Lessons of 2025
Lesson No. Forty-Three

Things Pertaining to the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times

“A dispensation of the gospel is a period of time in which the Lord has at least one authorized servant on the earth who bears the holy priesthood and the keys, and who has a divine commission to dispense the gospel to the inhabitants of the earth. When this occurs, the gospel is revealed anew so that people of that dispensation do not have to depend basically on past dispensations for knowledge of the plan of salvation” (LDS Bible Dictionary, Dispensations).

The plan of salvation, centered on the atonement of Jesus Christ, has been revealed and understood in all dispensations beginning with Adam. Great things happened in prior dispensations; the atonement took place in the Meridian Dispensation. Abraham, Moses, the brother of Jared and Nephi were dispensation heads. All prior dispensations ended in apostasy. In the dispensation of the fulness of times, headed by Joseph Smith, individuals will apostatize, but there will not be a general apostasy. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will increase and be in place at the Second Coming.

“A whole and complete and perfect union” of all prior dispensations are welded together in the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times. The Prophet Joseph was visited by all dispensation heads from “Adam down to the present time, all declaring their dispensations, their rights, their keys, their honors, their majesty and glory, and the power of their priesthood….” These dispensation heads taught Joseph “giving line upon line, precept upon precept; here a little, and there a little; giving us consolation by holding forth that which is to come, confirming our hope” (D&C 128:18, 21).

The Lord has revealed doctrine that pertains to our dispensation that has never been revealed before. “For I deign to reveal unto my church things which have been kept hid from before the foundation of the world, things that pertain to the dispensation of the fulness of times” (D&C 124:41). Children in our dispensation understand things that have been “kept hidden from the wise and prudent” in prior dispensations (D&C 128:18). These doctrines include:

1. Redeeming the dead pertains to the dispensation of the fullness of times – Any temple work performed for the Dead in New Testament times or among the Nephites was very limited in time and place. In our dispensation the Lord has provided modern technology, communications, and transportation to overcome the limitations of the past and move his work forward worldwide.

2. The work of our dispensation takes place and is correlated on both sides of the veil - “I beheld that the faithful elders of this dispensation, when they depart from mortal life, continue their labors in the preaching of the gospel of repentance and redemption, through the sacrifice of the Only begotten son of God, among those who are in darkness and under the bondage of sin in the great world of the spirits of the dead” (D&C 138:57).

In a sermon describing the revelation on the priesthood received by President Spencer W. Kimball on June 1, 1978, Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained that this revelation was of “tremendous import and of eternal significance” because it “affects our missionary work and all of our preaching to the world. This affects our genealogical research and all of our temple ordinances. This affects what is going on in the spirit world because the gospel is preached in the spirit world preparatory to men’s receiving the vicarious ordinances which make them heirs to salvation and exaltation. We correlate and combine our activities and do certain things for the salvation of men while we are in mortality, and then certain things are done for the salvation of men while they are in the spirit world awaiting the day of resurrection” (All are Alike Unto God).

Temple worship is restored precept upon precept – The Book of Mormon came literally “line upon line”, and temple worship is restored to living prophets “precept upon precept”. Prophets, like the rest of mankind, received insights and revelation when they are in tune with God and are prepared to receive them. Some examples follow:

Joseph saw his brother Alvin in the celestial kingdom. He “marveled how it was he had obtained an inheritance in that kingdom, seeing that he had departed this life and had not been baptized for the remission of sins. Thus came the voice of the Loud unto me, saying: All who have died without a knowledge of this gospel who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God” (D&C 137:5-7).

Joseph’s life built up to a great crescendo. In Nauvoo during the last three years of his life Joseph gave 78 discourses mostly about the temple and after life. But even then he never revealed everything he knew. Joseph could have taught the saints a hundred times more about life after death if the Lord permitted it, and if the people were prepared to receive it.

Wilford Woodruff In 1894 introduced the current practice of sealing members to their own ancestors. This change he said was the result of continuous revelation. Living prophets have continued to restore many important aspects of Temple worship:

- President Joseph F. Smith was given D&C 138 concerning the redemption of the dead.

- President Spencer W. Kimball gave Official Declaration 2 which made all people eligible for temple blessings.

- Elder Gordon B. Hinckley prepared the video presentation of the temple endowment. President Hinckley built more and smaller temples.

- President Russell M. Nelson accelerated temple building, clarified and shortened the temple endowment, and emphasized the importance of temple worship.

Testimony. Like living prophets our understanding of the importance of the temple comes precept upon precept as we regularly worship in the House of the Lord – Near the end of his life Joseph Smith noted: “I spent the day instructing in the principles and order of the Priesthood, and so on to the highest order of the Melchizedek Priesthood….and there is nothing made known to these men but what will be made known to all the Saints of the last days, as soon as they are prepared to receive, and a proper place is prepared to communicate them…therefore let the Saints be diligent in building the temple knowing assuredly that all these things…are always governed by the principles of revelation” (HC 5:1).

Released on November 9th. 2025.