Joseph Smith, Jr. kneeling in the Sacred Grove during the First Vision. There are shafts of light shining down on Joseph.
Have you ever thought about what your life would be like without the restored Church of Jesus Christ? As part of his epistle to the Ephesians, Paul taught that a Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ would occur before the Savior’s Second Coming. This lesson is intended to help you recognize the blessings available because Jesus Christ restored His gospel to the earth in the last days.
Strengthening new converts
Imagine that you have a friend who just joined the Church.
What might some of your thoughts and concerns for them be?
What can you do to help your friend grow in their gospel knowledge and remain faithful to their covenants?
In his letter to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul addressed the Saints who were in Ephesus and surrounding areas. His goal was to strengthen those who were already members of the Church and to help recent converts grow in their spiritual knowledge and remain faithful to their covenants. Some of the doctrine he taught in this letter includes foreordination (see Ephesians 1:4–6); the sealing power of the Holy Ghost (see Ephesians 1:13–14); the importance of prophets and apostles (see Ephesians 2:19–22); the idea of one true and unified Church (see Ephesians 4:1–7); and the various offices, callings, and functions within the organization of the Church (see Ephesians 4:11–14).
Another doctrine Paul taught to strengthen the members in his day was about the Restoration of the gospel in the latter days.
Why do you think learning about the latter-day Restoration of the gospel would have strengthened the Saints in Paul’s time?
As you study throughout this lesson what Paul and others taught about the Restoration, think about how this doctrine can strengthen your faith in Jesus Christ.
The dispensation of the fulness of times
A dispensation is a period of time when the Lord reveals His truths, priesthood authority, and ordinances to people on earth. There have been many gospel dispensations throughout the history of the world.
In Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians, Paul prophesied of a specific dispensation. Read Ephesians 1:10, looking for the specific dispensation Paul prophesied about and the events that would occur during this time.
Ephesians 1:10 is a doctrinal mastery passage. Consider marking doctrinal mastery passages in a distinctive way so you can locate them easily.
What did Paul prophesy would happen during “the dispensation of the fulness of times”?
Living in the fulness of times
In previous dispensations, the Lord revealed to His prophets many truths, scriptures, covenants, and powers. One truth we learn from Ephesians 1:10 is that during the dispensation of the fulness of times, all things from former dispensations will be restored.
Imagine that each river in the following illustration represents a gospel dispensation.
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Drawing of rivers flowing into a lake.
How might the dispensation of the fulness of times be compared to a body of water with rivers flowing into it?
Elder B. H. Roberts (1857–1933) of the Seventy testified of what will happen as part of the dispensation of the fulness of times.
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Black and white historical photograph of B. H. Roberts.
This is the dispensation of the fullness of times, and we see running into it, as mighty streams rush into the ocean, all the former dispensations, putting us in touch with them, putting them in touch with us; and we see that God has had but one great purpose in view from the beginning, and that has been the salvation of His children. And now has come the final day, the final dispensation, when truth and light and righteousness must flood the earth.
(B. H. Roberts, in Conference Report, Oct. 1904, 73)
What truths, scriptures, covenants, and powers from previous dispensations have been restored or brought forth in the dispensation of the fulness of times?
The proclamation on the Restoration
In the historic April 2020 general conference celebrating the 200th anniversary of the beginning of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the latter days, President Russell M. Nelson introduced “The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Take a few minutes to read this proclamation, thinking about ways your life has been blessed because of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
What parts of the Restoration proclamation stood out to you?
What might you share with a member of the Church who isn’t sure if they believe in the Restoration or who doesn’t feel it is important to them?
Take a moment to consider all the ways Jesus Christ has blessed your life through His restored gospel.
Ponder and reflect on this list as you watch the video “President Nelson—What Does the Restoration Mean for You?” (1:06), available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
1. Answer the following questions in your study journal:
What specific aspects of the Restoration are you especially grateful for? How have they impacted your life?
What do you feel the Lord wants you to do to participate in His ongoing Restoration to help gather others to Him?
Optional: Want to Learn More?
Why is the work of the Restoration so significant?
The Prophet Joseph Smith (1805–1844) taught:
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Half-length frontal portrait of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Jr. Joseph’s head is turned to the side in a three-quarter view, right hand on hip and his left hand holds sheets of papers. He is depicted wearing a dark brown suit and a white shirt and tie.
It is left for us [in the latter days] to see, participate in and help to roll forward the Latter-day glory, ‘the dispensation of the fullness of times, when God will gather together all things that are in heaven, and all things that are upon the earth, even in one’ [see Ephesians 1:10]. … [This is] a work that God and angels have contemplated with delight for generations past; that fired the souls of the ancient patriarchs and prophets; 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.”
(Joseph Smith, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 513–15)
What is a dispensation?
What exactly is the Restoration?
How can it impact my life to have a testimony of the Restoration?
Young men and women share how events surrounding the Restoration have a very real effect on their daily lives.
In general conference in October 2019, President Russell M. Nelson shared the temple recommend interview questions, which include the question “Do you have a testimony of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ?” (see “Closing Remarks,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2019, 121).
Ponder why this question would be included as a requirement to enter the house of the Lord. How could understanding, believing, and participating in the ongoing Restoration influence your relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
What does it mean that the Restoration is still happening?
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, then of the First Presidency, spoke of the ongoing nature of the Restoration.
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Official portrait of Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, 2006. Called as Second Counselor in the First Presidency, 3 February 2008. Made official portrait in 2008 replacing portrait taken in 2004.
Sometimes we think of the Restoration of the gospel as something that is complete, already behind us—Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon, he received priesthood keys, the Church was organized. In reality, the Restoration is an ongoing process; we are living in it right now. It includes “all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal,” and the “many great and important things” that “He will yet reveal” (Articles of Faith 1:9). Brethren, the exciting developments of today are part of that long-foretold period of preparation that will culminate in the glorious Second Coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.