Dispensing and Dispensation
Posted: October 24th, 2013, 12:45 am
I ran across this in A Cultural History of the Book of Mormon, talking about the way the word "dispensation" was used at the time of the Prophet Joseph Smith.
http://www.lds.org/scriptures/search?la ... on&x=0&y=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testam ... ang=eng#24" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I really like the idea of getting back to the actual meaning of the text so as to gain maximum benefit from the true meaning of the scriptures (including D&C). Webster's 1828 dictionary is useful for that purpose. It corroborates D. Smith's assertion.Daymon Smith wrote: By "dispensation" they generally meant, "something dispensed," rather than an "age" or "epoch" as the term is now meant to say by Mormons.
I find this a change of perspective that would be thought provoking to those desiring to have heaven dispense something to them as the time of the gentiles is quickly nearing its end.Webster 1828 wrote: DISPENSATION, n. [L. See Dispense.]
1. Distribution; the act of dealing out to different persons or places; as the dispensation of water indifferently to all parts of the earth.
2. The dealing of God to his creatures; the distribution of good and evil, natural or moral, in the divine government.
Neither are Gods methods or intentions different in his dispensations to each private man.
3. The granting of a license, or the license itself, to do what is forbidden by laws or canons, or to omit something which is commanded; that is, the dispensing with a law or canon, or the exemption of a particular person from the obligation to comply with its injunctions. The pope has power to dispense with the canons of the church, but has no right to grant dispensations to the injury of a third person.
A dispensation was obtained to enable Dr. Barrow to marry.
4. That which is dispensed or bestowed; a system of principles and rites enjoined; as the Mosaic dispensation; the gospel dispensation; including, the former the Levitical law and rites; the latter the scheme of redemption by Christ.
http://www.lds.org/scriptures/search?la ... on&x=0&y=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testam ... ang=eng#24" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;