#29 “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the TIMES OF REFRESHING shall come from the presence of the Lord"

As I mentioned in a previous post, Church historians and LDS scholars commonly refer to early LDS history as the beginning of the “marvelous work” or the time of the “restoration”. The scriptures also appear to use these two terms interchangeably most of the time.

Interestingly, NONE of the revelations to the prophet Joseph Smith contained in the Doctrine and Covenants or the Book of Mormon ever uses either of these terms when referring to the time when Joseph Smith restored the church in 1830. The term used in modern scripture to describe the events of the early history of the church is “foundation”.

According to modern revelation, the work that was being accomplished during that period of time had to do with “laying the foundation of the church” (1:30) , “laying the foundation of a great work” (64:33) and “laying the foundation of Zion” (119:2).

The purpose of the first commission of Joseph Smith and the First Elders in the second watch was to lay the foundation for the of the Marvelous Work which would be a separate work that would come later. In their second commission they would return to the vineyard and help to usher in the Marvelous Work at the time of the third watch.

From a scriptural perspective, I believe it would be more appropriate to refer to early LDS history as the “Foundation Movement” instead of the “Restoration Movement”. As previously noted, Joseph Smith taught that the “two witnesses” would “prophesy to the Jews … at the time of the restoration” To my knowledge, these witnesses have not shown up yet! Their ministry takes place at a later time, therefore the restoration/marvelous work begins to usher in again at future time (D&C 77:15)

A close look at modern and ancient scripture indicates that there was to be a significant and distinct period of time between the laying of the foundation during Joseph’s ministry and the commencement of the restoration, (or marvelous work). The term Marvelous work only shows up six times in modern scripture.

The term, “Great Work” shows up five. As noted in a previous post, even though some of these revelations came after the coming forth and translation of the non-sealed portion of the Book of Mormon and the legal restoration of the church, the Lord informs us that a great work is about to come forth among the gentiles...

Modern revelation also refers to the restoration as a future event. Sections 45 and 88 associate it with the restoration of the Jews in the last days section 103 and the 10^th article of faith associate it with the redemption and restoration of Zion upon the earth, and Sections 84 and 86 associate the term with the restoration of ALL THINGS that have been spoken by the mouths of all the holy prophets which identifies the scriptural term "restoration" as being similar in meaning to the phrase TIMES OF REFRESHING used by the Apostle Paul:

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began."

Paul provides us with yet another evidence that the Marvelous Work which is referred to as the restoration OR times of refreshing OR times of restitution of all things, takes place in the end times when the terrestrial souls will finally be forgiven of their sins.

Without exception, when Book of Mormon prophets refer to the time of the restoration, they are referring to a specific time in the latter days when their scattered descendants are spiritually restored to the knowledge of the gospel and physically restored to the lands of their inheritance in America.

Additionally, the Book of Mormon concurs with the statement of Paul in associating the restoration and marvelous work with the restitution of ALL THINGS including the re-establishment of Zion.

#2 "...And then understood they the parable which he spake unto them, that the Gentiles should be destroyed also.."

Adding further clarity to the doctrine of three watches taught in JST Luke 12 is Matt 21 with special emphasis on JST Matt 21:47-56 which explains that the First Watch represented the preaching of the gospel to the Jews and then to the Gentiles in the Meridian of Time. It informs us that within a very short time the Jewish nation rejected the light so the gospel was taken from the Jews and taken to the Gentiles.

It further explains that the Second Watch represents the Gospel being preached to the Gentiles first and then going to the Jews during the time of the LDS restoration movement in the 1830's..

We are informed that the Gentiles bring forth the same evil fruits in the second watch that the Jews brought forth in the first watch.

Finally in the third watch, the gospel light shines upon the Gentiles again and then goes to the Jews. The third watch is referred to in other scriptures as the Marvelous Work, strange act, the fullness of times and the times of restitution of all things, the Time of Jacobs Trouble and the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times.

JST Matt 21:47-56 is provided below;

47 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.

48 And they said among themselves, Shall this man think that he alone can spoil this great kingdom? And they were angry with him.

49 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they learned that the multitude took him for a prophet.

50 And now his disciples came to him, and Jesus said unto them, Marvel ye at the words of the parable which I spake unto them?

51 Verily, I say unto you, I am the stone, and those wicked ones reject me.

52 I am the head of the corner. These Jews shall fall upon me, and shall be broken. [The 1^st Watch was when Christ came in the meridian of time and was rejected by the Jews]

53 And the kingdom of God shall be taken from them, and shall be given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof; (meaning the Gentiles.)

54 Wherefore, on whomsoever this stone shall fall, it shall grind him to powder. [The kingdom of God was taken from the Jews and given to the Gentiles during the 1^st watch and then after the gentile church went into apostasy, the Lord and his servants returned to the vineyard during the 2^nd Watch to restore the kingdom to the Gentiles during the latter day Saint Restoration movement in the 1830’s. This section of scripture reveals that the Gentiles ultimately bring forth the same wicked fruit as the Jews]

55 And when the Lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, he will destroy those miserable, wicked men, and will let again his vineyard unto other husbandmen, even in the last days, who shall render him the fruits in their seasons. , [The Lord of the vineyard returns in the 3^rd watch to destroy the wicked gentiles and lease his vineyard to righteous husbandman and begin the Marvelous Work and a Wonder which will separate the wicked from the righteous]

56 And then understood they the parable which he spake unto them, that the Gentiles should be destroyed also, when the Lord should descend out of heaven to reign in his vineyard, which is the earth and the inhabitants thereof.

[Editorial Note, the parentheses in the above passages of scripture are also in the scriptures but the brackets and the content contained therein in red is provided by me to clarify and identify the three watches.]

Within one generation after the Jews of the first watch reject the gospel, their church and kingdom is destroyed.

We learn from latter-day revelation that in the second watch, the Lord destroys the Gentiles church. This will be discussed in future posts. (Various scriptures referring the the four generations that follow the LDS Restoration Movement are as follows D&C 103:26, 105:30, 124:50, 52 another reference that speaks in more general terms about Gods dealings with the wicked beginning at the 3rd and 4th generations is 98:46,)

The throwing down of the gentile Church and the destruction of the gentile nations of the earth takes place at about the time that the gospel light shines forth in the third and final watch… when the marvelous work comes forth.

From these two sections in the inspired version we are informed that there would be three separate and distinct gospel dispensations leading up to the Second Coming in Glory and that Christ would come to his vineyard in secret in each of these watches or dispensations.

The Dispensation of the Last Times beginning in the Meridian of Time

The Dispensation of the Gospel of Abraham which is secretly ushered in during the LDS restoration movement of the 1830's after the New Testament Church of Christ is restored.

The Dispensation of the Fulness of Times (Marvelous Work and a Wonder)

JST Matt 21:47-56 provides the second evidence I am presenting that the Marvelous Work comes forth at a later time than the restoration of the Gospel back in the 1830's. It is yet to come forth.