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.
Using the words of modern prophets to understand doctrine. Invite students to search the words of modern-day prophets to better understand the doctrine in the New Testament and to find ways to apply the doctrine in their lives. Studying the teachings of modern prophets can invite the Holy Ghost to testify to students of these doctrinal truths and help students feel more connected to prophets today.
Student preparation: Invite students to list ways they feel the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ has impacted their lives. Ask them to bring their lists to class.
Possible Learning Activities
Strengthening new converts
Consider dividing students into pairs or small groups to discuss the following situation.
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?
If any students in class were recently baptized or have other experiences relating to this scenario, consider inviting them to share what some of their concerns are or were and what has helped them.
Then share or summarize the following paragraph to help students understand the context for Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians.
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.
It may be useful to spend time helping students understand the meaning of some of the key words and phrases from Ephesians 1:10. This could be done by referring them to the “Line upon Line” section of the September 2023 issue of the For the Strength of Youth magazine. The activity “Ephesians 1:10: God will ‘gather together in one all things in Christ’” found in the October 2–8 outline of Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: New Testament 2023 could be another helpful resource.
Another option would be to ask students to share which words or phrases from Ephesians 1:10 they need more help understanding. These could be listed on the board. Students could then be invited to see if they can find answers using resources like scripture footnotes or the Gospel Library app.
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.
Consider drawing an image on the board similar to the following.
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?
Consider inviting students to come to the board and label the rivers in the illustration with truths, scriptures, covenants, and powers from previous dispensations that have been restored or brought forth in the dispensation of the fulness of times. (Labels might include the sealing power, saving ordinances, the Book of Mormon, and so forth; students can draw additional rivers as needed.)
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.
It may be helpful to prepare print copies of the Restoration proclamation for students who cannot access it from a digital device.
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.
If students completed the student preparation activity before class, invite them to refer to the list they made and to consider what they might add to it after their experience studying Ephesians 1.
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?
Commentary and Background Information
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?
Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explains dispensations of the gospel and why this last dispensation is unique.
What exactly is the Restoration?
An explanation of the restoration of the gospel.
How can it impact my life to have a testimony of the Restoration?
Part 2: Youth share their testimonies of the Restoration and how it has impacted their lives. Based on a talk given by Elder Craig C. Christensen in October 2016.
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.
As an alternative way to begin the lesson, consider asking students to share something they are looking forward to in the future and to explain why. Students could also be asked to share what they think others might be anticipating about the future.
The following statement by Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles could then be shared:
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Official Portrait (as of June 2016) of Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
By divine design, ancient prophets of God, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost, prophesied of the Restoration and what was to come in our day, the last dispensation and the fulness of times. The very work “fired the souls” of the early seers [Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2007), 515]. Through generations of time, they foretold, dreamed, envisioned, and prophesied of the future of God’s kingdom on earth, what Isaiah called “a marvelous work and a wonder” [Isaiah 29:14].
After sharing this statement, invite students to share why they think past prophets looked forward to our day with such anticipation. Students could also be invited to share their thoughts about living in a time when the restored Church of Jesus Christ is on the earth.
Invite students to look for truths as they study Ephesians 1 that can help them feel more gratitude toward God for the Restoration of His Church in the latter days.
