The Dispensation of the Fulness of Times

Joseph Smith helped lay the foundation for the latter-day work.

“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. … The fulness of times is the final dispensation, and began with the revelation of the gospel to Joseph Smith. … It is a glorious time, the time in which we live today” (Bible Dictionary, “Dispensations”). Here are some of Joseph Smith’s teachings on this gospel dispensation.*

This Is the Final Dispensation

“It is in the order of heavenly things that God should always send a new dispensation into the world when men have apostatized from the truth and lost the priesthood.”

“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.”

Joseph Smith Laid the Foundation

“Every man who has a calling to minister to the inhabitants of the world was ordained to that very purpose in the Grand Council of heaven before this world was. I suppose that I was ordained to this very office in that Grand Council.”

“I calculate to be one of the instruments of setting up the kingdom of Daniel by the word of the Lord [see Daniel 2:44–45], and I intend to lay a foundation that will revolutionize the whole world.”

We Can Help in the Lord’s Work

“Feeling desirous to carry out the purposes of God … ; and to be co-workers with Him in this last dispensation; we feel the necessity of having the hearty cooperation of the Saints. … It will be necessary for the Saints to hearken to counsel and turn their attention to the Church, the establishment of the Kingdom, and lay aside every selfish principle.”

“The heavenly Priesthood will unite with the earthly. … Generations yet unborn will dwell with peculiar delight upon the scenes that we have passed through … in laying the foundation of 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.”