Mount of Transfiguration Archives

Luke 1: 8-9 refers to Zacharias (father of John the Baptist) officiating in the priest’s office.

“And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course, According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.”

Those who were outside knew how long it would take to burn incense and offer the morning prayer, therefore when too much time had passed they were troubled by the delay. (Luke 1: 21.)

The prayer he offered was set, given each day as part of offering incense in the Holy Place, and is as follows:

True it is that Thou art Jehovah our God, and the God of our fathers; our King of our fathers, our Saviour and the Saviour of our fathers; our Maker and the Rock of our salvation; our Help and our Deliverer. Thy name is from everlasting and there is no God beside Thee. A new song did they that were delivered sing to Thy name by the seashore; together did all praise and own Thee as King, and say, Jehovah shall reign who saveth Israel.

Be graciously pleased, Jehovah our God, with Thy people Israel, and with their prayer. Restore the service to the oracle of Thy house; and the burnt-offerings of Israel and their prayer accept graciously and in love; and let the service of Thy people Israel be ever well-pleasing unto Thee.

We praise Thee, who art Jehovah our God, and the God of our fathers, the God of all flesh, our Creator, and the Creator from the beginning! Blessing and praise be unto Thy great and holy name, that Thou hast preserved us in life and kept us. So preserve us and keep us, and gather the scattered ones into Thy holy courts, to keep Thy statutes, and to do Thy good pleasure, and to serve Thee with our whole heart, as this day we confess unto Thee. Blessed be the Lord, unto who belongeth praise.

Appoint peace, goodness, and blessing; grace, mercy and compassion for us, and for all Israel Thy people. Bless us, O our Father, all of us as one, with the light of Thy countenance. For in the light of Thy countenance has Thou, Jehovah, our God, given us the law of life, and loving mercy, and righteousness, and blessing, and compassion, and life, and peace. And may it please Thee to bless Thy people Israel at times, and at every hour with Thy peace. Blessed be Thou, Jehovah, who blessest Thy people Israel with peace. (Alfred Edersheim, The Temple, Its Ministry and Services, pp. 128-29.)

When the angel appeared and said, “Fear not, Zacharias; for thy prayer is heard” (Luke 1: 13), the prayer asked for “the light of [God’s] countenance” to shine again upon Israel. The promised son (to be named “John”–Luke 1: 13) was to “go before him in the spirit and power of Elias.” (Luke 1: 17.) The One before whom John was to go was “the light of [God’s] countenance” or, in other words, Jehovah. John was to be Elias to precede and prepare the way for Jehovah.

Following his birth, John was “ordained by the angel of God at the time he was eight days old unto this power, to overthrow the kingdom of the Jews, and to make straight the way of the Lord before the face of his people, to prepare them for the coming of the Lord, in whose hand is given all power.” (D&C 84: 28.) He prepared the way, was imprisoned and beheaded. Then he appeared with Moses on the Mount of Transfiguration. (JST-Mark 9: 4; Matt. 17: 2-3, 13.) Moses opened, and John closed, the prior dispensation and met with Christ as the founder of the new dispensation.

John was as great a prophet as ever lived. The Lord said he was “more than a prophet.” (Luke 7: 24-28.) Foretold in prophecy, born to bring “the light of God’s countenance” back to Israel, fulfilling an angel’s promise, named by heaven, ordained at eight days, sent to close one and open another dispensation, slain for his testimony, and then called to minister as an angel to the Lord on the Mount of Transfiguration, John was “more than a prophet.”

 
  
2 Nephi 31: 17: 
“Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that  your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they  been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should  enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism  by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the  Holy Ghost.” 
You must “do the things which I have told you I have seen that your  Lord and your Redeemer should do.” You must “follow Him.” There is no other way nor name given under heaven to obtain salvation. (Mosiah 5: 8.)
It was for this reason Nephi was “shown” these things. The Lord and His  Father taught Nephi so he could in turn teach others, including us.   The message was intended to save many, not just Nephi. But we  must give heed to the message when we hear it.
The “gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by  water.” You must repent first. Then, having repented, receive  baptism by water. When this is done, “then cometh a remission of your  sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.”
Without the “fire” to purge the sacrifice upon the altar, it is not  cleansed. It cannot become holy unless exposed to that fire.
But note – this is automatic. It is not by the laying on of  hands. The laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost is not  required in this teaching. Nephi, with elaboration from the Father and the Son, is teaching that this is an event that follows the process of “repentance and baptism by water.”  That is, the ordinance of baptism, when accompanied by repentance and done right, is the reason for this event. 
Laying on of hands is for “the gift of the Holy Ghost” so there may  be a companion and guide for a person. This is an ordinance. It is  also the moment one is confirmed a member of the church. But  it is not necessarily co-equal with receiving “fire and the Holy Ghost”  as described here. There is nothing that excludes it from being coincidental in time, however. They may happen at the same moment. That is,  after baptism, and while receiving the laying on of hands, one may  receive both the gift of the Holy Ghost, and also fire and the Holy Ghost. As a result one is renewed in the manner described in this  chapter. They are not co-equal.
Laying on of hands does not appear to be an ordinance in the Book of  Mormon until the coming of Christ in 3 Nephi. The only potential  exception is found in Alma 31: 36, where Alma “clapped his hands upon  them who were with him” and they received the Holy Ghost. This is similar to the Lord “breathing” the Holy Ghost upon His  disciples. (John 20: 22.) They were instructed to lay on hands, and  would perform that act rather than breathing upon those who were to  receive the Holy Ghost. The ordinance is different from “clapping” or  from “breathing” and involves the process we follow in the church  today. (D&C 33: 15.)
The baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost promised here is given without  man’s involvement, comes from heaven, is promised by both the Father and  the Son. It is a signal of redemption, purification and holiness. It  is included in the “gate” for entering into God’s presence.  For God is a  “consuming fire” and those who enter into that presence must be able to  endure that fire. (Heb. 12: 29; see also Deu. 4: 24.)  Without the  capacity to do so, a person would be consumed by the flames. (Lev.  10: 1-2.) The fire and the Holy Ghost are also given as a sign to  the recipient that they may know it is safe for them to enter into God’s  presence and not be consumed. In earlier versions of the First Vision,  Joseph described the “pillar of light” as a “pillar of fire” which  gradually descended. He wondered if the trees would be consumed as it  descended, but seeing they were not he thought it safe for him to be  exposed to it as well. When it fell upon him, the vision opened up and  he saw the Father and the Son.
Christ also entered into this glorious light on the Mount of Transfiguration. (Matt. 17: 1-2.)
We are to do as Nephi instructs, “do the things which I have told  you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for  this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by  which ye should enter.”
We live below the standard Christ set for us.  We needn’t. Have faith. Press forward feasting on His words. You can and will find Him there.