Nephi records that according to the prophecies of his father Lehi, "he (the Messiah) should baptize in Bethabara, beyond Jordan" (1 Nephi 10:9). According to Cleon Skousen, this Bethabara seems to be identical with Beth-barah mentioned in Judges 7:24. It means "Fords of Abarah" and was the ford leading from the Jericho side of the river over across into Gilead. The town was located on the east side of the river adjacent to the crossing and was therefore called Beth-barah, "beyond" Jordan. Lehi's prediction was literally fulfilled as indicated in John 1:28, which says "these things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing." [W. Cleon Skousen, Treasures from the Book of Mormon, Vol. 1, p. 1083]
“He Should Baptize in Bethabara Beyond Jordan”
In John 1:28; 10:40; and 1 Nephi 10:9, there is a clear reference to a specific place for John the Baptist's work, stating that he was baptizing in Bethabara or Bethany beyond the Jordan. The question is, Where is Bethany (Bethabara) beyond the Jordan?
Potter and Wellington note that Theodosius (A.D. 530) says that it was five Roman miles from the Dead Sea to the place where Jesus was baptized, and to where there was a church of St. John, but it is not clear whether the church was on the east or west bank of the River. He says explicitly that the Jesus was baptized on the east site (Jordan) and he also refers to the little hill close by where Elijah was taken up. Obviously he means the little hill which was called Hermon, Elijah hill, Jebel MarElyas and recently, Tell el Kharrar. A team from the Department of Antiquities of Jordan has conducted Archaeological excavations in the area since March 1997. Archaeological excavations on the southern bank of Wadi el-Kharrar revealed the presence of several sites, with architectural remains scattered throughout the area. In July 1999 Dr. Mohammed Waheeb wrote concerning this site: "Not far from the Jordan River, at a distance of one mile to the east, is the place where the Prophet Elijah was taken into heaven in a chariot of fire (see 2 Kings 2:11-13).
This historical mixture of the place where John the Baptist preached his preparatory gospel of repentance and baptism, and where Elijah (Elias in the New Testament) was taken up into heaven raises an interesting point. Joseph Smith introduced the doctrine of the spirit and office of "an Elias," or one who prepares the way (see Joseph Fielding Smith, ed., Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1976, pp. 335-341). This doctrine is unique to Latter-day Saints. Both Elijah and John the Baptist were acting in the office and spirit of an Elias (see inspired version John 1:21-18 and Matthew 17:14). The association of John the Baptist and the prophet Elijah in the minds of the people can also be seen in the Apostle's response of "Some say thou art Elijah" in answer to Jesus' question, "Whom do men say that I the Son of Man am?" (Matthew 16:13-14).
What better way could John the Baptist have taught the principle of his calling of an Elias than by choosing to preach in the same place as the hill where Elias (Elijah) was taken into Heaven. It is interesting that Joseph Smith taught of the doctrine of an Elias when the knowledge of the relationship between the place where John the Baptist preached and the hill where Elias (Elijah) was taken into Heaven was only found in an obscure text. One has to question if this is more than coincidence. [George Potter and Richard Wellington, Discovering The Lehi-Nephi Trail, Unpublished Manuscript, 2000, pp. 297-298] [See the Potter commentary on 1 Nephi 2:5]
Note* Was this area of wadi El-Kharrar also the same place from which Joshua led the children of Israel through the water of the river Jordan and into the Promised Land? Could this have symbolic covenant significance? In other words, when Lehi and his family departed into the wilderness to escape the covenant destruction of Jerusalem (the capital city of the Promised Land), was Lehi symbolically retracing the path of Israel's entrance into the Promised Land? And if Moses and Joshua represented a type of Christ, did Jesus' (note the name) covenant baptism in the river Jordan and subsequent mission to the inhabitants of the Promised Land parallel Joshua's (note the name) leading the children of Israel into the Promised Land? And if so, then did Jesus' sojourn in the wilderness geographically parallel the sojourn of Israel? And if so, then did Jesus visit Mount Sinai preparatory to his mission just as Moses did? And if Elijah was a type for Elias, and if John the Baptist was an Elias, did John the Baptist visit Mount Sinai while he was in the wilderness just as Eliljah did? [Alan C. Miner, Personal Notes] [See the commentary on 1 Nephi 11:1; 4:2; 3 Nephi 25:4]