Discussion Sheet Name ______The Dispensation of the Fulness of Times Part One: Restoration of Gospel/Order of the Only Begotten: ______Introduction As the Apostle Paul declared, “In the dispensation of the fulness of times [God will] gather together in one all things in Christ, both We live in the final dispensation of the gospel–“the dispensation of which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him” the fulness of times. It is an extremely exciting time to be in the (Ephesians 1:10). (From “To Sweep the Earth as With a Flood,” Aug. second estate of our eternal development. This reading assignment 19, 2014 Campus Education Week at Brigham Young University in is the first of two parts dealing with the restoration of the Gospel. Provo, Ut– https://www.lds.org/prophets-and-apostles/unto-all-the-world/ to-sweep-the-earth-as-with-a-flood?lang=eng) ______The Dispensation of the Fulness of Times Restoration of Gospel Doctrine We live in what the Apostle Paul called the dispensation we live in, the final gospel dispensation (see Ephesians 1:10). This is • First Vision ( ) confirmed in the Doctrine and Covenants in a number of places. • Book of Mormon ( ) Consider the following: • JST of the Bible ( ) *Read D&C 27:13. What does this verse teach about what this dispensation is? • Revelations found in D&C ( ) Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles • Teachings of Joseph Smith ( ) has said following about the dispensation of the fulness of ______times: Restoration of Priesthood Authority We live in a truly distinctive dispensation. A gospel dispensation is a period of time in which the necessary priesthood authority, • Moses 6:7-- ordinances, and doctrinal knowledge are found on the earth to • Priesthood Authority and Keys Restoration implement the Father’s plan of salvation for His children. Essential to the establishment of a dispensation is an authorized G Aaronic ( ) servant of God, a dispensation head, who holds and exercises the authority and keys of the holy priesthood. G Melchizedek ( ) Gospel dispensations were established through Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith, and others. G Gathering of Israel-Restoration ( ) In every dispensation gospel truths are revealed anew—or dispensed—so the people of that period are not entirely G Marriage–Abrahamic Covenant ( ) dependent upon past dispensations for knowledge of Heavenly Father’s plan. G Sealing–Binding ( ) Apostasy from the truth occurred in each previous dispensation. However, the work of salvation that was commenced but not • Offices (also quorums) completed in those earlier eras continues into the final dispensation. The Prophet Joseph Smith explained that for this G Deacon, Teacher, Priest ( ) reason, the rolling forward of the latter-day glory, even the G Elder and Apostle ( ) dispensation of the fulness of times, “is a cause that has G High Priest ( ) interested the people of God in every age; it is a theme upon G Seventy ( ) which prophets, priests and kings have dwelt with peculiar delight; they have looked forward with joyful anticipation to the • Church organization–Spiritual Entity ( ) day in which we live; and fired with heavenly and joyful What ordinances were now available to all who come anticipations they have sung and written and prophesied of this unto Christ? our day” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 186). • Zion, laying the foundation of ( ) In this greatest and last of all gospel dispensations, “a whole and • Kingdom of God –Political Entity ( ) complete and perfect union, and welding together of ______dispensations, and keys, and powers, and glories should take place, and be revealed from the days of Adam even to the Priesthood Ordinances present time. And not only this, but those things which have never been revealed from thefoundation of the world, but have • Baptism (May 1829, April 1830) been kept hid from the wise and the prudent, shall be revealed • Gift of the Holy Ghost (April 1830) … in this, the dispensation of the fulness of times” (D&C 128:18). • Washings and Anointings (May 1842) The Prophet Joseph further expounded: “All the ordinances and • Endowment (May 1842) duties that ever have been required by the Priesthood, under the • Sealings (May 1843) directions and commandments of the Almighty in any of the < Heirship dispensations, shall all be had in the last dispensation … , < Marriage bringing to pass the restoration spoken of by the mouth of all the Holy Prophets” (Teachings: Joseph Smith, 511).