Mormon Dispensations?

[inquiringmind]

On another thread, someone mentioned "the Mormon concept of Dispensations," and I find that somewhat confusing

I know how the term "Dispensations" is used by Catholics and Evangelicals (i.e. the dispensation of innocence from Adam to Noah, government from Noah to Moses, Law From Moses to Jesus, Grace from Jesus to 2nd coming), but I thought the Mormon view was that there's really only one Dispensation?

What is "the Mormon concept of Dispensations"?

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

On another thread, someone mentioned "the Mormon concept of Dispensations," and I find that somewhat confusing

I know how the term "Dispensations" is used by Catholics and Evangelicals (i.e. the dispensation of innocence from Adam to Noah, government from Noah to Moses, Law From Moses to Jesus, Grace from Jesus to 2nd coming), but I thought the Mormon view was that there's really only one Dispensation?

What is "the Mormon concept of Dispensations"?

About the same, there are no "Mormon Dispensations", only "Dispensations".

[Stone holm]

We believe in seven dispensations with the seventh being the Millenium not sure we have names for them but each has a principal leader who holds the keys to that dispensation. They will all account for their leadership at Adam Ondi Ahman. Not sure i can name the leaders: Adam who was Michael, Noah who was Gabrielle, Enoch, Moses who was Raphael, Peter, and Joseph Smith ... I think that is correct, but would not swear to it.

[Duncan]

We believe in seven dispensations with the seventh being the Millenium not sure we have names for them but each has a principal leader who holds the keys to that dispensation. They will all account for their leadership at Adam Ondi Ahman. Not sure i can name the leaders: Adam who was Michael, Noah who was Gabrielle, Enoch, Moses who was Raphael, Peter, and Joseph Smith ... I think that is correct, but would not swear to it.

I think you mean Gabriel, Gabrielle is a woman's name and unless there was something funky going on I don't think Noah was a lady

[Lightbearer]

Basically in LDS thought a dispensation is a period of restoration of Gospel truth through the ages. For example Adam received the first dispensation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and in fact was baptized and received all the ordinances. Previous to Christ, the law of Sacrifice was taught in which the firstlings of the flock were required to be sacrificed. In fact the Lord proscribed that these sacrifices be done looking forward to the sacrifice of the Son of God in the dispensation of the Meridian of Time:

"And Adam and Eve, his wife, called upon the name of the Lord, and they heard the voice of the Lord from the way toward the Garden of Eden, speaking unto them, and they saw him not; for they were shut out from his presence. And he gave unto them commandments, that they should worship the Lord their God, and should offer the firstlings of their flocks, for an offering unto the Lord. And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord. And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me. And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth. Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore. And in that day the Holy Ghost fell upon Adam, which beareth record of the Father and the Son, saying: I am the Only Begotten of the Father from the beginning, henceforth and forever, that as thou hast fallen thou mayest be redeemed, and all mankind, even as many as will." (Pearl of Great Price | Moses 5:4-9)

So the Gospel is not something that suddenly came in 33 A.D. but it was taught from Adam. While many apostatized from the fulness of the Gospel and made gods of their own ideas, the Lord always restored His truth to the earth. Enoch also received a dispensation:

"And as Enoch spake forth the words of God, the people trembled, and could not stand in his presence. And he said unto them: Because that Adam fell, we are; and by his fall came death; and we are made partakers of misery and woe. Behold Satan hath come among the children of men, and tempteth them to worship him; and men have become carnal, sensual, and devilish, and are shut out from the presence of God. But God hath made known unto our fathers that all men must repent. And he called upon our father Adam by his own voice, saying: I am God; I made the world, and men before they were in the flesh. And he also said unto him: If thou wilt turn unto me, and hearken unto my voice, and believe, and repent of all thy transgressions, and be baptized, even in water, in the name of mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth, which is Jesus Christ, the only name which shall be given under heaven, whereby salvation shall come unto the children of men, ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, asking all things in his name, and whatsoever ye shall ask, it shall be given you. And our father Adam spake unto the Lord, and said: Why is it that men must repent and be baptized in water? And the Lord said unto Adam: Behold I have forgiven thee thy transgression in the Garden of Eden. Hence came the saying abroad among the people, that the Son of God hath atoned for original guilt, wherein the sins of the parents cannot be answered upon the heads of the children, for they are whole from the foundation of the world. And the Lord spake unto Adam, saying: Inasmuch as thy children are conceived in sin, even so when they begin to grow up, sin conceiveth in their hearts, and they taste the bitter, that they may know to prize the good. And it is given unto them to know good from evil; wherefore they are agents unto themselves, and I have given unto you another law and commandment. Wherefore teach it unto your children, that all men, everywhere, must repent, or they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God, for no unclean thing can dwell there, or dwell in his presence; for, in the language of Adam, Man of Holiness is his name, and the name of his Only Begotten is the Son of Man, even Jesus Christ, a righteous Judge, who shall come in the meridian of time." (Pearl of Great Price | Moses 6:47-57)

These teachings were had from the begining but because of wickedness and apostacy they have been lost and thus the Lord called other prophets to restore these things. Noah also had his own dispensation, as also Abraham who had much of the Gospel revealed to him. Moses also received the Gospel but because of Israel's rebellion the Law of Moses was added to the Gospel until John, who was to prepare the way for the Son of God. After Christ was put to death and worked out the atonement, Peter, James, and John carried on until the great whore drove the church into the wilderness. Then in the dispensation of the fullness of times God raised up the Prophet Joseph Smith and this dispensation will usher in the Millenium:

"Which John I have sent unto you, my servants, Joseph Smith, Jun., and Oliver Cowdery, to ordain you unto the first priesthood which you have received, that you might be called and ordained even as Aaron; And also Elijah, unto whom I have committed the keys of the power of turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers, that the whole earth may not be smitten with a curse; And also with Joseph and Jacob, and Isaac, and Abraham, your fathers, by whom the promises remain; And also with Michael, or Adam, the father of all, the prince of all, the ancient of days; And also with Peter, and James, and John, whom I have sent unto you, by whom I have ordained you and confirmed you to be apostles, and especial witnesses of my name, and bear the keys of your ministry and of the same things which I revealed unto them; Unto whom I have committed the keys of my kingdom, and a dispensation of the gospel for the last times; and for the fulness of times, in the which I will gather together in one all things, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; And also with all those whom my Father hath given me out of the world."

(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 27:8-14)

Thus we have a glorious heritage, a royal priesthood all dispensations to be gathered in this last great dispensation in prepration for the bridegroom who will come in clouds of glory. So the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not just an afterthought, or some kind of contengency plan because the revelation of the fathers and Moses were not possible to fulfill, but that the sacrifice of the lamb of God was planned from before the foundation of the world and that the same ordinances were necessary to save Adam, Abraham, Israel, and Moses as were necessary to save Peter, James and John and so are just as necessary for Joseph Smith or any other man or woman of this generation. Hope this helps.

[Calm]

We believe in seven dispensations with the seventh being the Millenium not sure we have names for them but each has a principal leader who holds the keys to that dispensation. They will all account for their leadership at Adam Ondi Ahman. Not sure i can name the leaders: Adam who was Michael, Noah who was Gabrielle, Enoch, Moses who was Raphael, Peter, and Joseph Smith ... I think that is correct, but would not swear to it.

Where does it say that Moses is Raphael?

[Questing Beast]

Yep, that's new to me. I thought that Moses was Moses. I've heard that Christ was the leader of his dispensation. Elijah? Let's ask Cleon Skousen ....

[Stone holm]

Where does it say that Moses is Raphael?

The auto correct did something weird with Gabriel . Am I wrong about Moses ' angelic name? Yes, Christ was at his Dispensation, but thought he put the keys of that Dispensation in Peter's hands could be and probably am wrong. Will try to recall why I associated the name with Moses, hope it wasn't Skousen.

[mfbukowski]

Basically in LDS thought a dispensation is a period of restoration of Gospel truth through the ages. For example Adam received the first dispensation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and in fact was baptized and received all the ordinances. Previous to Christ, the law of Sacrifice was taught in which the firstlings of the flock were required to be sacrificed. In fact the Lord proscribed that these sacrifices be done looking forward to the sacrifice of the Son of God in the dispensation of the Meridian of Time:

So the Gospel is not something that suddenly came in 33 A.D. but it was taught from Adam. While many apostatized from the fulness of the Gospel and made gods of their own ideas, the Lord always restored His truth to the earth. Enoch also received a dispensation: These teachings were had from the begining but because of wickedness and apostacy they have been lost and thus the Lord called other prophets to restore these things. Noah also had his own dispensation, as also Abraham who had much of the Gospel revealed to him. Moses also received the Gospel but because of Israel's rebellion the Law of Moses was added to the Gospel until John, who was to prepare the way for the Son of God. After Christ was put to death and worked out the atonement, Peter, James, and John carried on until the great whore drove the church into the wilderness. Then in the dispensation of the fullness of times God raised up the Prophet Joseph Smith and this dispensation will usher in the Millenium: Thus we have a glorious heritage, a royal priesthood all dispensations to be gathered in this last great dispensation in prepration for the bridegroom who will come in clouds of glory. So the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not just an afterthought, or some kind of contengency plan because the revelation of the fathers and Moses were not possible to fulfill, but that the sacrifice of the lamb of God was planned from before the foundation of the world and that the same ordinances were necessary to save Adam, Abraham, Israel, and Moses as were necessary to save Peter, James and John and so are just as necessary for Joseph Smith or any other man or woman of this generation. Hope this helps.

Yep, that's the doctrine well stated.

[3DOP]

On another thread, someone mentioned "the Mormon concept of Dispensations," and I find that somewhat confusing

I know how the term "Dispensations" is used by Catholics and Evangelicals (i.e. the dispensation of innocence from Adam to Noah, government from Noah to Moses, Law From Moses to Jesus, Grace from Jesus to 2nd coming), but I thought the Mormon view was that there's really only one Dispensation?

What is "the Mormon concept of Dispensations"?

Hi inquiring mind,

No worries about maybe misunderstanding Catholic thinking a little, but the word dispensation is much more commonly used among Catholics as..."an act whereby in a particular case a lawful superior grants relaxation from an existing law." ----http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05041a.htm

So understood, "to dispense" seems to be to put something aside for a particular purpose without permanent suppression.

Having been a Baptist minister with Dispensational leanings, and now Catholic a layman, for what it is worth, in my opinion, very few Catholics are familiar with "Dispensational Theology", which divides different eras of world history according to particular events in the Bible under which God deals with His children in different ways. The most important theological change in a move from Baptist to Catholic thought, was to question a presupposed Dispensational theology. I should mention that Reformed Baptists (Calvinist) also categorically reject Dispensationalism.

Dispensational Theology, which has its roots in the late 19th Century is at odds with Covenant Theology. Covenant Theology is common to all of the Reformation Churches, some of whom you would consider Evangelical, include Lutherans, Calvinists, Anglicans, and the Reformed Baptists already mentioned. Dispensationalism says that the "Church Age" in which we now live, would never have happened if the Jews had accepted Christ. It understands all of the promises of the Old Testament with references to Jerusalem or Zion to require fulfillment in a renewed Judaism comprised of ethnic Jews. Some even go so far as to teach that the Temple will rebuilt with efficacious animal sacrifices and salvation by works in the next "dispensation" . Covenant Theology, which would broadly include Catholics teaches that the New Testament Church is identified in the Old Testament as Zion or Jerusalem. I think there are few Catholics who would be familiar with the use of the word "dispensation" as commonly used among modern American, community church Evangelicals. Instead, Catholics might ask Father for a dispensation from our Sunday obligation to go camping.

3DOP

Edited May 12, 2013 by 3DOP

[MormonMason]

The auto correct did something weird with Gabriel . Am I wrong about Moses ' angelic name? Yes, Christ was at his Dispensation, but thought he put the keys of that Dispensation in Peter's hands could be and probably am wrong. Will try to recall why I associated the name with Moses, hope it wasn't Skousen.

Some, such as Bruce R. McConkie, associated Enoch with Raphael. I have never read any LDS or other author who associated him with Moses.

[Robert F. Smith]

Hi inquiring mind,

No worries about maybe misunderstanding Catholic thinking a little, but the word dispensation is much more commonly used among Catholics as..."an act whereby in a particular case a lawful superior grants relaxation from an existing law." ----http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05041a.htm

So understood, "to dispense" seems to be to put something aside for a particular purpose without permanent suppression.

Having been a Baptist minister with Dispensational leanings, and now Catholic a layman, for what it is worth, in my opinion, very few Catholics are familiar with "Dispensational Theology", which divides different eras of world history according to particular events in the Bible under which God deals with His children in different ways. The most important theological change in a move from Baptist to Catholic thought, was to question a presupposed Dispensational theology. I should mention that Reformed Baptists (Calvinist) also categorically reject Dispensationalism.

Dispensational Theology, which has its roots in the late 19th Century is at odds with Covenant Theology. Covenant Theology is common to all of the Reformation Churches, some of whom you would consider Evangelical, include Lutherans, Calvinists, Anglicans, and the Reformed Baptists already mentioned. Dispensationalism says that the "Church Age" in which we now live, would never have happened if the Jews had accepted Christ. It understands all of the promises of the Old Testament with references to Jerusalem or Zion to require fulfillment in a renewed Judaism comprised of ethnic Jews. Some even go so far as to teach that the Temple will rebuilt with efficacious animal sacrifices and salvation by works in the next "dispensation" . Covenant Theology, which would broadly include Catholics teaches that the New Testament Church is identified in the Old Testament as Zion or Jerusalem. I think there are few Catholics who would be familiar with the use of the word "dispensation" as commonly used among modern American, community church Evangelicals. Instead, Catholics might ask Father for a dispensation from our Sunday obligation to go camping.

3DOP

That's my understanding of RC dispensations also, Rory,

as in a "special dispensation" to do something outside the ordinary schedule. As in Spanish dispense "allow me, excuse me."

As for the notion that a temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem at which animal sacrifices will be offered, some Jews have been preparing for that event, see http://www.templeinstitute.org/ . However, the Jews don't believe in salvation by works, but rather that salvation is free and that all Israel will be saved. That is what Prof. Amy-Jill Levine of Vanderbilt University says.

Mormons likewise believe that the temple in Jerusalem will be rebuilt and that animal sacrifices will be offered there, and they also declare that salvation is free and not earned by works, i.e., all are saved and will be resurrected to eternal life -- with the proviso that only those who have obeyed the commandments and endured to the end will inherit the Celestial Kingdom and will be allowed to sit down at the right hand of God with Jesus Christ. The offering of the Celestial Glory is universal to all, both living and dead, and is conditional only on acceptance. Others will inherit lesser kingdoms of glory where they will not have eternal increase and will not be ministering angels. The lesser glories will be presided over by Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Those destined for outer darkness (Perdition) are few, but they have self-chosen it (as did Satan and his horde), and they will not even have the companionship of their fellow apostates. A very sad prospect.

[Stone holm]

Some, such as Bruce R. McConkie, associated Enoch with Raphael. I have never read any LDS or other author who associated him with Moses.

Okay, I probably got that wrong, my ultimate Earthly Authority is questioning whether I got the number Dispensations correct as well.

[volgadon]

However, the Jews don't believe in salvation by works, but rather that salvation is free and that all Israel will be saved. That is what Prof. Amy-Jill Levine of Vanderbilt University says.

All of Israel have a share in the world to come, says the t. Sanhedrin in the Balyonian Talmud, except for those who don't, and then goes on to list all whose behaviour means they won't...

[Calm]

There is a chart on this page that contains the lower stuff, but I don't know how to make it into an image:

http://tinyurl.com/c23qzem (hopefully this will work, but if not it is in Duties and Blessings of the Priesthood, Part A, Lesson 2, page 8

MILLENNIUM

DISPENSATION OF THE FULNESS OF TIMES

Joseph Smith and Other Latter-day Prophets

Church Restored (D&C 20:1)

Priesthood Restored (D&C 13; 27:8, 12–13)

Great Apostasy

DISPENSATION OF THE MERIDIAN OF TIME

Jesus Christ and His Apostles

(Matthew 16:19; Hebrews 5:5–10; 3 Nephi 11:19–22; 3 Nephi 12:1)

Apostasy

MOSAIC DISPENSATION

(D&C 84:6)

Apostasy

DISPENSATION OF ABRAHAM

(D&C 84:14; Abraham 1:16, 18)

Apostasy

DISPENSATION OF NOAH

(Moses 8:19–20)

Apostasy

DISPENSATION OF ENOCH

(D&C 107:48, 53)

Apostasy

ADAMIC DISPENSATION

D&C 107:40–41)

Dispensation: A period of time in which the Lord has at least one authorized servant on earth who has the priesthood and the keys necessary to administer the gospel.

Edited May 12, 2013 by calmoriah

[Calm]

Okay, I probably got that wrong, my ultimate Earthly Authority is questioning whether I got the number Dispensations correct as well.

You forgot Abraham and Enoch came before Noah and it wasn't Peter, but Christ. Edited May 12, 2013 by calmoriah

[Calm]

The term "dispensation" is translated in the New Testament from the Greek oikonomia, denoting an idea of stewardship and of ordering affairs of a household. "Dispensations" are also time periods in which the Lord placed on the earth the necessary knowledge, priesthood, and keys of authority to implement his Plan of Salvation for his children. This plan, along with priesthood, was first given to Adam (Moses 5:4-12;6:62-68; D&C 84:16-18; Tpjs, pp. 157, 167), but as a consequence of later apostasy and fragmentation among his descendants, it did not remain constantly upon the earth. Hence, from time to time the Lord called new prophets and again revealed the plan and bestowed the necessary priesthood authority, creating a new dispensation.

Each new dispensation, or period of restored truth, presents men and women with a divine stewardship in performing the Lord's work on earth. The recipients become custodians and coworkers with God in bringing to pass his purposes. They work according to his orderly and revealed design. His plan takes into account human weaknesses and provides for times of renewal following apostasy, just as it provides for a redemption from individual failings through repentance and obedience (D&C 121:31-32). The concepts of stewardship and orderliness are important themes in LDS theology.

Prophets are stewards who preach and organize the work of redemption in each dispensation. It has become traditional in some unofficial LDS commentaries to refer to seven major dispensations named after the principal prophet of each: Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus Christ (who led the dispensation of the meridian of time), and Joseph Smith (who introduced the dispensation of the fulness of times; see Acts 3:21.) However, this list does not take into account other dispensations, such as those among the Jaredites, the Nephites, and the ten lost tribes of Israel.

Rarely have gospel dispensations been universal, reaching all nations, although that is the ideal (e.g., Abr. 2:11). More often, one people has been responsive, while other nations have languished in ignorance and unbelief. However, the Adamic dispensation would at first have been communicated to the entire family of Adam early in his time (see Moses 5:12), and again in the final dispensation, the fulness of times, the gospel "shall be preached unto every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people" (see D&C 133:37; cf. 90:9-11). The meridian of time was given the same mandate (Matt. 28:19-20), but we have no record that the gospel reached every nation in that period.

Several fundamentals are common to all dispensations: priesthood authority, baptism by immersion and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, the sealing power (D&C 128:9-11), and temple worship. Basic gospel doctrines, including the Fall of Adam, faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, and the need for an infinite Atonement, were taught in each era from Adam's day onward whenever there were living prophets selected by the Lord (Moses 5:4-12; D&C 112:29-32).

Some prophets have been given keys and responsibility over specific aspects of God's plan for this earth. In the sense of dispensation or stewardship, each of these assignments could with propriety be called a special dispensation. Joseph Smith taught that Adam, as "the father of all living," stands as the head of the patriarchal order of priesthood for this earth under Christ (TPJS, p. 158; D&C 78:16) and holds the keys from generation to generation. Whenever the gospel is revealed anew, it is under the direction of Adam. Noah, the "father of all living" after Adam, is also known as Gabriel and stands next to Adam in priesthood authority (TPJS, pp. 157, 167). Moses holds keys of the gathering of Israel (D&C 110:11); and Elijah, of sealing the generations (D&C 2;110:13-16; JS-H 1:38-39). John the Baptist had a special role of messianic preparation (JST Matt. 11:13-15; 17:10-14). Peter, James, and John received the keys of the Melchizedek Priesthood (TPJS, p. 158) from Jesus, Moses, and Elias (Elijah). Moroni holds responsibility for the Book of Mormon (D&C 27:5). Each of these prophets has received a dispensation of keys for which he holds a stewardship and will give an account to the Lord (D&C 27:5-13). In a future gathering, all who hold keys will give a stewardship report to Adam, and he, to Christ (TPJS, p. 157; cf. JST Luke 3:8-9).

In establishing the final dispensation, the Lord prepared Joseph Smith by sending prophets from previous dispensations to confer their keys upon him (see D&C 110;112:32;128:20-21). Thus, in the dispensation of the fulness of times, all things will be "gathered together into one" (Eph. 1:10; D&C 27:13). Since the final dispensation is a culmination of all that has come before, Joseph Smith is revered as a preeminent figure under Jesus Christ (D&C 128:18;135:3).

Every dispensation, beginning with Adam's, has been a dispensation of the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. That is, in each dispensation the same plan of redemption through the Savior and the necessary holy priesthood have been revealed by God in a similar and consistent manner.

The general consistency of the plan does not preclude differences in revealed counsel and direction appropriate to the diversity in times and cultures of different dispensations. Circumcision, for example, important in previous dispensations as a sign of a covenant, was not essential in later dispensations. Blood sacrifices required in Old Testament times to anticipate the Atonement were fulfilled in Christ, with new redemptive emblems of bread and wine being prescribed by Jesus. Latter-day Saints have a strong recognition of change and progress in sacred history. Personal growth and its implications for the development of a perfected Zion society are essential in LDS eschatology (see Eternal Progression). This view of progress is evidenced in the concept that the final dispensation builds upon previous ones and achieves the goals of all of them with the celestialization of the earth. The earth then will become a glorious residence for those of all dispensations who have been resurrected and perfected in Christ (D&C 88:17-26).

A definite priesthood line of authority is an essential component of the LDS understanding of dispensations. Thus, Moses and Elijah visited Peter, James, and John at the Mount of Transfiguration to restore certain keys of authority, and as already noted, these and many other ancient prophets visited Joseph Smith to give him the same authority (see Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ).

Although the Lord's Church in successive dispensations ceased to function on earth because of apostasy, the work of the Lord in each dispensation is open-ended, leading to the final dispensation. The Lord's work that was not completed in an earlier dispensation will continue into the final dispensation, which is appropriately called "the fulness of times." In this last dispensation, some ideals never before reached on the earth will be accomplished (i.e., gathering of Israel, the second coming of Jesus Christ, and the Millennium).

http://eom.byu.edu/i...s_of_the_Gospel

Inquiring Mind, the Encyclopedia of Mormonism is a handy reference---though not doctrinal---for many LDS beliefs, practices, policy and history info. I have the index bookmarked: http://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Encyclopedia_of_Mormonism

Edited May 12, 2013 by calmoriah

[MormonMason]

Okay, I probably got that wrong, my ultimate Earthly Authority is questioning whether I got the number Dispensations correct as well.

There are seven great dispensations but multiple other dispensations of the Gospel occurring concurrently with those of the previous six great dispensations.

[Robert F. Smith]

All of Israel have a share in the world to come, says the t. Sanhedrin in the Balyonian Talmud, except for those who don't, and then goes on to list all whose behaviour means they won't...

I like the shorter version in tractate 'Abot I:1, which is the one Levine quotes.

In my commentary on 'Abot, Kohler says that "the teaching of Hillel concerning the all-sufficing mercy of God, swept aside the hapless conception that eternal suffering awaits the average man."

I suppose the ultimate question is whether the Abrahamic Covenant is unconditional.

[Stone holm]

There are seven great dispensations but multiple other dispensations of the Gospel occurring concurrently with those of the previous six great dispensations.

Yeah my Ultimate Earthly Authority hit me over the head (figuratively) with the Bible Dictionary as she drove us to Church this morning. The dictionary doesn't mention the Major Dispensations and then they had Sunday School discussions which touched on dispensations and they didn't mention the major dispensations either, so I have had my humble pie dosage for the week.

[volgadon]

I like the shorter version in tractate 'Abot I:1, which is the one Levine quotes.

In my commentary on 'Abot, Kohler says that "the teaching of Hillel concerning the all-sufficing mercy of God, swept aside the hapless conception that eternal suffering awaits the average man."

I suppose the ultimate question is whether the Abrahamic Covenant is unconditional.

The biggest issue to the sages was what puts a man outside of the covenant. It is a fascinating topic.

[Robert F. Smith]

We believe in seven dispensations with the seventh being the Millenium not sure we have names for them but each has a principal leader who holds the keys to that dispensation. They will all account for their leadership at Adam Ondi Ahman. Not sure i can name the leaders: Adam who was Michael, Noah who was Gabrielle, Enoch, Moses who was Raphael, Peter, and Joseph Smith ... I think that is correct, but would not swear to it.

It isn't only Mormons who make such assertions. As Henry Rietz points out, the Jewish sect at Qumran "believed that God has arranged history into 'periods' [קצים] and has predetermined the character, duration, and events of each of these periods." Indeed, they believed "that they were living in 'the latter days' [אחרית הימים] of an 'evil period ' [קץ רשיע] in history."*

* Rietz, "Reflections on Jesus' Eschatology in Light of Qumran," in J. Charlesworth, ed., Jesus and Archaeology (Eerdmans, 2006), 199-200.

[volgadon]

It isn't only Mormons who make such assertions. As Henry Rietz points out, the Jewish sect at Qumran "believed that God has arranged history into 'periods' [קצים] and has predetermined the character, duration, and events of each of these periods." Indeed, they believed "that they were living in 'the latter days' [אחרית הימים] of an 'evil period ' [קץ רשיע] in history."*

* Rietz, "Reflections on Jesus' Eschatology in Light of Qumran," in J. Charlesworth, ed., Jesus and Archaeology (Eerdmans, 2006), 199-200.

Which fits the Mormon interpretation of the end of the world (and I paraphrase) as meaning the end of wickedness' dominion.

[Robert F. Smith]

Which fits the Mormon interpretation of the end of the world (and I paraphrase) as meaning the end of wickedness' dominion.

And it seems that every dispensation ends that way.