Lesson Recap: The Dispensation of the Fulness of Times

...a whole and complete and perfect union,

and welding together of dispensations, and keys,

and powers, and glories should take place

Joseph Smith, Lesson 44, The Restoration of All Things: The Dispensation of the Fulness of Times Taught by Marie Tiller, November 8, 2009

In this last dispensation, all the authority, ordinances, and knowledge of earlier dispensations have been restored.

The dispensation of the fullness of times will bring to light the things that have been revealed in all former dispensations; also other things that have not been before revealed.

We have seen restored the Priesthood, temples, the Book of Mormon, the Church organization, and revelation of doctrine, ordinances, and covenants.

Doctrine and Convenants 27:12-13:

...I have ordained you and confirmed you to be apostles, and especial witnesses of my name, and bear the keys of your ministry and of the same things which I revealed unto them;

Unto whom I have committed the keys of my kingdom, and a dispensation of the gospel for the last times; and for the fulness of times, in the which I will gather together in one all things, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth;

This dispensation is all about bringing together both heaven and earth for the last time.

Joseph Smith holds the keys of the dispensation of the fulness of times

I calculate to be one of the instruments of setting up the kingdom of Daniel by the word of the Lord, and I intend to lay a foundation that will revolutionize the whole world.

 It is a world that needs what Jesus Christ and his gospel have to offer. Celestial living, being of one mind and purpose, having no poor among us. Poor being those poor in material things, in spiritual things, and in moral fortitude.

This final dispensation is of such vast importance that it requires the complete, unselfish dedication of the Saints. 

In this day when distraction is an effective tool of the adversary, we need to concentrate.

The work which has to be accomplished in the last days is one 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 require the concentration of the Saints, to accomplish works of such magnitude and grandeur.

We must "lay aside every selfish principle, everything low and groveling; and stand forward in the cause of truth." This ties very well to the Sacrament meeting on missionary work and the Sunday School lesson on the missionaries in those early days. It's time to concentrate on building up Zion.

“The heavenly Priesthood will unite with the earthly, to bring about those great purposes; and whilst we are thus united in the one common cause, to roll forth the kingdom of God, the heavenly Priesthood are not idle spectators, the Spirit of God will be showered down from above, and it will dwell in our midst. The blessings of the Most High will rest upon our tabernacles, and our name will be handed down to future ages; our children will rise up and call us blessed; and generations yet unborn will dwell with peculiar delight upon the scenes that we have passed through, the privations that we have endured, the untiring zeal that we have manifested, the all but insurmountable difficulties that we have overcome in laying the foundation of a work that brought about the glory and blessing which they will realize; a work that God and angels have contemplated with delight for generations past; that fired the souls of the ancient patriarchs and prophets; a work that is destined to bring about the destruction of the powers of darkness, the renovation of the earth, the glory of God, and the salvation of the human family.”

We do rise up and call the early Saints blessed for all they passed through in order to lay the foundations of the church.

Ellen

Photo Credit: Del Parson