Dispensationalism is a Christian concept that became an essential part of Joseph Smith’s theology, and of many, if not most branches of the Mormon tradition. According to that view, the interaction between the Deity and humankind has had different eras or periods throughout history, each having its own characteristics and being led by a mortal “head”, and usually preceded by an “apostasy”.
Ross W. LeBaron used and expanded the concept of gospel dispensations in a unique way within Mormonism, adding an eight dispensation, or “the Adamic Dispensation” as he later termed it, that ended “the Times of the Gentiles“.
An early associate of Ross LeBaron, Robert Eaby (1928-2017) used the apocryphal Book of Enoch (or I Enoch) to expose the idea of ten dispensations of the gospel. In the following two-page document probably written in 1958, Eaby quotes from The Ethiopic Version of the Book of Enoch, by biblical scholar and translator R. H. Charles, and relates each week in the the apocryphal prophecy to a dispensation.
TEN WEEKS OF ENOCH…..
First Week…..Adam
And after that Enoch both gave and began to recount from the books. And Enoch said: “Concerning the children of righteousness and concerning the elect of the world, and concerning the plent of uprighteousness, I will speak these things, yes, I Enoch, will declare them unto you, my sons: According to that which appeared to me in the heavenly vision, and which I have learnt from the heavenly tablets.” And Enoch began to recount from the books and said: “I was born the seventh in the first week, while judgement and righteousness still endured.[“]
Second Week…..Enoch
“And after me shall arise in the second week great wickedness, and deceit shall have sprung up; and in it there shall be the first end. And in it a man shall be saved; and after it is ended uprighteousness shall grow up, and a law shall be made for the sinners.”
Third Week…..Noah
“And after that in the third week at its close a man shall be elected as the plant of righteous judgement. And his posterity shall become the plant of righteousness for evermore.”
Fourth Week…..Abraham
“And after that in the fourth week, at its close, visions of the holy and righteous shall be seen, and a law for all generations and an enclosure shall be made for them.”
Fifth Week…..Moses
“And after that in the fifth week, at its close, the House of glory and dominion shall be built.”
Sixth Week…..Jesus Christ
“And after that in the sixth week all who live in it shall be linded, and the hearts of all of them shall godlessly forsake wisdom. And in it a Man shall ascend; and at its close the House of dominion shall be burnt with fire, and the whole race of the chosen root shall be dispersed.”
Seventh Week…..Joseph Smith
“And after that in the seventh week shall an apostate generation arise, and many shall be its deeds, and all its deeds shall be apostate. And at its close, shall be elected the elect righteous of the eternal plant of righteousness, to receive sevenfold instructions concerning all His creation. For who is there of all the children of men that is able to hear the voice of the Holy One without being troubled? And who can think his thoughts? And who is there that could understand the things of heaven and see a soul or a spirit and could tell thereof, or ascend and see all their ends and think them or do like them? And who is there of all men that could know what is the breadth and the length of the earth, and to whom has been shown the measure of all of them? Or is there any one who could discern the length of the heaven and how great is its height, and upon what it is founded, and how great is the number of the stars, and whre all the luminaries rest?”
Eight Week…..Ross Wesley LeBaron
“And after that shall be another, the eighth week, that of righteousness. And a sword shall be given to it that a righteous judgement may be executed on the opressor, and the sinners shall be delivered into the hands of the righteous. And at its close they shall acquire houses through their righteousness, and a House shall b built for the Great King in glory for evermore. And all mankind shall look to the path of uprighteousness.”
Ninth Week…..Second Coming of Jesus Christ
“And after that, in the ninth week, the righteous judgement shall be revealed to the whole world, and all the works of the godless shall vanish from the earth, and the world shall be written down for destruction.”
Tenth Week…..God Almighty
“And after that, in the tenth week in the seventh part, there shall be the great eternal judgement, in which He will execute vengeance amongst the angels. And the first heaven shall depart and pass away, and a new heaven shall appear. And all the powers of the heavens shall give sevenfold light.”
Endless Weeks…..
“And after that there will be many weeks without number for ever. And all shall be in goodness and righteousness, and sin shall no more be mentioned for ever.”
Herein are set forth the Ten Dispensations of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to mankind, the Eighth Dispensation being in force upon us at the present time.
[signed]
Robert W. Eaby
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