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JON - How do we know we are in the last dispensation, is there scripture on that? Also, is there scripture that says that the Prophet Joseph Smith would be the last Prophet or I should say the last Dispensational Prophet? One more, when Christ comes will there be no churches and it will something like "come follow me" and all will come or do you think another church will be established with another prophet?
JOEL - We believe we are now living in the "dispensation of the fulness of times" as talked about in Ephesians when all is restored.
"That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:" (Eph. 1: 10)
Paul is talking here about a future period of time that he designates as the "dispensation of the fulness of times", where all things are gathered together, including Christ's gospel and the gathering of Israel. We believe that our time now corresponds to this final dispensation.
The Doctrine and Covenants says:
"For unto you, the Twelve, and those, the First Presidency, who are appointed with you to be your counselors and your leaders, is the power of this priesthood given, for the last days and for the last time, in the which is the dispensation of the fulness of times, (D&C 112: 30)
It is also the seventh dispensation of history; the number seven representing completeness.
President Joseph F. Smith said:
"The theology of our Church is the theology taught by Jesus Christ and his apostles, the theology of scripture and reason. It not only acknowledges the sacredness of ancient scripture and the binding force of divinely-inspired acts and utterances in ages past; but also declares that God now speaks to man in this final gospel dispensation." (AN ADDRESS. THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS TO THE WORLD, March 26, 1907)
David W. Patten said:
"It means this, that the dispensation of the fullness of times is made up of all the dispensations that ever have been given since the world began, until this time." The Dispensation of the Fulness of Times (that is, the Dispensation of the Fulness of Dispensations) is a composite dispensation, comprising all the keys, powers, authorities, and revelations that have been committed to man in all former ages of time. It is to be a dispensation of consummation and of fulfillment. The Prophet thus declared: "The dispensation of the fulness of times will bring to light the things that have been revealed in all former dispensations." (History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
With regards to Joseph Smith President Brigham Young said:
"It was decreed in the counsels of eternity, long before the foundations of the earth were laid, that he should be the man, in the last dispensation of this world, to bring forth the word of God to the people, and receive the fulness of the keys and power of the Priesthood of the Son of God. The Lord had his eye upon him, and upon his father, and upon his father's father, and upon their progenitors clear back to Abraham, and from Abraham to the flood, from the flood to Enoch, and from Enoch to Adam. He has watched that family and that blood as it has circulated from its fountain to the birth of that man. He was fore-ordained in eternity to preside over this last dispensation, as much so as ... Jesus to be the Saviour of the world." (Journal of Discourses 7:289-90; hereafter JD; emphasis added)
Regarding the Millennium Elder Bruce R. McConkie said:
The Millennium will be the long hoped for age of peace when Christ will reign personally upon the earth when the earth will be renewed; when corruption, death, and disease will cease; and when the kingdom of God on earth will be fully established in all its glory, beauty, and perfection. Various aspects of everyday life as we know it in mortality will continue during the Millennium. Children will still be born, grow up, marry, advance to old age, and pass through something equivalent to death. Crops will be planted, harvested, and eaten; industries will be expanded, cities built, and education fostered; men will continue to care for their own needs, handle their own affairs, and enjoy free agency to live out their time under the direct leadership of Jesus(Isa. 65:20-25, D. & C. 101:23- 31, 3 Nephi 28: 30-40) (Mormon Doctrine)
Elder Joseph Fielding Smith said:
"Some members of the Church have an erroneous idea that when the millennium comes all of the people are going to be swept off the earth except righteous members of the Church. That is not so. There will be millions of people, Catholics, Protestants, agnostics, Mohammedans, people of all classes, and of all beliefs, still permitted to remain upon the face of the earth, but they will be those who have lived clean lives, those who have been free from wickedness and corruption. All who belong, by virtue of their good lives, to the terrestrial order, as well as those who have kept the celestial laws, will remain upon the face of the earth during the millennium.
Eventually, however, the knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters do the sea. But there will be need for the preaching of the gospel, after the millennium is brought in, until all men are either converted or pass away." (Church News, Nov. 3, 1934; Doctrines of Salvation, 1:86)
So the church will continue to exist with a prophet at it's head and missionaries spreading the gospel.
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