John the Baptist I think I need to read from the Bible Dictionary more often. The explanation it gives of John the Baptist is amazing and I am so grateful I read it. John the Baptist was to “prepare the way for the Messiah and make ready a people to receive him. He was the outstanding bearer of the Aaronic Priesthood in all history, and was entrusted with its most noble mission.” (Bible Dictionary, BD) The angel prophesied to Zacharias, John’s father, about John the Baptist, saying, “And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.’ (Luke 1:16) Like the Savior, John the Baptist’s birth was announced to his father by an angel. At the young age of 8 years old, John was “ordained by an angel” (BD) to prepare the way for the Savior. John the Baptist was pre-appointed to baptize the Son of God. He knew that the sign of the dove would be present when he had baptized the Savior and when he did baptize Jesus Christ, the dove did appear and the voice of the Lord was heard, “bearing record that Jesus was the Beloved Son” (BD) and that the Father was “well pleased.” (BD) The Bible Dictionary states that, “Jesus took the occasion to bear testimony of the great work John had done, emphasizing that he was unwavering and true. (see Luke 7:24-28)” John the Baptist was praised by Jesus Christ, stating that there was no other greater than him. While Elizabeth carried John the Baptist in her womb, and Mary was pregnant with Jesus Christ, Mary visited Elisabeth. In Luke 1:41, Elisabeth describes the baby’s reaction when Mary spoke, she says, “the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost.” Because Zachararias doubted that he and Elisabeth could conceive a child, he was struck mute for the term of the pregnancy. On the day of John’s circumcision, the crowd called the child Zacharias, after the name of his father. Elisabeth stated no, that his name was to be John. Zacharias asked for something to write on, so that he might write the name which he wanted the name of the child to be. Once he wrote his name, John, “his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.” (Luke 1:64) John the Baptist was the “last of the prophets under the law of Moses, he was the first of the new Testament prophets, and he brought the Aaronic Priesthood to the dispensation of the fullness of times.” (Bible Dictionary)