40. shall gather the remainder of mine elect. When mine elect shall see these things.
See Article by B. Young and W. Richards, Mil. Star, Vol. 38, page 145.
History of J. Smith, Jan., 1, 1841.
Sermon by B. Young, J. of D., Vol. 10, page 1.
Article by J. Nicholson, Mil. Star, Vol. 27, Page 739.
DISPENSATION OF THE FULNESS OF TIMES.
A dispensation "is power and authority to dispense the word of God, and to administer in all the ordinances thereof." What the dispensation of the fulness of times is, is well expressed by the apostle Paul in Eph. 1. 9, "Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 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."
It is still more comprehensively expressed by the prophet Joseph. "Now the thing to be known is, what the fulness of times means, or the extent and authority thereof. It means this, that the dispensation of the fulness of times is made up of all the dispensations that ever have been given since the world began, until this time. Unto Adam first was given a dispensation. It is well known that God spake to him with his own voice in the garden, and gave him the promise of the Messiah."
"And unto Noah also was a dispensation given; for Jesus said, 'As it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the coming of the Son of Man;' and as the righteous were saved then, and the wicked destroyed, so will it be now. And from Noah to Abraham, and from Abraham to Moses, and from Moses to Elias, and from Elias to John the Baptist, and from then to Jesus Christ, and from Jesus Christ to Peter, James, and John, the Apostles all having received in their dispensation by revelation from God, to accomplish the great scheme of restitution, spoken by all the holy Prophets since the world began; the end of which is, the dispensation of the fulness of times, in which all things shall be fulfilled that have been spoken of since the earth was made." Mil. Star, vol. 16, page 220. The apostle Paul further says on this subject, "For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob;" Rom. 11. 25, 26.