arrival of Jesus.
(From Profile & Biography of Elijah, Old Testament Prophet & Biblical Figure by Austin Cline which can be found HERE)
In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we recognize Elijah as the Prophet who held the sealing power to bind on earth and have it bound in heaven.
In Malachi 4:5-6 it 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 hearts of the fathers to their children, and the children to their fathers, least I come and smite the earth with a curse."
Many leaders in our church have taught powerful lessons about "the Spirit of Elijah", referring to the privilege and responsibility we have to seek out information about our kindred dead and act as "Saviors on Mount Zion" in their behalf through sacred temple covenants. (See Priceless Riches of the Holy Temple by Harold B. Lee HERE)
I have been richly blessed by a burning desire to learn more about my family and to complete temple ordinances in their behalf. This blog will be my record of my ongoing search for new ways to find family information and a place to keep links to the various resources I turn up.
Photo Credit: Elisha Watches as Elijah is Taken Up in a Whirlwind by Dore' Gustave found HERE
Additional References:
Hearts Bound Together - by Henry B. Eyring May 2005
The Spirit of Elijah - by Gordon B. Hinkley Nov 1996
The Spirit of Elijah - by Russell M. Nelson Nov 1994
The Mission of Elijah - by Mark E. Peterson Aug 1981
Elijah the Prophet - by Howard W. Hunter December 1971
