The Dispensation of the Fulness of Times– Part One: Preparing a People for Great Millennium

Introduction the Baptist came to prepare a people, in the last days Joseph Smith would come and restore not only the We are told in the Doctrine and Covenants that the gospel but the people. earth experiences “seven thousand years” of “temporal This reading assignment focuses on preparing a people existence” –from Adam to the end of the Millennium. for the of Christ. Like , the The Joseph Smith (1805-44) stated: Lord would call a prophet to act for Him on the earth. Joseph Smith was foreordained to this work. He would It has been the design of Jehovah, from the commencement of the world, and is His purpose now, to begin a work that would prepare a people–a world-wide regulate the affairs of the world in His own time, to stand people, even –for the second coming of Jesus as a head of the universe, and take the reins of government Christ. in His own hand. Further, Joseph said, “The Lord has at various times” Key Concepts and Teachings set up an earthly government tat would service “the human family” in a righteous manner. He established The Work of the Dispensation of the Fulness of governments with Adam, , , Moses and Times is of Vast Magnitude the children of Israel. These governments were theocratic in nature. But for the most part, mankind rejected these We live in the final gospel dispensation of the Lord’s governments and established their own. But, said the plan. It is called the dispensation of the fulness of times Prophet, (e.g., Eph. 1:10; D&C 27:13; 128:15). It is in this dispensation that “the promises made to the every effort has failed; every plan and design has fallen to fathers”–referring to the great covenants made by God the ground; it needs the wisdom of God, the intelligence of God, and the power of God to accomplish this. The world to Enoch, , Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the ancient has had a fair trial for six thousand years; the Lord will try nation of Israel, and King David–will be fulfilled. In the seventh thousand Himself; "He whose right it is, will September 1840, the Prophet Joseph Smith (1805-44) possess the kingdom, and reign until He has put all things with his two counselors issued the following declaration under His feet;"iniquity will hide its hoary head, Satan will to the Church regarding the importance of this be bound, and the works of darkness destroyed; dispensation: righteousness will be put to the line, and judgment to the plummet, and "he that fears the Lord will alone be exalted The work of the Lord in these last days, is one of vast in that day." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph magnitude and almost beyond the comprehension of Fielding Smith [1976], 250-2) mortals. Its glories are past description, and its grandeur unsurpassable. It is the theme which has animated the Jesus Christ, the rightful heir of this earth, has bosom of and righteous men from the creation of promised to come to the earth and reign over His people. the world down through every succeeding generation to But He must have a people to rule over. The general the present time; and it is truly the dispensation of the apostasy left the world without a covenant people–an fullness of times, when all things which are in Christ authorized people of God, as ancient Israel was to Jesus, whether in heaven or on the earth, shall be gathered Jehovah. together in Him, and when all things shall be restored, as But as it was when He came the first time, so it must spoken of by all the holy prophets since the world began; be when He returns the second time: a messenger must for in it will take place the glorious fulfilment of the be sent to prepare the way, a people must be prepared for promises made to the fathers, while the manifestations of their King. Malachi stated: “Behold, I will send my the power of the Most High will be great, glorious, and sublime. … messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me . . . even the messenger of the covenant” (Mal. 3:1). As John … We feel disposed to go forward and unite our energies for the upbuilding of the Kingdom, and establishing the Priesthood in their fullness and glory. The Church. This phase begins “the gathering of Israel from work which has to be accomplished in the last days is one the four parts of the earth.” of vast importance, and will call into action the energy, skill, talent, and ability of the Saints, so that it may roll forth with that glory and majesty described by the prophet [see Daniel 2:34–35, 44–45]; and will consequently of Doctrinal Truths require the concentration of the Saints, to accomplish Nephi saw the damage done by the great and works of such magnitude and grandeur. (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 512-3) abominable church in which “many parts which are plain and most precious; and also may covenants” were “taken away,” or “taken out,” or “kept back” “from the Latter-day Work Divided into Three Periods or gospel of the Lamb” and “from the book”–or the Bible Phases (1 Ne. 13:5, 26-29, 32, 34). The restoration of doctrinal truths is a necessary aspect of the establishment of Zion Bruce R. McConkie (1915-85) Quorum of the Twelve Apostles which are a people who are “of one heart and one mind” The gathering of Israel and the establishment of Zion (Moses 7:18). in the latter days is divided into three periods or The main sources of doctrinal restoration are the Book phases. The first phase is past; we are now living in the of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and the Joseph second phase; and the third lies ahead. Prophecies Smith Translation and the Book of Abraham. Other speak of them all. If we do not rightly divide the word sources include sermons, such as the King Follett of God, as Paul’s expression is, we will face confusion Discourse, as well as writings including letters, and uncertainty. If on the other hand we correctly declarations, and editorials found in Church owned news envision our proper role and know what should be papers such as the Evening and Morning Star and Times done today, we shall then be able to use our time, and Seasons. talents, and means to the best advantage in building up the kingdom and preparing a people for the second Neal A. Maxwell (1926-2004) Quorum of the Twelve Apostles coming of the Son of Man. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve The three phases of this great latter-day work are as Apostles has pointed out how Joseph Smith has brought follows: forth more printed pages of scripture than did any other mortal. In fact, though untrained in , he Phase I—From the First Vision, the setting up of the accomplished something remarkable. Elder Holland has also kingdom on April 6, 1830, and the coming of Moses observed that more pages came through Joseph Smith than on April 3, 1836, to the secure establishment of the from Moses, Paul, Luke, and Mormon combined! Church in the United States and Canada, a period of Not only is the Restoration’s quantity highly impressive; about 125 years. its quality is stunning! Dazzling truths came through the Prophet Joseph, including key truths lost for centuries during Phase II—From the creation of stakes of Zion in the prophesied doctrinal famine as to the word of the Lord overseas areas, beginning in the 1950s, to the second (see Amos 8:11). (“The Wondrous Restoration,” Ensign, Apr. 2003) coming of the Son of Man, a period of unknown List of doctrinal restoration (new or clarifications about) duration. include (but not limited to) the following:

Phase III—From our Lord’s second coming until • The nature of God; plurality of gods the kingdom is perfected and the knowledge of God • Reality and clarifications of the Godhead covers the earth as the waters cover the sea, and • The roles of Jesus Christ from then until the end of the Millennium, a period • The roles of the Holy Ghost of 1,000 years. (“Come: Let Israel Build Zion,” Ensign, May 1977, • Reality of Satan 115) • Eternal nature and divine destiny of man • The plan of happiness • Premortal existence of man Phase I • The earth: its creation and celestial destiny • Purpose of Mortality An extremely important aspect of the first phase is the • Corrections regarding the Fall of Adam restoration of the everlasting gospel and covenant. This • Purpose of the Atonement will include restoration of gospel truths, priesthood • The fulness of the gospel • History of the gospel from Adam to present (authority, keys, offices, and ordinances), and the • Nature of Priesthood • Priesthood ordinances of salvation and non-salvation nations of the world. The kingdom the Lord would • Continuing revelation for Church and individuals organize would be a church that could exist in different • Eternal nature of marriage and family nations at the same time. Of this, Elder D. Todd • Abrahamic covenant clarifications Christoferrson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles • Role of the house of Israel said: • The gathering of Israel • Millennium [I]n, in the meridian of time, Jesus organized His work • Postmortal existence of man (spirit world, kingdoms of in such a way that the gospel could be established glory and perdition) simultaneously in multiple nations and among diverse • Resurrection clarifications peoples. That organization, the Church of Jesus Christ, • The Last Judgment Day was founded on “apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.” It included Restoration of Priesthood Authority, Keys, additional officers, such as seventies, elders, bishops, priests, teachers, and deacons. (“Why the Church,” Ensign, Nov. Offices, Quorums 2015) Priesthood authorities, keys, offices, ordinances, etc. This was essential for taking the gospel to the gentiles. were revealed from those in the past who held these Without an organization that could exist in any nation, dispensations. Joseph Smith said these were “revealed it would not be possible to take the gospel to all the from the days of Michael [Adam], the archangel; the world. voice of Gabriel [Noah], and of Raphael, and of divers That same church organization was restored through angels, from Michael or Adam down to the present time, Joseph Smith in our day for essentially the same reasons. all declaring their dispensation, their rights, their keys, their honors, their majesty and glory, and the power of Restoration of Temple Ordinances their priesthood; giving line upon line, precept upon precept; here a little, and there a little (D&C 128:18, 21). Earlier in the course, we learned that Adam and Eve received the fulness of the gospel with all its ordinances. Priesthood restoration included the following– We saw that they were taught faith in the Lord Jesus (1) Restoration of Aaronic Priesthood from John the Baptist Christ and repentance of their sins. Further, they were including keys of the ministering angels, the gospel of baptized by full immersion and received the Gift of the repentance, baptism, administering in outward ordinances, and Holy Ghost. As a result, they were “born of the Spirit, the letter (printing) the gospel. This also included the Aaronic and became quickened in the inner man” (Moses 6:65). Priesthood offices of Bishop, Priest, Teacher, and Deacon. We then read that they entered into the “order of him (2) Restoration of Priesthood from Peter, James who was without beginning of days or end of years” and John including the offices of elder and apostle, and keys of (Moses 6:67). Though this sounds like Adam received missionary work, organization of Church, and the laying on of priesthood authority at this time, it is much more than hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. Later, from whom we do that. Speaking of this verse, President Ezra Taft Benson not know, the office of High Priest was restored. said of this, “To enter into the order of the Son of God (3) Temple keys from Moses, Elias, and Elijah including the is the equivalent today of entering into the fullness of keys for the gathering of Israel, the restoration of the ten tribes, the Melchizedek Priesthood, which is only received in the marriage ordinance, and the sealing powers including the the house of the Lord.” (“What I Hope You Will Teach Your binding of husband and wife and the binding of the family of Children About the Temple,” Ensign, Aug. 1985, pp. 6-10) God. With these keys came the temple ordinances of washings We read in Moses 6:7 that “this same Priesthood, and anointings, the endowment, the sealing ordinance of which was in the beginning, shall be in the end of the marriage, and the sealing ordinance of heirship. world also.” As part of the restoration of the gospel, Joseph Smith also restored the temple ordinances. Restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ In restoring these ordinances, Joseph Smith stated that he had gathered a small group together in the upper During his mortal ministry, the Savior established a room of his Red Brick Store in Nauvoo on May 4, 1842 different kind of a kingdom than had existed in the where he “attend[ed] to washings, anointings, patriarchal age or in the days of ancient Israel. Those endowments and the communication of keys pertaining were theocratic kingdoms where Jehovah was king and to the Aaronic Priesthood, and so on to the highest order where there was no separation of church–religion and of the Melchisedek Priesthood, setting forth the order society were one and the same. However in his day, the pertaining to the Ancient of Days [i.e., Adam], and all house of Israel had been scattered among the gentile those plans and principles by which any one is enabled to secure the fullness of those blessings which have been as he received the keys from Moses for the gathering prepared for the Church of the First Born, and come up together of the House of Israel in the latter days, and from and abide in the presence of the Eloheim in the eternal Elijah to seal the hearts of the fathers to the children and worlds. In this council was instituted the ancient order of children to the fathers when Joseph received all these keys, and had power to seal them upon the heads of other men, the things for the first time in these last days.” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 413-4) Lord called him away. Why did he call him into the spirit With the introduction of temple ordinances for the world? Because he held the keys of this dispensation, not living came the only before he came to this world and while he was in the flesh, but he would hold them throughout the endless ages of eternity. He held the keys of past generationsof the millions Temples Provide Place for Proxy Ordinances for of people who dwelt on the earth in the fifty generations that the Dead had passed and gone who had not the law of the gospel, who never saw a prophet, never saw an Apostle, never heard the With the organization of the earthly church voice of any man who was inspired of God and had power commenced the gathering of Israel. But that gathering is to teach them the gospel of Christ, and to organize the going on in both sides of the veil. church of Christ on earth. He went to unlock the prison doors to these people as far as they would receive his Russell M. Nelson Quorum of the Twelve Apostles testimony, and the Saints of God who dwell in the flesh will God the Father and Jesus Christ called upon the Prophet build temples unto the name of the Lord, and enter these Joseph Smith to be the prophet of this dispensation. All temples and perform certain ordinances for the redemption divine powers of previous dispensations were to be restored of the dead. This was the work of Joseph the prophet in the through him. This dispensation of the fulness of times would spirit world. (Conference Report, Apr. 1880, p. 7) not be limited in time or in location. It would not end in apostasy, and it would fill the world. As prophesied by Peter and Paul, all things were to be restored in this dispensation. Therefore, there must come, as The Church Represents the Introduction of the part of that restoration, the long-awaited gathering of Kingdom of God on the Earth scattered Israel. It is a necessary prelude to the Second All that has been mentioned so far is in preparation for the Coming of the Lord. Savior’s kingdom that will be fully restored when He returns This doctrine of the gathering is one of the important to the earth. teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. . . The coming forth of the is a sign to the John Taylor (1808-87) President entire world that the Lord has commenced to gather Israel God was desirous of introducing his kingdom upon the and fulfill covenants He made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. earth, and he had, in the first place, to organize his church, We not only teach this doctrine, but we participate in it. We to organize the people that he had scattered among the do so as we help to gather the elect of the Lord on both sides nations and to bring them together, that there might be one of the veil. (“The Gathering of Scattered Israel,” Ensign, Nov. 2006) fold and one shepherd [see John 10:16], and one Lord, one Through the Prophet Joseph Smith the Lord has made faith, and one baptism, and one God, who should be in all available to all of His children on both sides of the veil and through all [see Ephesians 4:5–6], and by which all the gospel. Missionary work among those in spirit should be governed. To facilitate this object, he organized prison began when Christ went to the spirit world upon his holy priesthood as it existed in the heavens. his death. But it takes vicarious work for the dead to We talk sometimes about the church of God, and why? make available the atonement of Jesus Christ. We talk about the kingdom of God, and why? Because, before there could be a kingdom of God, there must be a The following is an interesting statement made by church of God, and hence the first principles of the gospel President Wilford Woodruff (1807-88) regarding Joseph were needed to be preached to all nations, as they were Smith’s role in the work for the dead on the other side of formerly when the Lord Jesus Christ and others made their the veil: appearance on the earth. And why so? Because of the impossibility of introducing the law of God among a people Joseph Smith remained with us about fourteen years. He who would not be subject to and be guided by the spirit of remained until he had received all the keys of the kingdom revelation. of God which were necessary for the establishment of this church and kingdom, and which were necessary for those God could not build up a kingdom on the earth unless he men who followed him to have those keys upon their had a church and a people who had submitted to his law and shoulders, that they might continue to build upon the were willing to submit to it; and with an organization of such foundation that had been laid; but as soon as Joseph received a people, gathered from among the nations of the earth under the keys of the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthood, as soon the direction of a man inspired of God, the mouthpiece of Jehovah to his people; I say that, with such an organization, there is a chance for the Lord God to be revealed, there is an opportunity for the laws of life to be made manifest, there is a chance for God to introduce the principles of heaven upon the earth and for the will of God to be done upon earth as it is done in heaven. (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: John Taylor [2001], 223)

Restoration of the Kingdom of God

Brigham Young (1801-77) President Out of this Church will grow the Kingdom which Daniel saw. This is the very people that Daniel saw would continue to grow and spread and prosper; and if we are not faithful, others will take our places, for this is the Church and people that will possess the Kingdom for ever and ever. Our work is to bring forth Zion, and produce the Kingdom of God in its perfection and beauty upon the earth. (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young [1997], p. 325) Phase II

We will discuss this phase in class.