Dispensation

“A dispensation of the gospel is a period of time in which the Lord has at least one authorized servant on the earth who bears the holy priesthood In Mormonism, a dispensation is a period of time in which God gives priesthood authority and gospel knowledge to prophets on the earth. When people fall into apostasy and that authority is lost, a dispensation ends, and a new one begins only when God calls another prophet.

Mormons believe there have been multiple dispensations throughout history, such as those led by Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. Each dispensation eventually ended in apostasy until the current dispensation, called “the dispensation of the fulness of times,” which began with Joseph Smith and is believed to continue today without end.

This teaching highlights the LDS view that God’s authority and ordinances are not always present on the earth. It also underscores the importance Mormons place on restoration through Joseph Smith, which they see as the final and complete dispensatioand the keys, and who has a divine commission to dispense the gospel to the inhabitants of the earth” (LDS Bible Dictionary, p. 657).