1 Kings 18

Lord of Hosts

Lord of Hosts — Jehovah Sabaoth, Lord of the armies of heaven

And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day. 1 Kings 18:15

Elijah swears by the living Jehovah, the Lord of the armies of heaven, in whose presence he serves. Latter-day Saints know this Jehovah as the premortal Jesus Christ.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• the same title in D&C 95:7 — The Lord of Sabaoth, interpreted as the creator of the first day, the beginning and the end.

Jehovah

Jehovah — 'I AM', the eternal, self-existent God

And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. 1 Kings 18:21

Elijah tells Israel to stop limping between Jehovah and Baal and follow one wholeheartedly. Because Jehovah is the premortal Christ, this is a call to follow Him with an undivided heart.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

• alludes to Joshua 24:15 — The same covenant call to choose whom Israel will serve.

Sacrifice in similitude of the Only Begotten

And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. 1 Kings 18:30–38

Elijah rebuilds Jehovah's altar with twelve stones for the tribes and offers the burnt sacrifice at the time of the evening sacrifice; heaven's fire shows the Lord accepts it. Such offerings were a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten, the one offering that God fully accepts for all Israel.

• interpreted by Moses 5:7 — Sacrifice is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father.
• alludes to Leviticus 9:24 — Fire came out from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering on the altar.

Jehovah

Jehovah — 'I AM', the eternal, self-existent God

And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. 1 Kings 18:36–39

Elijah prays to Jehovah, the covenant God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and the people confess that Jehovah alone is God. In the Book of Mormon the risen Christ calls Himself the God of Israel, the same God who answered on Carmel.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

• the same title in Exodus 3:15 — The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob.
• the same title in D&C 136:21 — The Lord your God, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob.
• the same title in 3 Nephi 11:14 — The resurrected Christ declares He is the God of Israel.