Elias in Mormonism
Elias
Elias is the Latin transliteration of the Greek name Ἠλίας, pronounced [eˈli.as] or [ˈeli.as] in most European languages, and English pronunciation: /ɨˈlaɪ.əs/ in English. Elias is also a common name in Lebanon and the Levant. Elias is also Élie in French.
It is the hellenized form of Elijah, the name of an important prophet in the Hebrew Bible. Some English translations of the New Testament, including the King James Version, use this form of the name. (In the King James Version, Elias appears only in the Apocrypha and New Testament.) Newer translations usually translate it as Elijah. Elias is linguistically derived from Elijah because the Hebrew suffix -yahu, rendered -iah or -jah in English is consistently replaced with -ias in Greek, as seen in other names such as Isaiah/Esaias and Jeremiah/Jeremias. In the Levantine tradition, the name is actually Eliyya (eh-lee-YUH) as mentioned in Arabic Old Testaments. The Greeks and Romans added an “s” at the end of most, if not all, semitic names (e.g. Luca became Lucas).
In the Book of Malachi, Elijah’s return is prophesied “before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord,” making him a harbinger of the Messiah and the eschaton in various faiths that revere the Hebrew Bible.
Elias is also an oratorio about the prophet Elijah, composed by Felix Mendelssohn.
Liturgical Commemorations
Since the Eastern Churches use the Septuagint as their official version of the Old Testament, Elias is the form of the prophet’s name used among most members of the Eastern Orthodox Church and those Eastern Catholic Churches which follow the Byzantine Rite.
The feast day of saint Elias falls on July 20 of the Orthodox liturgical calendar (for those churches which follow the traditional Julian Calendar, July 20 currently falls on August 2 of the modern Gregorian Calendar). This day is a major holiday in Lebanon and is one of a handful of holidays there whose celebration is accompanied by a launching of fireworks by the general public. The full name of St. Elias in Lebanon translates to St. Elias the Living because it is believed that he did not die but rode his fiery chariot to Heaven. The reference to the fiery chariot is likely why the Lebanese celebrate this holiday with fireworks.
Elias is also commemorated, together with all of the righteous persons of the Old Testament, on the Sunday of the Holy Fathers (the Sunday before the Nativity of the Lord).
Elias in Mormonism
In Latter-day Saint theology, the name-title Elias is not always synonymous with Elijah and is often used for people other than the biblical prophet. According to Joseph Smith, “The spirit of Elias is first, Elijah second, and Messiah last. Elias is a forerunner to prepare the way, and the spirit and power of Elijah is to come after, holding the keys of power, building the Temple to the capstone, placing the seals of the Melchizedek Priesthood upon the house of Israel, and making all things ready; then Messiah comes to His Temple, which is last of all” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 340).
People to whom the title Elias is applied in Mormonism include Noah, the angel Gabriel (considered to be the same person as Noah), Elijah, John the Baptist, John the Apostle, and an unspecified man who was a contemporary of Abraham (See LDS Bible Dictionary s.v. Elias.
Source: http://www.floweradvisor.com.sg/lifestyle/interests/education/150454/elias_in_mormonism/
See Also: idul fitri, hamper hari raya, hari raya hampers
