Dispensations Inter-Related.--Whatever their number, or the names by which they may be properly known, it is certain that the gospel dispensations are inter-related. They are as the links of a mighty chain, representing God's dealings with man, and extending from the dawn of creation down to and beyond the present time. Symbolical and Prophetic.--Those dispensations are likewise symbolical and prophetic in character, pointing forward and finding their culmination, their prospective and complete fulfilment, in the great and final dispensation that is destined to bring about "the restitution of all things." This is "Mormonism's" mission upon earth--"Mormonism," a nick-name for the Everlasting Gospel, brought back once more for the purpose of completing the Lord's work as pertaining to this planet, binding in one the dispensations, and merging them into the last and greatest of all--the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times. CHAPTER II. The Adamic Period Adam Holds the Keys.--The Prophet Joseph Smith treats thus the theme of the Gospel dispensations: "Commencing with Adam, who was the first man, * * * the first and father of all, not only by progeny, but the first to hold the spiritual blessings, to whom was made known the plan of ordinances for the salvation of his posterity unto the end, and to whom Christ was first revealed, and through whom Christ has been revealed from heaven, and will continue to be revealed from henceforth;--Adam holds the keys of the dispensation of the fulness of times; i.e., the dispensation of all the times have been and will be revealed through him from the beginning to Christ, and from Christ to the end of all the dispensations that are to be revealed."--("History of the Church," Vol. IV, pp. 207, 208.) "All Things in Christ."--Having cited Paul (Ephesians 1:9,10), as showing how God "purposed in himself, that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth," the Prophet goes on to say: "Now the purpose of himself, in the winding up scene of the last dispensation, is that all things pertaining to that dispensation should be conducted precisely in accordance with the preceding dispensations. "And again, God purposed in himself that there should not be an eternal fulness until every dispensation should be fulfiled and gathered together in one, and that all things whatsoever that should be gathered together in one in those dispensations unto the same fulness and eternal glory, should be in Christ Jesus; therefore he set the ordinances to be the same forever and ever, and set Adam to watch over them, to reveal them from heaven to man, or to send angels to reveal them. * * * * * * * * * * *