Our Dispensation in Prophecy

All those who are familiar with the work of the Lord in this day marvel that he should have revealed so many details concerning it to his prophets of old. The mission of Joseph Smith, for example, was well known among the prophets hundreds of years before he was born. They knew what his name would be (2 Nephi 3:6, 15), and the magnitude of the work he would perform (2 Nephi 3:24). Malachi called him a messenger (Malachi 3:1; Parely P. Pratt, Key to Theology, p.79). Isaiah knew that he would be unlearned after the manner of men (Isaiah 29:12). To Jeremiah he was a latter-day pastor who would feed the Saints with knowledge and understanding (Jeremiah 3:14-15), and Moses was told that he would be a mighty prophet like unto him (Moses 1:41.)

Joseph who was sold into Egypt knew that the prophet raised up in the last days would be one of his own descendants and that he and his father would both bear the name of Joseph (2 Nephi 3:6, 15). About 400 A.D. Moroni wrote down a whole chapter of instructions specifically addressed to him (Ether 5). The Prophet Nephi spoke plainly concerning him (2 Nephi 27:9-12), and when the Messiah came to the American continent immediately after his resurrection, he told the Nephites of the great prophet he would raise up in our day (3 Nephi 21:9-11.)

The coming forth of the Book of Mormon was likewise familiar to many early prophets. Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob, predicted it (2 Nephi 3:7, 11-12). Ezekiel had a revelation concerning it (Ezekiel 37:15-20). Enoch was told that it would come forth out of the earth and bear testimony to the divinity and resurrection of the Messiah (Moses 7:62). Moroni recorded that no man on earth in our day would be able to translate it except a prophet of the Lord having a “means for the interpretation thereof” (Mormon 9:34.) 

Nephi knew that a major portion of the plates would be sealed (2 Nephi 27:22), and Isaiah commented on this fact saying that a scientist would remark that he couldn’t translate a sealed book (Isaiah 29:11). Then Isaiah said that the unlearned prophet of the Lord would translate it to the confounding of the wise (Isaiah 29:14.) 

Nephi knew that Joseph Smith would not be permitted to show the plates of Mormon to any save a few select witnesses who could testify of their authenticity (2 Nephi 27:12-13). He knew that the people in our day would resent the coming forth of another sacred scripture even though it contained precious truths that had previously been lost. “A Bible! A Bible!” they would cry; “We have got a Bible and there cannot be any more Bible” (2 Nephi 29:3). And this they would cry out, said Nephi, even though they did not believe in the Bible nor understand it. 

The ancient prophets also saw the restoration of the Church of Christ upon the earth and the practical results which would follow. The Messiah declared that the work of the Church in the last days would be of world-wide proportions (Matthew 24:14), but he revealed to Nephi that the actual membership of the Church would be small (1 Nephi 14:12; 2 Nephi 28:14). While John was in vision of the Isle of Patmos, he saw Moroni, the angelic harbinger, declaring the good news of the restored gospel (Revelation 14:6-7; D&C 133:36), and Lehi saw the Lord gathering out the Saints through the work of the Prophet Joseph (2 Nephi 3:24.)

Isaiah said that the Saints would be Israelites and become known and honored as such among the gentiles (Isaiah 61:9; Zephaniah 3:19). Thus Isaiah knew that the choice seed of Ephraim would be raised up (Isaiah 11:13); that today the fifty million Lamanites or Indians who are descendants of Manasseh would be identified with Israel and that through the Book of Mormon their history and former blessings would be revealed as by a voice from the dust (Isaiah 11:11; 1 Nephi 22:1-6, 2 Nephi 27:9). He knew that the great lost tribes of Israel would be brought down again from the north (Isaiah 11:16) and that the scattered Hebrew nation would again become a united people (Isaiah 11:12; 52:9; Joel 3:20).

All this was to come to pass to permit the God of Sabaoth to re-establish his covenant among his chosen people (Jeremiah 31:31; Romans 11:26-27.)

While Jesus was ministering among the Jews, he indicated that John the Baptist would assist in the restoration of the gospel prior to the coming of the Lord in power (Matthew 17:11-13), and Malachi predicted that Elijah would also participate (Malachi 4:5).

Ezekiel saw the Church assembled in the wilderness where the Lord would show forth a great revelation, purge out the rebels, renew the everlasting covenant, and talk with the Saints face to face (Ezekiel 20:34-38). This, said Daniel, will be the final restoration of the Church and Kingdom of God on the earth. It shall never again be destroyed (Daniel 2:44.)

Prophecy and Modern Times by W. Cleon Skousen