Dispensationalism
Acts 1:16, 2:6; “Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus…Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.”
This one verse from 3rd Nephi is fraught with confusion, allegations of Christian apostasy and outright deception. Why would the Nephites already be concerned about these things if it’s only 34 AD?
The Lord doesn’t need to work by revelations now that He’s fulfilled His promise through Jesus as Peter said in Acts 1:6.
The Lord worked just fine by tongues on the day of Pentecost so what’s the problem? Acts 1:6.
The Lord worked miracles through His apostles all the time. Acts 3:1-4 is a good example.
The Lord did all these things and more with the arrival of the Holy Spirit – Acts 1:8 – so why would these Nephites be saying things like this when it doesn’t make sense?
Why would God no longer be working through the Holy Ghost if Pentecost had just occurred?
Dispensationalism was given birth to through John Nelson Darby and then heavily promoted by C.I. Scofield. When did this take place you say? Yeah you got it – 1830.
While the Book of Mormon was published the previous year, the dispensationalist way of thinking had been around for almost two decades by that time.
Dispensationalism is how Christians look at the way God has dealt with and communicated with man throughout creation.
A dispensation is simply a period of time during which men have lived. Most Christians are dispensationalists, yet the average Christian doesn’t realize they are.
Dispensationalism is broken down into seven blocks (dispensations) of time.
1. Dispensation of innocence – before the fall
2. Dispensation of conscience – from the fall to Noah
3. Dispensation of human government – Noah to Abraham
4. Dispensation of promise – Abraham to Moses
5. Dispensation of law – Moses to Jesus
6. Dispensation of grace – the present church age
7. Dispensation of the kingdom – 1000 year millennium period
So with our history and object lesson behind us, take another look at the verse in 3rd Nephi and ask if it makes sense they’re talking like this in 34 AD.
The apostles in Israel were still alive and how did the Nephites know about speaking in tongues if it happened in an upper room in Jerusalem?
I know I’m old fashioned, but I’m pretty sure they didn’t have Skype back then.