The Seventy's Course in Theology, Second Year: Outline History of the Dispensations of the Gospel

In Short

This book is a systematic curriculum for students of the Seventy—a leadership body within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—intended to organize their understanding of sacred history. By tracing the Gospel from the Adamic era through the meridian of time to the modern restoration, it seeks to prove that God’s plan of salvation remains consistent throughout all ages. The work provides a formal framework for study, offering analysis, scripture references, and reflective notes that emphasize the importance of deep, systematic thinking for religious teachers.

The Story

The narrative arc begins before the foundations of the world, in the pre-creation council. Here, the text establishes the fundamental purpose of human existence: to provide spirits with physical bodies and the opportunity for growth, education, and eternal progression. This divine "work and glory" is the thread that connects all human history. Adam, the first man and "Ancient of Days," is identified as the central figure who receives the plan of salvation and the ordinances of the Gospel, setting a pattern of obedience and sacrifice that persists through succeeding generations.

As humanity spreads across the earth, the text follows the cycle of divine interaction. When mankind strays, as in the days of Noah, God provides guidance and covenants to preserve a remnant of righteousness. The story reaches its peak in the "meridian dispensation"—the life, ministry, and atonement of Jesus Christ. The author argues that this period was not a late or improvised solution to human failure, but a central, pre-ordained event. The Gospel preached by Christ and his Apostles is presented as the culmination of the promises given to the ancient patriarchs, fulfilling the covenants made since the beginning.

However, the arc takes a somber turn as it describes the "apostasy." Following the death of the Apostles, the text argues that the original Church was corrupted, its ordinances altered, and its spiritual authority lost. This period of darkness and institutional decline is treated as a historical reality, supported by the writings of early church historians who noted the cessation of spiritual gifts. This collapse of the primitive Church serves to clarify why, in the author’s theology, a "restoration" of the original Gospel and priesthood was necessary.

The final phase of the story shifts to the modern era. The author details the restoration of the Priesthood—the divine authority to act in God's name—beginning with the appearance of John the Baptist and continuing with the apostolic authority of Peter, James, and John. The narrative concludes with the "dispensation of the fullness of times," a final epoch intended to gather all things in Christ and prepare the world for the ultimate triumph of the Kingdom of God. The book frames this contemporary movement not as a new invention, but as the return of the ancient, eternal Gospel, restoring the original pattern established with Adam and practiced by the early saints.

How It Unfolds

The Pre-mortal foundation The study opens by defining the purpose of life, contrasting the roles of Lucifer and the Messiah in the council of heaven. It establishes that the earth-existence is a necessary, planned stage for the education and perfection of human spirits.

The Adamic and Noachian eras The focus shifts to the earliest dispensations, where the author highlights the importance of animal sacrifice as a symbolic anticipation of the Atonement. These early lessons argue that even when the direct presence of God was withdrawn, the Gospel path remained through obedience to revealed commandments.

The Meridian Dispensation The central portion of the book examines the ministry of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the original Church. It emphasizes that this era was the fulfillment of earlier prophecy, though it was destined to face a long period of decline and institutional corruption.

The Great Apostasy The text analyzes the historical transition of the Church from a spiritual institution to a secularized one. It utilizes historical commentary to point to a "marked declension" in spiritual power and the eventual loss of the original Gospel ordinances.

The Restoration The final lessons outline the return of divine authority to the earth in the modern era. The author presents the restoration of the Priesthood as the necessary conclusion to the long history of dispensations, reestablishing the ancient order of God for the final time.

The People

Adam serves as the primary archetype of the faithful servant. Far from being a villain or coward, the text portrays him as a courageous patriarch who knowingly accepts the challenges of earth-life to facilitate the existence and eternal potential of his posterity. He holds the keys of the dispensations and maintains a direct, authorized link to the divine plan.

Jesus Christ is presented as the center of the entire narrative—the "Only Begotten Son" whose mission was prepared before the earth was created. His role is to bridge the gap between the fallen state of humanity and the presence of God.

Joseph Smith acts as the pivotal figure of the modern restoration. The text highlights his role in receiving the Priesthood from angelic messengers, including John the Baptist and the Apostles Peter, James, and John. His life and experiences are treated as the vehicle through which the original, lost Gospel is reclaimed and brought back to the public consciousness.

The Apostles, both ancient and modern, serve as the witnesses and stewards of these dispensations. While the ancient Apostles are seen as the foundation of the early church, the modern figures act as the restorers, tasked with the "fullness of times" and the final gathering of God’s people.

In Its Own Voice

"The things of God are of deep import; and time and experience, and careful and ponderous and solemn thoughts can only find them out."

—This statement from Joseph Smith introduces the theme that religious truth requires serious, dedicated intellectual labor.

"For behold, this is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."

—The author quotes this passage from the Book of Moses to establish the divine motivation behind the creation of the world and the history of the Gospel.

"With the close of the New Testament records, and the death of the last surviving Apostle, the history of the Church passes from its sacred to its purely human phase."

—The author cites Dr. Phillip Smith to support the theological argument that the original Christian Church lost its divine authority shortly after the apostolic age.

What It's Really About

The book is an argument for the essential unity and continuity of the Gospel. It challenges the idea that God changes His requirements for salvation over time, positing instead that the same Gospel has been revealed in every dispensation of history. The central questions—why we are here, why there is evil, and why there are many religious interpretations—are answered through the lens of a divine plan that is both historical and eternal. The argument suggests that institutional religion often drifts away from its original, spiritual core, and that the history of the world is a recurring cycle of divine revelation followed by human departure from that truth.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the history of religious thought, particularly the development of Latter-day Saint theology, will find this a dense, primary-source window into the early twentieth-century mind of the faith. It is not a casual read; it is a textbook intended for a specific audience of teachers and students, requiring a tolerance for archaic, high-academic prose and a willingness to engage with systematic, analytical lesson structures.

The experience of reading it feels like stepping into a formal classroom from 1908. You will encounter the author’s firm, confident tone, which carries the weight of a leader addressing his peers. The text is unapologetically partisan regarding its own religious claims, viewing history through a lens of restoration and apostasy. You will need to navigate long lists of scripture citations and scholarly footnotes, which provide a fascinating glimpse into the intellectual milieu of the era. The book remains a significant artifact for those who want to understand the rigorous, structured approach the early modern Church took toward its own history and doctrine. If you enjoy theology that is presented as a logical, step-by-step evolution of divine law, you will find it a compelling and informative piece of historical literature.