THE MANTLE OF A PROPHET PART 2

 

Religious persecution seems to be an old theme. Like Elijah before him, whose life was in constant danger, Elisha became equally targeted for his prophetic prowess. Syria attacked Israel several times but was always defeated. When it finally came to the attention of the king of Syria that his soldiers were losing because of the prophet Elisha, he sent a large army to destroy him (2 Kings 6:11,12).

The Syrian army located Elisha in Dotham  where they surrounded the city so that he could not escape (2 Kings 6:13). The next morning Elisha's servant panicked when he saw the vastness of the army that had come to destroy his master. Elisha, unperturbed, comforted his servant by saying: "Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them" (2 Kings 6:16). He then called upon the Lord to open the servant's eyes so that he could see the heavenly hosts that were there to protect them for "behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha" (2 Kings 6:17). The faith to see the ‘unseen’ is of next level….

Elisha then prayed that the army would be smitten with blindness and the Lord complied following which Elisha led them into Samaria and into the hands of the king of Israel instructing him not to kill them but feed them and send them back to their master (2 Kings 6:22).

Another mesmerizing story involving Elisha and the Syrians was recited by Elder Orson Hyde. So afflicted was the northern kingdom of Israel with a famine that people were selling and eating mules' heads and dove's dung. The famine became so severe that some resorted to cannibalism. We even read of an account of two women who ate one of their sons (2 Kings 6:28-29). Elisha's prophecy regarding the famine is as follows:

"Once there was a great famine in Samaria and so sore was that famine that a mule's head sold for four score pieces of silver in the market and a cab of dove's dung sold for food in the market, I cannot recollect for how much. We should consider it pretty much of a task or penalty to be compelled to use an article like that for food, but the people of Samaria were sorely distressed with famine, and which way to turn to save themselves they knew not.

“About this time, the King of Syria, with a large army, came to besiege the city and there was a mighty host of them, and they brought everything in the shape of food that was necessary for the comfort and happiness of man; and although the famine was so sore among the Samaritans, the old Prophet, Elisha..., told them that on the next day meal should be sold in the gate of their city at very low figures, lower than it had ever been known to be sold before. A certain nobleman, who heard the prophecy of Elisha expressed his doubt of its truth, and he said that if the windows of heaven were opened and meal poured down from above, it could not fall to such low figures.

“Now see what he got by doubting the words of the Prophet - said Elisha to him - 'Your eyes shall see it, but you shall not taste it'. That night the Lord sent forth the angels of his presence and they made a rustling in the trees, and sounds like horses' hoofs and chariots, as if the whole country had combined to go out to battle against the Syrians, and they did not know what to make of it, and they were frightened and fled, leaving almost everything they had brought with them in the borders of the town; and as they went, the rustling of the trees and the noise of the horses and chariots seemed to pursue them, and in order to make their burdens as light as possible, they threw away everything they had with them, and their track was strewed with everything good and desirable.

“The next morning the people of Samaria went out and brought the spoils into the market, and it was overstocked with provisions and the word of the Lord through the Prophet was fulfilled. Now you see, the Lord knew they had eaten mules' heads long enough and that they had need of something more palatable; he had had the matter under advisement, no doubt, when the crusade was inaugurated against the people of Samaria, and he, in all probability, inspired them to take abundant supplies, that they might feel all the more confident on account of their great numbers being so well provided for.

“They no doubt calculated that they had the sure thing, little thinking that God was making them pack animals to take to his people what they needed. Their Father in heaven knew that they had need of them, and he sent them, and the people of Samaria brought them into market, and behold and lo the multitude rushed together just as hungry people will, and this nobleman came out also, and he was trodden down under foot and stamped to death - he saw it but he never tasted it.

“That is the reward of those who disbelieve the Prophets of God; it was so then, and if the same thing does not occur in every instance something of a similar character is sure to take place. There was no living faith in that man, he could not believe the testimony of the Prophets, and in this he was like some of our - what shall I say, great men, whose faith is weak and sickly, and they think they know it all, and can chalk out right and left that which would be best for building up the kingdom of God." (Journal of Discourses, 17:6-7)

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Chariots of Fire by Slavujac 2013)

 

THE MANTLE OF A PROPHET PART 1

 

When Elijah found Elisha plowing his field, he ‘cast his mantle’ on this faithful man who was one of the choice 7,000 who had not bowed the knee to Baal (1 Kings 19:18,19). Even though a mantle is a simple coat, it was a sign of Elijah’s authority as the prophet and Elisha knew what this simple gesture meant. He was chosen as the understudy and future successor of Elijah. Out of this simple act, the phrase ‘mantle of the prophet’ has come to mean the calling and office of the prophet. (see The Old Testament Student Manual Book 2 p 62)

Before Elisha walked away from his effluent life to take up his calling, he ensured the Lord knew his commitment to break with his past life was complete. He slaughtered the 12 oxen he was plowing with and destroyed the farming implements. He then built a fire with the plowing equipment and cooked the oxen and gave it to people to eat as a sign of his willingness to serve them (1 Kings 19:21).

As his understudy, Elisha’s devotion to Elijah and his new calling became very obvious. Elijah’s life was wanted far and wide by King Ahab yet Elisha stayed by his side. Three times he declared to fleeing Elijah: “As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee” (2 Kings 2:2,4,6).

To say that Elisha had big shoes to fill would be an understatement. He had a gentle disposition without Elijah’s fiery zeal. Having witnessed Elijah's mighty miracles and his acts of service, his desire to follow in his footsteps and to measure up as Israel’s prophet was obvious when Elijah asked him before he was translated, what request he had of him and Elisha replied: "I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me" (2 Kings 2:9).. Elijah assured him that if Elisha gets to witness his departure, that will be a sign to him that it will be as he desired.

This indeed did happen for Elisha came to witness Elijah's ascension and the desire of his heart was fulfilled. His ministry lasted more than 50 years and was very similar in nature to that of his master teacher. Among his many prophecies as Israel's prophet, he performed miraculous acts:

• He parted river Jordan (2 Kings 2:8)
• He healed and provided continual water (2 Kings 2:19-22, 2 Kings 3:9, 16-20)
• He changed water's appearance to blood (2 Kings 3:22)
• He multiplied the widow's oil (2 Kings 4:2-7)
• He raised the widow's son from the dead (2 Kings 4:32-35)
• He healed food that was poisonous (2 Kings 4:40-41)
• He healed Namaan of leprosy (2 Kings 5:14)
• He caused the sunken axe head to float (2 Kings 6:5-7)
• He caused blindness to come upon the Syrian army (2 Kings 6:18-24)
• He fed 100 men with only twenty loaves and some grain and had food left over (2 Kings 4:42-44)
• He prophesied about future events (2 Kings 3:16-19; 7:1-2; 8:10-13; 13:17-19)

Impressive isn’t it? Elisha accomplished an incredible lot in his years of service but nothing stands out to me more than the strength of his faith that made all he did possible. Studying his life made me see that no matter how wonderful people are that went before us, our value is no less. As powerful as Elijah was, Elisha was not less powerful. Different people, different disposition, different qualities but yet the same powerful results. We of this dispensation can shine as bright as those that went before us. Our time is different but the enemy is still out there and our battlefield is here and now.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Artist Unknown)

 

 

 

THE MIGHTY ELIJAH PART 1

 

 

There was a prolific and significant prophet of the Old Testament whose earthly mission was divided in two time periods, before the first and second advents of Christ. His life warrants a lengthy consideration. 

 

He is known as the ancient prophet who performed many mighty miracles and who had power to control the elements. Approximately 900 years before the birth of Christ, the people of the northern kingdom of Israel had almost entirely forsaken the worship of the true God under the reign of king Ahab and had become worshippers of the Phoenician god Baal.  Enter Elijah the Tishbite who was called to lead Israel back to their forsaken God. He boldly stood up to Ahab and said: “As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years but according to my word.” (1 Kings 17:1)

 

And so Elijah sat by the brook Cherith, before Jordan, and he drank of the brook and was fed by the ravens sent by the very God in whose name he proclaimed the draught that lasted three and a half years (1 Kings 17:2-6). When the brook dried up, the Lord led him to Zarephath to be sustained by a widow whose son he raised from the dead (vs 7-24).

 

Elijah's boldness of character would be difficult to replicate. He stands as an example of spiritual confidence of one who knows God on a personal level. Besides the power that he was entrusted with he loved the God of Israel and did everything he could to turn the people’s hearts to Him.

 

Elijah’s difficult life has touched my heart to the core. He sorrowed and he suffered through rejection, persecution and isolation and most of all he longed for heaven. When fleeing Jezebel who sought to take his life, Elijah went into wilderness and sat himself under a juniper tree and requested of God that he might die (1 Kings 19:4). The Lord instead sent him an angel who fed him and led him to mount Horeb.

 

Elijah fasted for forty days during this trip. When he arrived and the Lord asked him what he was doing there, he expressed the root cause of his sorrow: nothing about his personal hardships but that the children of Israel had forsaken the covenant and slain the prophets and that he was the only one left (vs 8-10). And then the assurance and comfort from the God he loved: “Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.” (v 18) In other words: Elijah, you have done some good even though you can’t see it.

 

And then the ultimate show of love and support……the Lord gave him Elisha. Another man of God, who denounced all his wealth and followed Elijah into his ministry. A man who became so great that a dead man cast into his sepulchre came to life again when his body touched the bones of Elisha (2 Kings 13:21). Is this not greatness???

 

How much You must love

Those who serve Thee to the end;

Who speak the words of truth

And proclaim Thy holy name.

These are Thy prophets,

Your everlasting friends:

The strong, the noble,

The devoted who hear and obey.

These are Thine angels who herald

Thy gospel and Thy name ;

To the ends of the earth they speak

And their words forever remain.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Elijah by Djane Daviss)

ELISHA AND THE POWER OF THE PRIESTHOOD

 

This is for the men and the women who sustain them and their God given priesthood. As I studied the life of Elisha this year I became aware of the privilege of this gifted power. It became obvious to me that being endowed with the priesthood is not the same as manifesting the power associated with it. The true power of the priesthood can only be manifested in men with purity of heart and mind devoted to God. 

 

Consider Elisha’s purity of heart when Elijah called him to the ministry. At the time of the call Elijah found Elisha ploughing his fields with twelve oxen (1 Kings 19:19). Men who had two oxen in ancient Israel were considered well off, the fact that Elisha had twelve suggests that he was a wealthy man. The minute of the call, Elisha killed all the oxen and distributed the meat among the people (1 Kings 19:21). This was an amazing sign of denouncing his wealth and forsaking the world. 

 

Now consider Elisha’s commitment to his calling. He stayed by Elijah’s side even though Elijah’s life was wanted far and wide by King Ahab. His assurance was: “As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee” (2 Kings 2:2,4,6). When Elijah was about to depart, he told Elisha to make a request of him and all Elisha asked for was that a ‘double portion of his spirit be upon him’ (2 Kings 2:9). This he received and proceeded to perform 10 recorded miracles showing forth faith such as has not been shown before (2 Kings 2:14,22; 4:2-6; 16-17,32-35, 40-41, 42-44; 5:14; 6:4-6, 18). 

 

Elisha’s miracles, his prophecies and the goodness of this man is too lengthy to recount here but can be gleaned by study of his ministry. This, however, is true evidence of the greatness of this man. As the Moabites were invading Israel after Elisha’s death, a dead man, during his burial, was lowered into Elisha’s sepulchre in haste. When the dead man’s body touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and came back to life (2 Kings 13:21). How is that for the legacy of a man of priesthood? 

 

The miraculous priesthood power of Elisha reminded me of the Apostle Paul who sent handkerchiefs and aprons to the sick and ‘their diseases departed from them’ (Acts 19:11,12). Likewise, the sick were brought out into the streets so that the mere shadow of Peter passing might heal them (Acts 5:15). Does it remind you of someone else who performed the greatest miracles of all? From turning water into wine, to raising the dead, to feeding 5,000 with few loaves and fishes, to His own resurrection, the Saviour outperformed them all. It is by His priesthood power that the worlds were created and the salvation of man assured. Elisha, Paul and Peter were men of God because of the allegiance they paid to the God of heaven, Jesus of Nazareth, the God of Israel. Without Him the priesthood would not be available to the men of this earth. Without Him, the earth would not be possible…. The God of Creation, the God of Light, the God of Salvation…..may we stand in awe of His power now and forever.

 

The truths of heaven distil upon my soul

Like petals fluttering in autumn breeze;

My heart is full of thoughts of Thee

As I stand in awe of Thy majesty.

The magnitude of worlds

And the stars of heaven

That roll upon their wings praising Thee;

But none greater than this:

The creation of man, a crowning glory

To Thy priesthood and Thy throne

In endless praise of Thy name

In the splendour of Thy celestial home.

 

 

 

 - CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Artist unknown)

THE MANTLE OF A PROPHET

When Elisha's call came to follow Elijah and dedicate himself to the prophetic calling, he was knee deep in plowing with 12 yoke of oxen. He clearly came from a wealthy family. He had work to do, crops to plant, a family to support, yet his willingness to give up everything so he can serve God was perfect. Before he set off he ensured the Lord knew his commitment was complete by making a break with his past life. He slaughtered the oxen and destroyed the farming implements. He then built a fire with the plowing equipment and cooked the oxen and gave it to people to eat (2 Kings 19:21). How symbolic this gesture, showing that he was willing to serve others and give to them his all. Contrast this with the rich young ruler in Matthew 19 who also was rich. When the Saviour told him to sell all that he had and give it away to the poor and follow him, the rich man, unlike Elisha, walked away.

Before Elijah was translated he asked Elisha what request he had of him and Elisha said: "I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me" (2 Kings 2:9). Having witnessed Elijah's mighty miracles and his acts of service, he no doubt felt inadequate to fill Elijah's shoes. Elijah replied that if Elisha gets to witness his departure, that will be a sign to him that it will be as he desired. This indeed did happen for Elisha came to witness Elijah's ascension and the desire of his heart was fulfilled. His ministry lasted more than 50 years and was very similar in nature to that of his master teacher. Among his many prophecies as Israel's prophet, he achieved the following:

• He parted river Jordan (2 Kings 2:8)
• He healed and provided continual water (2 Kings 2:19-22, 2 Kings 3:9, 16-20)
• He changed water's appearance to blood (2 Kings 3:22)
• He multiplied the widow's oil (2 Kings 4:2-7)
• He raised the widow's son from the dead (2 Kings 4:32-35)
• He healed food that was poisonous (2 Kings 4:40-41)
• He healed Namaan of leprosy (2 Kings 5:14)
• He caused the sunken ax head to float (2 Kings 6:5-7)
• He caused blindness to come upon the Syrian army (2 Kings 6:18-24)
• He fed 100 men with only twenty loaves and some grain and had food left over (2 Kings 4:42-44)
• He prophesied the future

Of all his mighty works, my favourite is Elisha's ability to blind the whole of Syrian army and lead them into Samaria as hostages. Syria attacked Israel several times but was always defeated. When it finally came to the attention of the king of Syria that his soldiers were losing because of the prophetic power of Elisha, he sent a large army to destroy him. The Syrian army located Elisha in Dotham (2 Kings 6:13) where they surrounded the city so that he could not escape. The next morning Elisha's servant panicked when he saw the vastness of the army that had come to destroy his master. Elisha, unperturbed, comforted his servant by saying: "Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them" (2 Kings 6:16). He then called upon the Lord to open the servant's eyes so that he could see the heavenly hosts that were there to protect them for "behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha" (2 Kings 6:17). Elisha then prayed that the army would be smitten with blindness and the Lord complied following which Elisha led the whole army into Samaria and into the hands of the king of Israel and instructed him to feed them and send them back to their master. Syrians never came into the land of Israel again (2 Kings 6:23).

Another mesmerizing story involving Elisha was recited by Elder Orson Hyde. So afflicted was the northern kingdom of Israel with a famine that people were selling and eating mules' heads and dove's dung. The famine became so severe that some resorted to cannibalism. In 2 Kings 6:28-29 we read of an account of two women who one of their sons. Elisha's prophecy regarding the famine is as follows:

"Once there was a great famine in Samaria and so sore was that famine that a mule's head sold for four score pieces of silver in the market and a cab of dove's dung sold for food in the market, I cannot recollect for how much. We should consider it pretty much of a task or penalty to be compelled to use an article like that for food, but the people of Samaria were sorely distressed with famine, and which way to turn to save themselves they knew not. About this time, the King of Syria, with a large army, came to besiege the city and there was a mighty host of them, and they brought everything in the shape of food that was necessary for the comfort and happiness of man; and although the famine was so sore among the Samaritans, the old Prophet, Elisha..., told them that on the next day meal should be sold in the gate of their city at very low figures, lower than it had ever been known to be sold before. A certain nobleman, who heard the prophecy of Elisha expressed his doubt of its truth, and he said that if the windows of heaven were opened and meal poured down from above, it could not fall to such low figures. Now see what he got by doubting the words of the Prophet - said Elisha to him - 'Your eyes shall see it, but you shall not taste it'. That night the Lord sent forth the angels of his presence and they made a rustling in the trees, and sounds like horses' hoofs and chariots, as if the whole country had combined to go out to battle against the Syrians, and they did not know what to make of it, and they were frightened and fled, leaving almost everything they had brought with them in the borders of the town; and as they went, the rustling of the trees and the noise of the horses and chariots seemed to pursue them, and in order to make their burdens as light as possible, they threw away everything they had with them, and their track was strewed with everything good and desirable. The next morning the people of Samaria went out and brought the spoils into the market, and it was overstocked with provisions and the word of the Lord through the Prophet was fulfilled. Now you see, the Lord knew they had eaten mules' heads long enough and that they had need of something more palatable; he had had the matter under advisement, no doubt, when the crusade was inaugurated against the people of Samaria, and he, in all probability, inspired them to take abundant supplies, that they might feel all the more confident on account of their great numbers being so well provided for. They no doubt calculated that they had the sure thing, little thinking that God was making them pack animals to take to his people what they needed. Their Father in heaven knew that they had need of them, and he sent them, and the people of Samaria brought them into market, and behold and lo the multitude rushed together just as hungry people will, and this nobleman came out also, and he was trodden down under foot and stamped to death - he saw it but he never tasted it. That is the reward of those who disbelieve the Prophets of God; it was so then, and if the same thing does not occur in every instance something of a similar character is sure to take place. There was no living faith in that man, he could not believe the testimony of the Prophets, and in this he was like some of our - what shall I say, great men, whose faith is weak and sickly, and they think they know it all, and can chalk out right and left that which would be best for building up the kingdom of God." (Journal of Discourses, 17:6-7)

"In a similar prophecy, Heber C. Kimball prophesied that the Saints in the Salt Lake Valley would be able to purchase goods more cheaply than they could back East. The prophecy was fulfilled when thousands came through the valley during the California gold rush". (See B.H. Roberts, A Comprehensive History of the Church, 3:349-53, Old Testament Student Manual, 1 Kings to Malachi, p 77)

At times it seems easier to believe in the prophets who have passed on than to believe in the living oracles and follow the counsel and direction they give for our day and time: "Sometimes modern Saints fall into the same traps as did ancient Israel. Have you heard people extol the teachings of Joseph Smith but murmur and criticize current Church leaders for a statement or a stand they take that contradicts the individual's personal ideas or preference? Do we say we honour the prophets and yet not follow their instructions from the last general conference? Some who read the Old Testament have a tendency to shake their heads sorrowfully over those proud and rebellious people. But the great value of our studying this work is that it provides a clear standard for measuring our own behaviour." (Old Testament Student Manual, 1 Kings - Malachi, p 65)

"She couldn't stand still. The mention of a living prophet had aroused in her a great enthusiasm. As I continued the lesson, the woman was up again and again, her hands flying as she asked for clarification and elaboration. She wanted to know everything she could about David O. McKay and his calling.
'He's a prophet', I repeated. 'Like Jeremiah or Moses or Peter'. The concept was powerful and she wanted desperately to understand.
'How does a man get to be a prophet?' she asked.
I spoke then of years of preparation, and talked to her of obedience and faithfulness and study and prayer and service - those qualities that enabled a man to fulfill such a calling.
'But the most important requirement is that he be called of God' I explained, 'because he receives revelation from the Lord and delivers it to the people. He speaks to us the words and the will of God.'
'How?'
'Pardon me?'
'How does he speak to you?' she asked. 'I mean, how does he let you know what the Lord says and what he expects? When he has a message, how does he deliver it?'
This was a missionary's dream. In nineteen months of proselyting and teaching I had never seen anyone so excited about the restoration of the gospel and the idea of a living prophet. She seemed aflame with a need to know the present word of God.
'Every six months, the Church holds a General Conference' I said. 'People attend from all over the world, and President McKay speaks, usually three or four times, during the three days of the conference'.
I could see in her eyes a great desire to sit and listen to the living words of a living prophet.
'But does everyone attend?' she asked. Then thinking of herself, she added, 'What about those who can't come to conference?'
I smiled. This woman was a joy to teach.
'The Church publishes a magazine called the Improvement Era' I responded. 'A month or two after conference, the entire proceedings of the conference are published in one of the issues. Everyone who wants to can get a copy and read the talks'.
But there was more, and speaking of the magazine had reminded me.
'That isn't all'. I was nearly as excited as she was now.
'Every month President McKay writes the editorial in the Improvement Era. Every month we get a written message from the Prophet of God'.
'That's wonderful!' she exclaimed, and I agreed. In my mind the faucets were running, the baptismal font already filling. She said she had one more question. I didn't mind. After nineteen months as a missionary, I could answer any question about living prophets that an investigator could ask. Any question, that is except this one. As she spoke, I saw the plug being pulled, the water draining from the font.
Her eyes shining with delight and anticipation, she said:
'What did he say last month?'

I could not answer her question. I knew that President McKay had been writing the editorials for the Improvement Era during most of the years of my life. But I had never read a single one of them."

- Ted Gibbons

"If we listened to the prophets of this day, poverty would be replaced with loving care for the poor and needy. Many serious and deadly health problems would be avoided through compliance with the Word of Wisdom and the laws of sexual purity. Payment of tithing would bless us and we would have sufficient for our needs. If we follow the counsel given by the prophets, we can have a life in mortality where we do not bring upon ourselves unnecessary pain and self-destruction. This does not mean we will not have any challenges. We will. This does not mean we will not be tested. We will, for this is part of our purpose on earth. But if we will listen to the counsel of our prophet, we will become stronger and be able to withstand the tests of mortality. We will have hope and joy. All the words of counsel from the prophets of all generations have been given so that we may be strengthened and then be able to lift and strengthen others."

(Robert D. Hales, Hear The Prophet's Voice and Obey, Ensign, May 1995, p 17)

THE MIGHT OF ELIJAH

I am in awe of Elijah. He would have to be the most prolific of all the Old Testament prophets and the most significant. Elijah made such a deep impression upon the life of the Israelites that it is their fixed belief that he will return one day and to this day he remains an invited guest at the Passover, for whom a vacant seat is reserved and the door is opened. Among his many significant earthly accomplishments, Elijah holds the sealing power of the Melchizedek Priesthood and was the last prophet to do so before the time of Jesus Christ. He appeared on the Mount with Moses and conferred the keys of the priesthood on Peter, James and John (Matt 17:3) and he appeared again with him and others on 3 April, 1836, in the Kirtland Temple in Ohio and conferred the same keys upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. "Thus the keys of his power are once again operative on the earth and are used in performing all the ordinances of the gospel for the living and the dead". (Bible Dictionary, p 664) What an incredibly important person Elijah is for where would mankind be without the saving ordinances of the priesthood and the sealing power which keeps our families intact forever. Imagine the honour of having your name associated with the responsibility of 'turning the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers' (Malachi 4:5,6). Imagine being remembered throughout history by something as powerful and important as 'the spirit of Elijah'. It should be an absolute joy for us to study his life so we can appreciate fully the making of this great man.

Elijah is known as the prophet of fire who performed many mighty miracles and who had power to control the elements. When the people of the northern kingdom had almost entirely forsaken the worship of the true God and become worshippers of the Phoenician god Baal, Elijah the Tishbite was most appropriately called to lead Israel back to their forsaken God for the name Elijah means 'Jehovah is my God'. "His recorded words are few but forceful, and his deeds are explicit evidences of his strength of will, force of character, and personal courage. He was an example of solid faith in the Lord." (Bible Dictionary, p 664)

Elijah's boldness of character would be difficult to replicate. He stands as an example of spiritual confidence of one who knows God on a personal level. He was called to preach repentance to one of the most evil kings of Israel, as the scriptures record: "And Ahab, the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him." (1 Kings 16:30)  Not only did he walk in the footsteps Jeroboam who turned Israel to idolatry but he did one better than that, he married Jezebel, the daughter of king of Zidonia, who worshipped Baal. He made a grove for the worship of Baal and 'did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him' (1 Kings 16:33)  Baal was the Phoenician deity and pre-eminent god of the Canaanites and is mentioned in the Old Testament 58 times. He was worshipped as the god of storm who had power over water. In the words of one LDS scholar: "Canaanite vegetation, particularly in the north, was rich and the soil fertile. Consequently many Israelites were tempted to ask their Canaanite neighbours, 'How does your garden grow?' The Israelites were deceived into thinking the Canaanite storm god Baal regulated the water supply. Thus, the question of who controlled the water became critical issue, particularly in the northern kingdom. The allegiance of Israel vacillated among many idolatrous gods, but primarily between the two gods who claimed power over water: Baal, the Canaanite storm god, and the Lord Jehovah, who had delivered the Israelites" (Fred E. Woods, "The Water Imagery in John's Gospel", in The Lord of the Gospels: The 1990 Sperry Symposium on the New Testament, p 190). It is no wonder then that Elijah, as a fitting punishment to Israel who worshipped Baal believing he sent water to enrich their pastures and ensure their crops, sealed up the heavens for three and a half years. You would think that during three and a half years of drought, worshipping a god who was supposed to be a god of water and rain, Israel would come to their senses and realise they were on the wrong track but this did not happen.

From the time of his proclaimed drought on the kingdom of Israel, Elijah was a wanted man and spent much of his time in hiding. So severe had the drought become that Ahab searched for him far and wide, among all nations, blaming him for the misfortune that had befallen his kingdom (1 Kings 18:10). All the nations and kingdoms Ahab searched had to swear an oath that they were not hiding him and whoever reported seeing him would be executed if Elijah was not there by the time Ahab's search party arrived (1 Kings 18:12). Sealing the heavens began Elijah's life on the run dotted with miracles. From the ravens which fed him by the brook Cherith to the poor window of Zarephath in Zidon who fed him and never went without again and whose son Elijah raised from the dead, he was guided in all his wanderings by the God of Israel who preserved his life. When the time came for God to show forth his power once again by lifting the drought, Elijah was instructed to return to Israel where he engaged in the most outlandish contest with the false prophets of Baal who failed to show forth Baal's power in igniting the sacrifice they were offering. Elijah, however, drew the hosts of Israel to him so they could properly see, repaired the altar of the Lord that had been torn down with 12 stones signifying the 12 tribes of Israel and saturated the wood and the sacrificial animal with four barrels of water, three times. He then appealed to Jehovah to show that He is the true God of Israel (1 Kings 18:37). Of course the fire came down and consumed the whole altar with the surplus water that was in the surrounding trench (1 Kings 18:30-39). He then instructed the astonished Israelites to capture all 450 prophets of Baal, took them to the brook Kishon and slew them there (1 Kings 18:40).

With Jezebel at his heels seeking his life, Elijah fled again. What follows is I believe the most intimate and loving experience Elijah had with the Lord. Running away from those who sought his life, he received sustenance from an angel of the Lord. When he arrived to mount Horeb, so incredibly disheartened and dejected, believing he had failed in his ministry, God in his mercy spoke to him, but not by the wind which rent mountains and not by the earthquake which followed, but by a 'still small voice' (1 Kings 19:12). In other words, not by any ostentatious show of power but by something so personal as the whisper of His voice. He might as well have said: 'they can have their miracles Elijah, but you have me'. And here is where the God of us all knows how to lift us up. To prove to Elijah that he had done well and that his service as a prophet was accepted, the Lord assigns him another mission. He instructs him to go and anoint the king of Syria and the next prophet who will take over from him. What a merciful and loving God who accepts the work of his faithful children and who cares about the tender feelings of their hearts. I imagine Him saying to Elijah: "You did well Elijah, you are still the prophet and your service has been accepted". Because of his un-daunting faith in the God of Israel, Elijah was blessed with power over water like Moses and Joshua and divided river Jordan prior to his ascension into heaven, never to taste death (2 Kings 2:6-11).

"The story of Elijah's return can be found in D&C 110.  Obviously there is no need to wait for him any longer.  This became the subject of conversation between Elder LeGrand Richards and the Mayor of Jerusalem, Teddy Kollek.  Elder Richards had just dedicated the Orson Hyde Memorial Garden on the Mount of Olives.  After the ceremony, the two conversed as they ate their lunch:
Elder Richards said:  "Mayor, I want to tell you something".
"What's that?" asked the Mayor.
Looking Mayor Kollek directly in the eye, the apostle said:
"Ten years ago I was here in Jerusalem and one day I went into three synagogues and hanging up on the wall in one of them was a large armchair.  I asked the rabbi what it was there for (I knew but I wanted him to tell me, which he did).  He said that it was so that if Elijah comes 'we can lower the chair and let him sit in it'.  Now Mayor, I want to tell you something and what I tell you is the truth.  Elijah has already been.  On the third day of April 1836 he appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple".
The Mayor said:
"I guess I better tell them to take that chair down."

(Beloved Apostle, p.301)