"It is common," wrote Elder Bruce R. McConkie, "to speak of one prophet in particular as the forerunner of our Lord, because he is the one who proclaimed the message of preparation at the very hour when the Son of God came forth to commence His ministry. That prophet is John, John the Baptist - so named, not alone because he baptized repentant souls in great numbers, for many there were and many there are who have performed such sacred ordinances in great numbers, but because he alone baptized the Messiah Himself.
"Isaiah, speaking in measured tones of both the first and the second advents of our Lord, and with greater emphasis on the final glorious appearing, proclaimed a message of comfort and peace to the remnants of Israel. Among other things, he spoke of `the voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.' (Isa. 40:1-11.) Malachi, speaking also of both comings but more particularly of the great and dreadful day yet ahead, gave forth the Lord's promise in these words: `Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me.' (Mal. 3:1-6.)"Our Lord Himself applied Malachi's prophecy to John by saying: `This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee,' to which pronouncement He added this testimony relative to His cousin and forerunner: `Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding, he that is [considered] least in the kingdom of heaven [that is, I myself] is greater than He.' (Matt. 11:9-11.)' (The Promised Messiah, pp. 480-481.)