Revelation: Ongoing Restoration
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Nearly 200 years ago, the American short story “Rip Van Winkle” became an instant classic. The main character, Rip, is an unambitious man who is very good at avoiding two things: work and his wife. One day, while wandering in the mountains with his dog, he discovers a group of strangely dressed men drinking and playing games. After accepting some of their liquor, Rip becomes drowsy and closes his eyes for a moment. When he opens his eyes again, he is surprised to find that his dog is gone, his rifle has rusted, and he now has a long beard. Rip makes his way back to his village only to discover that everything has changed. His wife has died, his friends are gone, and the portrait of King George III in the tavern has been replaced by a portrait of someone he does not recognize—by General George Washington. Rip Van Winkle had been sleeping for 20 years! And in the process, he had missed one of the most exciting periods in the history of his country—he had slept through the American Revolution. ... 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.” 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. ... Let us be awake and not be weary of well-doing, for we “are laying the foundation of a great work,” even preparing for the return of the Savior.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
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One of the questions that I frequently am asked is, "What does it mean that the Restoration is ongoing?". Let me answer that question with an Article of Faith and two scriptures. First is the ninth Article of Faith, "We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God." "What he will yet reveal," alludes to the ongoing nature of the Restoration. Second is in the twenty first section of the Doctrine and Covenants. This is specifically to the prophet Joseph Smith. Beginning in verse one, "1 Behold, there shall be a record kept among you; and in it thou shalt be called a seer, a translator, a prophet, an apostle of Jesus Christ, an elder of the church through the will of God the Father, and the grace of your Lord Jesus Christ," now please note this, "2 Being inspired of the Holy Ghost to lay the foundation thereof, and to build it up unto the most holy faith. 3 Which church was organized and established in the year of your Lord eighteen hundred and thirty,". Joseph Smith did not receive everything. He received that which was necessary to lay the foundation of the church. So, if you watched a home being built, you put in the foundation, you put up the exterior walls, and it takes a long time for all the finishing work to be accomplished, to finally have a finished home. Joseph specifically was described as laying the foundation. So, all of that additional construction, if you will, is the ongoing nature of the Restoration. Third verse is in the one hundred and twenty eight section of the Doctrine and Covenants: "for it is necessary in the ushering in of the dispensation of the fulness of times, which dispensation is now beginning to usher in, that a whole and complete and perfect union, and welding together of dispensations, and keys, and powers, and glories should take place, and be revealed from the days of Adam even to the present time. And not only this, but those things which never have been revealed from the foundation of the world, but have been kept hid from the wise and prudent, shall be revealed ... [in] the dispensation of the fulness of times." Again, the ongoing nature of the Restoration. So, just to summarize, Joseph didn't receive everything. He received all that was necessary to establish the foundation. And we believe all that God has revealed and all that He will yet reveal. That is the ongoing nature of the Restoration.
Elder David A. Bednar
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