D&C 133:54-55
54 Yea, and Enoch
also, and they who were with him; the prophets who were before him; and Noah
also, and they who were before him; and Moses also, and they who were before
him;
55 And from Moses to
Elijah, and from Elijah to John, who were with Christ in his resurrection, and
the holy apostles, with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, shall be in the presence of
the Lamb.
Robert J. Matthews
Selected Writings of Robert J. Matthews: Gospel
Scholars Series , p.138
Although it was some three thousand years before Christ that
Enoch was translated (which means his life in the flesh was extended in such a
way that he did not die), we learn from
D&C 133:54-55 that Enoch had
undergone a change equal to death and was resurrected at the time of Jesus'
resurrection. Such a change could occur in the twinkling of an eye, but it
happened. Thus, as is the case with all those translated before the time of
Christ, Enoch is now a resurrected being.
It was with Enoch as with all of the patriarchs and
prophets: he was baptized and confirmed, ordained and endowed in the regular
order of the gospel and its ordinances.
Robert J. Matthews
Selected Writings of Robert J. Matthews: Gospel
Scholars Series , p.508
The Prophet Joseph Smith is the greatest witness for the
resurrection of Jesus Christ, and in that respect (as in many others) he stands
ahead of all mankind who have lived on this earth in the past 1,900 years. He
was visited by, and no doubt shook hands with, a great many resurrected beings,
among them God the Father, Jesus Christ, Adam, Peter, James, John
the Baptist, Moroni, Moses, Elijah, and a great many others. Moses
and Elijah had been translated in their own day, but D&C 133:55 seems to say that they are now resurrected
beings. Since resurrection is better than the translated state, it would seem
appropriate that translated persons be resurrected as early as possible.
President Joseph Fielding Smith interpreted
D&C 133:55 in this way:
"When Elijah came to the Prophet Joseph Smith, he was
not a translated being. He was a resurrected being. He had received his
resurrection."
Elder Bruce R. McConkie also taught that those who were
translated before the resurrection of our Lord "'were with Christ in his
resurrection' (D&C 133:55). . . . It will be resurrected, not translated
beings, who shall return with the city of Enoch."
Bruce R. McConkie, A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, p.588
As to the return of the City of Enoch, John said: "And
I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth
were passed away; and there was no more sea." This is the Millennial earth
that is to be after the Lord returns. "And I John saw the holy city, new
Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for
her husband." Enoch's people, now resurrected and glorified, shall return
in all their glory to that earth which once was theirs. "And I heard a
great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men,
and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people, and God himself shall
be with them, and be their God." The Lord Jesus shall dwell on earth with
men again.
Bruce R. McConkie
The Millennial Messiah: The Second Coming of the Son
of Man, p.647
Enoch and his city were all translated and taken up into
heaven without tasting death. So also were Moses and Elijah and Alma and many
others of whom we have no record. Indeed the whole focus of life among the
worthy saints from the day of Enoch to the day of Abraham was so to live that
they would be caught up and receive an inheritance in that city whose builder
and maker was God. All these were with Christ in his resurrection; that is,
they received their resurrected and immortal bodies at that time. John the
Revelator and the Three Nephites and others whose identity is unknown have been
translated since the day of Christ. They are all carrying on their ministries
of preaching and prophesying and will do so until the Second Coming, when they
will receive their resurrected and immortal bodies. The Lord, for instance,
promised John: "Thou shalt tarry until I come in my glory, and shalt
prophesy before nations, kindreds, tongues and people." This ministry is
among mortals on earth, but John has great powers that mortals do not possess.
"I will make him as flaming fire and a ministering angel," the Lord
promised, and "he shall minister for those who shall be heirs of salvation
who dwell on the earth." (D&C 7:3-6.)