1 Nephi 10:7-10

[HoosierGuy]

1 Nephi 10:7-10

7 And he spake also concerning a prophet who should come before the Messiah, to prepare the way of the Lord—

8 Yea, even he should go forth and cry in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight; for there standeth one among you whom ye know not; and he is mightier than I, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose. And much spake my father concerning this thing.

9 And my father said he should baptize in Bethabara, beyond Jordan; and he also said he should baptize with water; even that he should baptize the Messiah with water.

10 And after he had baptized the Messiah with water, he should behold and bear record that he had baptized the Lamb of God, who should take away the sins of the world.

QUOTES FOR DISCUSSION

Jesus [taught]—“Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist….” How is it that John was considered one of the greatest prophets?...
First. He was entrusted with a divine mission of preparing the way before the face of the Lord…
Secondly. He was entrusted with the important mission…to baptize the Son of Man…
Thirdly. John, at that time, was the only legal administrator in the affairs of the kingdom there was then on the earth, and holding the keys of power.
Joseph Smith, Teachings, 275-276<O:p</O:p

[Hemidakota]

Who baptized John the Baptist?

[Hemidakota]

Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 1 by Robert L. Millet, Joseph Fielding McConkie stated:

A prophet who should come before the Messiah] Lehi's designation of John as a prophet certified that indeed the Baptist knew, by the witness of the Spirit, that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ. Whereas modern divines cast doubt on this issue, ancient prophets spoke with certitude. Jesus taught that "among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist" (Luke 7:28). Joseph Smith asked: "How is it that John was considered one of the greatest prophets?" Then the Latter-day Seer answered: "First. He was entrusted with a divine mission of preparing the way before the face of the Lord. Whoever had such a trust committed to him before or since? No man. Secondly. He was entrusted with the important mission, and it was required at his hands, to baptize the Son of Man. Whoever had the honor of doing that? Whoever had so great a privilege and glory? ... Thirdly. John, at that time, was the only legal administrator in the affairs of the kingdom there was then on the earth, and holding the keys of power." (Teachings, pp. 275-76.)

John, the son of Zacharias and Elizabeth, was the walking embodiment, the personification of the Law of Moses: as the Law was sent to prepare a people for Christ, so a mortal messenger was sent to herald His advent; John's role in life was to school and prepare the people for a greater revelation, even the coming of Him of which all things-above and below and upon the earth-bore witness. John ministered in the spirit of Elias and thus did not transcend his bounds-he deferred constantly to the Bridegroom and bore repeated testimony that redemption was in and through Him and Him alone.

Prepare ye the way of the Lord] Lehi came to know by revelation that John would quote from Isaiah (Isaiah 40:3) regarding the coming of the Lord. He also came to know (perhaps by vision) of John the Baptist's specific language (cf. Matthew 3:11). Words yet to be spoken by the spirit of prophecy are here manifest by that same spirit.

He should baptize in Bethabara] The particulars of this incident (the baptism of Jesus at Bethabara) are given in the first chapter of John's Gospel (see also JST). The exact location of Bethabara is unknown, although traditionally Bethabara is thought to be near Jericho.

He should baptize the Messiah with water] See 2 Nephi 31:4-12.

He ... baptized the Lamb of God] John saw the heavens open, witnessed the descent of the Holy Ghost, observed the sign of the dove as an attestation of the truth and virtue of the ordinance performed, and heard the voice of the Eternal Father bearing record of the divine Sonship of Christ. These were signs-visible spiritual evidences-that truly he had baptized the Son of the Man of Holiness. (See John 1; Teachings, pp. 275-76.)