The Dispensation of the Fulness of Times

A gospel dispensation is a period of time in which God dispensesgospel doctrines, powers, covenants and saving ordinances through a living prophet so that men do not need to rely on past knowledge. Some former gospel dispensations have been under the prophetic direction of Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Peter, James and John.

Gospel dispensations follow periods of apostasy

Because God loves his children he mercifully calls them back—just as parents call back their wayward children. How? By calling another prophet to begin a new gospel dispensation. Suddenly, with a prophet of God again on the earth, the heavens are opened, and divine revelation and power are poured out upon a thirsty world.

The world needed a new gospel dispensation

The martyrdom of Jesus Christ and his apostles closed the door on the gospel dispensation of the meridian of times. The world fell into a long and dark period of apostasy that lasted almost 2,000 years. This apostasy is often called The Great Apostasy. During that time, neither prophets nor continuing revelation could be found on Earth; neither could be found God’s power to administer the saving ordinances of the gospel. Once again, the world was parched for living water. And once again God showed his love by calling a new prophet to open a new gospel dispensation.

The Prophet Joseph Smith opened the new gospel dispensation

That prophet was Joseph Smith, and the name of that gospel dispensation is The Dispensation of the Fulness of Times—the gospel dispensation in which we now live.

This dispensation was anticipated by and spoken of by prophets throughout history. It is considered the greatest of all gospel dispensations because its purpose is to prepare the world for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. In the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times all the rights, knowledge, truths, principles and powers of former gospel dispensations were to be restored—and now have been restored--by the actual ancient prophets—who are now angels of God—who held the keys to those powers and blessings.

Now, in the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times, the complete gospel of Jesus Christ is upon the Earth as is the kingdom of God: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Today, as in ancient times, we have a living prophet who guides and directs the Church of Jesus Christ, and provides us with continuing revelation from God.

Questions about 'The Dispensation of the Fulness of Times'

• What is a gospel dispensation?



• Why is God's calling a living prophet essential to a new gospel dispensation?



• What happened when Jesus and his apostles were martyred?



• Who did God call as his prophet to open the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times?



• In this gospel dispensation, what is there a fulnessof? Does the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints lack any saving knowledge or power?