Mormon Beliefs: Part IV: Prophetic Dispensations

God has shown his love to us throughout the ages by calling prophets to lead his children, (Amos 3:7, Old Testament; Ephesians 2:19-20, Ephesians 4:11-14, New Testament). He does not want us to be left unguided in this life. From the beginning of time, the Lord has spoken to us through His prophets, who have been given the authority to act in God’s name, which is called the priesthood. These words of God have been recorded in the scriptures for our benefit. Whenever people disregard the words of the prophets, they distance themselves from the Lord and fall into spiritual darkness. When this condition is widespread, it leads to an apostasy and God withdraws His authority from the earth. At the end of an apostasy, the Lord calls another prophet and gives him priesthood authority.

This pattern of prophetic dispensations has occurred since the beginning of time, starting with Adam and continuing with Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Moses for the first five dispensations. Each dispensation was started with the calling of these prophets. Eventually, people have used their agency to reject the gospel and fall into apostasy in each dispensation.

The sixth dispensation was opened when Christ came to the earth and again reestablished his church. He called twelve apostles and laid his hands on their heads to give them the priesthood authority (or keys), (Matthew 16:19, New Testament; Mark 3:14). Following His atonement, death and resurrection, the apostles were left with the authority to build up his church and preach the gospel to the world. However, after Christ left the earth, the apostles were persecuted and eventually killed, which again removed the priesthood from the earth. This began the period known as the “Great Apostasy,” which was prophesied to come, (Matthew 24:9-11, New Testament; Acts 20:28-30, New Testament; 1 Timothy 4:1-3, 2 Timothy 4:3-4, 2 Peter 2:1-2, New Testament; 1 Nephi 11:34, Book of Mormon). Without priesthood authority to preside over the church, the doctrines established by Christ became corrupted, resulting in unauthorized changes to church organization and ordinances. (Isaiah 24:5, Old Testament) People were left to rely on human wisdom to interpret the scriptures.

Mormon Beliefs: Part V: The Restoration

In the seventh and final dispensation, the dispensation of the “fulness of times,” or the restitution of all things, the Lord again called a prophet to lead and direct his children on earth. This was foretold by the prophets of old, (The Acts 3:19-22, New Testament; Deuteronomy 18:15, Old Testament). During this time, the United States was one of the only countries with religious freedom and there was much religious excitement throughout the eastern states. Joseph Smith was a young boy at the time who desired to, “know which of all the sects was right.” Ephesians 4:5 taught that there was “one Lord, one faith, one baptism,” but Joseph Smith was confused about which church to join. He could not conclude which church was right or wrong. During this time he turned to the Bible for guidance, and found James 1:5, which reads, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” Because of this scripture, he decided to ask God which church he should join.

In the spring of 1820, he retired into a grove of trees and knelt in prayer. Of this experience, he said, “I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me…When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other--This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” Joseph Smith was told that none of the churches were totally correct. Even though many good people believed in Christ and tried to teach his gospel, they did not have the fulness of the truth or the priesthood authority to baptize and perform other saving ordinances. Just as the Lord had done with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and others, he called Joseph Smith as the prophet to open the final dispensation and restore the “fulness” of the gospel to the earth.

With the Restoration of the fulness of times, the authority of God was again given to man on earth to lead and direct Christ’s church, and perform sacred ordinances. God does not cease to be a God of miracles and has not ceased to speak to and direct his people through prophets. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8, New Testament; Mormon 9:9, Book or Mormon). Among the priesthood keys includes the power to seal in heaven and on earth, (Matthew 16:19, New Testament; Helaman 10:7, Book of Mormon). We believe that marriage is ordained of God. We believe that families can be together forever, that if a man and woman are married under priesthood authority, they can be sealed together for, “time and all eternity,” rather than, “until death do us part.” Families are meant to exist throughout the eternities.