Mt Of Transfigureation

[Nate]

So according to modern day revelation on the Mt of transfigureation We know of two visitors Moses and Elijah. They were transfigured so that they could administer by the laying on of hads for that ordinence. We also know through the Prophet Joseph Smith that John the Baptist was in attendence. My question is what function could he have had because he was a disembodied spirit?

[CrimsonKairos]

Christ was the first to be resurrected. Resurrection is the inseparable joining of the spiritual and physical bodies.

What if John the Baptist had been temporarily resurrected in order to be able to lay hands on Peter, James and John for some purpose? Think of a temporary resurrection as a reverse translation... :) After the encounter at the transfiguration Mt. our friend John the Baptist had his spirit separated from his "temporarily resurrected" physical body, awaiting the resurrection of Christ?

Good question Nate. I'm sure there's something I've read about this that I can't put my finger on. Anyone else?

[Nate]

Perhaps, and of course this is speculation unless someone has some reference that can clear things up. Im not sure if John could of had the temp ressurection cause Christ had not yet broke the bands and overcame death. When ever there are messengers there always seems to be Keys associated with that being. Moses and Elijah are givens but what keys would John have. Yes he was a forerunner but he was preforming ordinances in the flesh almost a couple months earlier. Perhaps he was a familiar face or even a precence of comfort for such and incredibly intense spiritual experience?. Duno, anyone have anything.

[Rosewood]

All I know, other than the scriptures is Jesus the Christ by Talmage ch. 23, plus the great notes at the end of the chptr. I could only find the audio file on lds.org.

[Nate]

If you do a google book search you can find Jesus The Christ which I just read on the Transfiguration. Talmage does not even refer to John in the whole experience but the JST in Mark

4a JST Mark 9: 3 . . . or in other words, John the Baptist and Moses . . .

includes John with Elijah and Moses. Whats up with that

[Nate]

Mark 9: 2-10; Luke 9: 28-36

here are the scriptures, interesting that Mark has the JST and Luke does not nor in Luke does it mention John. Anyone have a NT study manual that we can get some insight to this?

[boyando]

Not having done any research on the matter, these are just thoughts that have popped into my head.

We know that there was a prophet named Elijah and we know that there were many Prophets, including John the Baptiste, that have the title of Elijah. This is a stretch, but what if all the Elijah's, had to be there to act as special witnesses?

Or could it have been for training for the future. Could this have been a good time to practice for Adam-ondi-ahman.

Off the top of my head, I can think of a dozen reasons John was there. None with any real backing, so I look forward to other's ideas on the subject.

Looking forward to everyones thoughts - allmosthumble

[Nate]

I think you mean Elias as a tital. John the Baptist, Noah, and someone Im drawing a blank on were "Elias". There was also a prophet named Elias and Elijah the tishbite.

[Guest Ajax]

So according to modern day revelation on the Mt of transfigureation We know of two visitors Moses and Elijah. They were transfigured so that they could administer by the laying on of hads for that ordinence. We also know through the Prophet Joseph Smith that John the Baptist was in attendence. My question is what function could he have had because he was a disembodied spirit?

My question would be did Christ touch stones and make them shine for the BoJ when disembodied? Why would it be necessary to be embodied?

[Nate]

For the same reason Elijah and Moses did not die and were translated. They needed a body for hand to head touch. The same in the Kirtland temple and the restoring of the Aaronic and Melchezdic, you either needed resurrected beings or ones with a translated body.

The event is important in many ways: Necessary priesthood authority was conferred upon Peter, James, and John; the significance of the Savior’s work was emphasized; and the unity of various dispensations and the close relationship of Jesus and his prophets was demonstrated. Few events in the Bible equal it in importance. A similar event occurred on April 3, 1836, in the temple at Kirtland, Ohio, where the same heavenly messengers conferred priesthood keys upon the Prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery (D&C 110).

Bible dictionary

As was the case with many of the ancient prophets, Moses’ ministry extended beyond the limits of his own mortal lifetime. In company with Elijah, he came to the Mount of Transfiguration and bestowed keys of the priesthood upon Peter, James, and John (Matt. 17: 3-4; Mark 9: 4-9; Luke 9: 30; D&C 63: 21; HC 3: 387). From this event, which occurred before the resurrection of Jesus, we understand that Moses was a translated being, and had not died as reported in Deut. 34 (Alma 45: 19). It was necessary that he be translated, in order to have a body of flesh and bones at the time of the transfiguration, since the resurrection had not yet taken place. Had he been a spirit only, he could not have performed the work on the mount of giving the keys to the mortal Peter, James, and John (cf. D&C 129).

So we know why they needed to be translated, but why John. Maybe it had nothing to do with giving keys but surley his role thier had signifigance for if not so why would JS had given that JST?

Good point with the BoJ though?.

[Guest Ajax]

For the same reason Elijah and Moses did not die and were translated. They needed a body for hand to head touch. The same in the Kirtland temple and the restoring of the Aaronic and Melchezdic, you either needed resurrected beings or ones with a translated body.

The event is important in many ways: Necessary priesthood authority was conferred upon Peter, James, and John; the significance of the Savior’s work was emphasized; and the unity of various dispensations and the close relationship of Jesus and his prophets was demonstrated. Few events in the Bible equal it in importance. A similar event occurred on April 3, 1836, in the temple at Kirtland, Ohio, where the same heavenly messengers conferred priesthood keys upon the Prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery (D&C 110).

Bible dictionary

As was the case with many of the ancient prophets, Moses’ ministry extended beyond the limits of his own mortal lifetime. In company with Elijah, he came to the Mount of Transfiguration and bestowed keys of the priesthood upon Peter, James, and John (Matt. 17: 3-4; Mark 9: 4-9; Luke 9: 30; D&C 63: 21; HC 3: 387). From this event, which occurred before the resurrection of Jesus, we understand that Moses was a translated being, and had not died as reported in Deut. 34 (Alma 45: 19). It was necessary that he be translated, in order to have a body of flesh and bones at the time of the transfiguration, since the resurrection had not yet taken place. Had he been a spirit only, he could not have performed the work on the mount of giving the keys to the mortal Peter, James, and John (cf. D&C 129).

So we know why they needed to be translated, but why John. Maybe it had nothing to do with giving keys but surley his role thier had signifigance for if not so why would JS had given that JST?

Good point with the BoJ though?.

What about a transfigured body? Do we know the capacities of a transfigured body?

[Nate]

No we dont completely. I would think that once disembodied you pretty much have to wait untill the resurection. Why else would so much trouble be made to keep Moses and Elijah transfigured if it could of been a quick translation. A translation is to allow a lower glory flesh able to endure a higher glory without bodily harm. Im thinking that John was more in a familiarization role. Remember Thomas had to see to believe, maybe along those lines.