At the beginning of his epistle to the Ephesians, Paul marvels in the truth and wisdom God has revealed to us. Then, he explains the ultimate objective of these revelations:
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; even in him.
Ephesians 1:10
A dispensation is a period of time in which God reveals truth to His children. (See Bible Dictionary, “Dispensations.”) Joseph Smith said, “It is in the order of heavenly things that God should always send a new dispensation into the world when men have apostatized from the truth and lost the priesthood.” And he added, “The dispensation of the fullness of times will bring to light the things that have been revealed in all former dispensations; also other things that have not been before revealed” (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, “Chapter 44: The Restoration of All Things: The Dispensation of the Fulness of Times“).
As Paul explained, the dispensation of the fulness of times is characterized not only by the acquisition of many truths but also by their synthesis. God will not only reveal many things but will also “gather together in one all things in Christ.”
When Jesus visited the American continent following His death and resurrection, He quoted a number of scriptural passages, explaining their meaning. An important part of that explanation was identifying connections between them. Mormon said that Jesus “expounded all the scriptures in one” (3 Nephi 23:14).
When Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith, he quoted from Malachi, Acts, Joel, and “many other passages of scripture” (Joseph Smith—History 1:36-41), combining them into a single message.
Elder David A. Bednar explained how combining and connecting revealed truths can help us understand the gospel better and apply it to our lives:
The gospel of Jesus Christ is a magnificent tapestry of truth “fitly framed” and woven together. As we learn and link together revealed gospel truths, we are blessed to receive precious perspective and increased spiritual capacity through eyes that can see the Lord’s influence in our lives and ears that can hear His voice. And the principle of gathering together in one—even in Him—can assist us in changing the traditional checklists into a unified, integrated, and complete whole.
“Gather Together in One All Things in Christ,” General Conference, October 2018, italics in original
Today, as I study and ponder revealed truth, I will look for connections and common themes across different sources of revealed truth. I will strive to not only understand gospel principles, but to see them as parts of a whole—a single framework which points me toward the salvation that is in Jesus Christ.
May I just say, I find you do an excellent job already with bringing different sources together. Thanks for what you do!
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Thank you for the kind words! I enjoy looking for connections and sharing them when I find them. I appreciate the positive feedback!