Lesson 62: The Restoration (Part 3)

“Lesson 62: The Restoration (Part 3),” Old Testament Seminary Student Material (2018)

“Lesson 62: The Restoration (Part 3)”

Lesson 62

The Restoration (Part 3)

Prepare to Learn

Prepare your mind and heart to learn. Remember that studying the gospel prayerfully with a desire to learn will help you to be taught and edified by the Holy Ghost.

Begin your study with prayer.

Understanding the doctrine of the restored gospel prepares us to share the gospel with others. Sometimes we may feel that we do not understand the doctrine well enough to teach others. At other times we may feel discouraged because we do not see immediate results from our efforts. Consider this account shared by President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency.

You can read the text for this video here: “The Power of Teaching Doctrine,” Ensign or Liahona, May 1999, 77–79.

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What Do They Have in Common?

Think of what you know about these individuals: Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus Christ, and Joseph Smith.

1. What do these individuals have in common?

Dispensation

One thing that these individuals have in common is that a dispensation is identified with each of them.

Read paragraphs 4.8–4.9 in the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document, looking for the definition of a dispensation.

Quiz 1

What is a dispensation?
1. Help or strength given through the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. The power and authority that God gives to man to act in all things necessary for the salvation of God’s children.
3. A period of time when the Lord reveals His truths, priesthood authority, and ordinances.
4. A period of time when one or more individuals turn away from the truths of the gospel.

Enoch

In every dispensation, the Lord and His prophets have sought to establish Zion. Earlier in this course you learned about Enoch. The Lord called Enoch to be a prophet and opened a new dispensation through him. During Enoch’s dispensation, he and his people were successful in establishing Zion. Read paragraph 4.10 of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document, looking for what Zion is.

Zion

You may want to mark the following key statement of doctrine in your copy of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document: Zion refers to the Lord’s covenant people who are pure in heart, united in righteousness, and care for one another. Zion also refers to a place where the pure in heart live. You may also want to mark Moses 7:18, which is the doctrinal mastery scripture passage that helps teach this truth. By marking it in a distinctive way, you can locate it more easily.

Read Moses 7:18, looking for words or phrases that help teach this key statement of doctrine.

Which of the attributes of Zion stands out to you the most? Why?

Establishing Zion

Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained how we can establish Zion.

You can read the text for this video here: “Come to Zion,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 38.

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“Zion is Zion because of the character, attributes, and faithfulness of her citizens. Remember, ‘the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them’ (Moses 7:18). If we would establish Zion in our homes, branches, wards, and stakes, we must rise to this standard. It will be necessary (1) to become unified in one heart and one mind; (2) to become, individually and collectively, a holy people; and (3) to care for the poor and needy with such effectiveness that we eliminate poverty among us. We cannot wait until Zion comes for these things to happen—Zion will come only as they happen” (D. Todd Christofferson, “Come to Zion,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 38).

2. When have you observed people living like those who lived in Enoch’s Zion?

What Will You Do?

Think about what you can do to help establish Zion in your home, branch or ward, and stake. Determine what you will do, and consider writing it down in your study journal or your Notes on LDS.org.

The Final Dispensation

“The fulness of times is the final dispensation and began with the revelation of the gospel to Joseph Smith” (Bible Dictionary, “Dispensations”). To prepare to answer the following questions, read paragraph 4.11 of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document.

You can also watch the video titled “Dispensations: The Pattern of Apostasy and Restoration,” which is available on LDS.org and the LDS Media Library app.

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3. Answer the following questions:

What is unique about the dispensation of the fulness of times?
What will eventually happen with regard to the growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

A Prophetic Dream

Daniel interpreting Nebuchadnezzar’s dream

You may want to mark the following key statement of doctrine in your copy of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will eventually fill the earth and stand forever. Daniel 2:44 is the doctrinal mastery passage that helps teach this doctrine. Consider marking this passage in a distinctive way so you can locate it more easily.

As recorded in Daniel 2, the prophet Daniel interpreted a dream of Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar in which the king saw a “stone [that] was cut out of the mountain without hands” (Daniel 2:45). This stone broke down a large statue, “became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth” (Daniel 2:34–35).

Read Daniel 2:44, looking for how this verse helps teach the key statement of doctrine you just identified.

The Destiny of the Church

After quoting from Daniel 2:44, Elder Christofferson stated that kingdom in these verses refers to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He also taught about the ultimate destiny of the Church.

You can read the text for this video here: “Why the Church,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 111.

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“The Church is that prophesied latter-day kingdom, not created by man but set up by the God of heaven and rolling forth as a stone ‘cut out of the mountain without hands’ to fill the earth [Daniel 2:45; see also verse 35].

“Its destiny is to establish Zion in preparation for the return and millennial rule of Jesus Christ” (D. Todd Christofferson, “Why the Church,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 111).

Our Time

Consider this statement by President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008) about the times in which we live. Pay attention to what stands out to you or what feelings you have about what he said.

“My brethren and sisters, do you realize what we have? Do you recognize our place in the great drama of human history? This is the focal point of all that has gone before. This is the season of restitution. These are the days of restoration. …

“The centuries have passed. The latter-day work of the Almighty, that of which the ancients spoke, that of which the prophets and apostles prophesied, is come. It is here. …

“Given what we have and what we know, we ought to be a better people than we are. We ought to be more Christlike, more forgiving, more helpful and considerate to all around us. …

“May God bless us with a sense of our place in history and, having been given that sense, with our need to stand tall and walk with resolution in a manner becoming the Saints of the Most High” (Gordon B. Hinckley, “At the Summit of the Ages,” Ensign, Nov. 1999, 74).

4. What thoughts or feelings did you have as you considered President Hinckley’s statement? You may also want to share your testimony of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Participate in the Work

The following truths were identified in this lesson:

Zion refers to the Lord’s covenant people who are pure in heart, united in righteousness, and care for one another.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will eventually fill the earth and stand forever.

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints participate in the important work of establishing Zion. Determine what you will do to help establish Zion.

Answer Key

Quiz 1: (1) c