The everlasting covenant and gospel dispensations -- Part 7 (Joseph Smith)

The previous parts of this series are found here:

• Part 1: Introduction and Adam
• Part 2: Enoch
• Part 3: Noah
• Part 4: Abraham
• Part 5: Moses
• Part 6: Jesus Christ

Joseph Smith

We have finally come to the last part of this series to discuss the last gospel dispensation. I am doing this specifically to see how the everlasting covenant, or at least part of it, is restored at each dispensation. This is also usually linked to the creation. Paul talks about this final gospel dispensation

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: (Ephesians 1:10)

Gathering into one encompasses a lot of things: Priesthood keys, the gathering of Israel, doctrine, etc. But the everlasting covenant is a key component. As mentioned in the first part of this series, it is defined as follows:

This covenant, often referred to by the Lord as the “new and everlasting covenant,” encompasses the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, including all ordinances and covenants necessary for the salvation of mankind.

In previous dispensations we have seen different covenants, sometimes quite specific for the time and place in which they were given. Now we have a fullness, everything we need for our salvation. In stark contrast to the earliest dispensations, we have an abundance of information about this one. A whole book of scripture with revelations primarily to Joseph Smith plus much that has been recorded about his life, sermons, etc. So it should not be difficult to find something about the everlasting covenant in the context of this final dispensation. A natural place to look would be in the first chapter of the Doctrine and Covenants. The relevance of covenants is of course implied in the title and the first chapter gives an introduction to the whole collection of revelations.

14 And the arm of the Lord shall be revealed; and the day cometh that they who will not hear the voice of the Lord, neither the voice of his servants, neither give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles, shall be cut off from among the people;

15 For they have strayed from mine ordinances, and have broken mine everlasting covenant;

16 They seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness, but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own god, whose image is in the likeness of the world, and whose substance is that of an idol, which waxeth old and shall perish in Babylon, even Babylon the great, which shall fall. (D&C 1)

This is a voice of warning explaining the reasons for this restoration and the calamities that await. Those who will not hear the voice of the Lord shall be cut off because they have broken the everlasting covenant. This post explains how "cut off" is related to covenants. It is also interesting to note another reference to the creation as we already have seen throughout this series whenever there is a restoration of the covenants. In the beginning God created man in his image and likeness, but man creates his own God in the image and likeness of the world.

Another trend we have seen throughout this series is that the head of each dispensation is ordained after the order of the Son of God. God reestablishes his covenant through his authorized servant. Not only was the Aaronic Priesthood conferred upon Joseph Smith by John the Baptist followed by the Melchizedek Priesthood by Peter, James and John but a lot of lost teachings about this order were restored. There are several chapters in the D&C explaining the priesthood and one of them, D&C 84, also lays out the oath and covenant of the priesthood. 

We have seen how the various gospel dispensations typically have referred to previous ones. This is natural since covenants have been lost and needed restoration in addition to new covenants specific for that dispensation. How are the covenants of previous dispensations relevant for this dispensation in the fullness of times?

• Adam: The creation-covenant connection that has been mentioned, is evident in the temple. Joseph Smith restored temples and temple work on earth. All I will say here is that the creation and Adam play a big part here and those who have been there understand.
• Enoch: The dispensation in the fullness of times will, unlike previous ones, not result in apostasy but rather a New Jerusalem. Enoch was told that his city would meet the Zion in the latter days. This is the coming together of two dispensations.
• Noah: As discussed in part 3 of this series, this covenant is closely connected with Enoch's covenant. According to JST Genesis 9:21-25, the part of Noah's posterity that embraces the truth shall some day be part of the new Zion that meets Enoch's Zion. But there is also a link between the earth's baptism by water in the dispensation of Noah followed by the earth's baptism by fire in this last dispensation.
• Abraham: The restoration of this covenant is discussed throughout D&C 132. I will not go into detail here but "everlasting covenant" is repeated 7 times in this chapter and Abraham is mentioned by name 20 times. The new and everlasting covenant of eternal marriage, which is arguably the crowning covenant within the new and everlasting covenant, enables us all to become "father of a multitude" like our father Abraham.
• Moses: As discussed in part 5, this covenant was a substitute for the one the children of Israel first rejected. It was fulfilled in Christ and should therefore not need any restoration. But in a way it has been after all. In his wisdom, God has given us the Aaronic priesthood in this dispensation to enable preparation for the Melchizedek priesthood and its ordinances. Just like Israel got the lesser priesthood and the "preparatory gospel" (D&C 84:26), we have the chance to get a preparation before we receive the greater priesthood and the ordinances in which the power of godliness is manifest.
• Jesus Christ: Despite all the connections to previous dispensations, the restoration in the latter days is first and foremost a restoration of the gospel that Jesus preached and the priesthood and priesthood keys that he gave to Peter. But it is interesting to note that he first received the preparatory (Aaronic) priesthood from John the Baptist, who was the son of a Levite priest and prepared the way for Christ.

Here are some modern day revelations to Joseph Smith in the last dispensation about the everlasting covenant.

Wherefore, I say unto you that I have sent unto you mine everlasting covenant, even that which was from the beginning. (D&C 49:9)

Verily I say unto you, blessed are you for receiving mine everlasting covenant, even the fulness of my gospel, sent forth unto the children of men, that they might have life and be made partakers of the glories which are to be revealed in the last days, as it was written by the prophets and apostles in days of old. (D&C 66:2)

And even so I have sent mine everlasting covenant into the world, to be a light to the world, and to be a standard for my people, and for the Gentiles to seek to it, and to be a messenger before my face to prepare the way before me. (D&C 45:9)

 

Conclusion

In this series we have seen how all the seven gospel dispensations have involved covenants. These are given in different forms but they can all be seen as part of the overall everlasting covenant and therefore are linked to each other and to the whole creation. The accounts of these dispensations often contain:

• References to the creation
• References to eternity or "before the foundation of the world"
• Hearkening to the word of God and receiving instruction
• Being called after His order
• Preaching and exemplifying redemption, becoming a new creation

In this final dispensation, we have the fullness of the gospel, often referred to as the new and everlasting covenant. "New" because it has been restored and "everlasting" because it is "from before the foundation of the world" and pertains to our eternal salvation.