A
Aaronic Priesthood
The lesser priesthood of the Church, consisting of the offices of deacon, teacher, priest, and bishop. Holders of this priesthood attend to temporal affairs of the Church (cf. Melchizedek Priesthood).
active in the Church
Refers to regular attendance at meetings, observance of the principles of the gospel, and acceptance of Church callings.
ALLEGOry
A story in which the apparent meaning of the characters and events is used to symbolize a deeper moral or spiritual message.
ARTICLES OF FAITH
Thirteen concise statements of LDS belief written by Joseph Smith in the Wentworth Letter.
B
Bishop
A priesthood office whose bearer has been ordained and set apart to preside over a ward.
C
Confirmation
The bestowal of the gift of the Holy Ghost to newly baptized members by holders of the Melchizedek Priesthood; also official recognition of Church membership.
D
Doctrine in Covenants
A volume of Latter-day Saint scripture containing divine revelations and inspired declarations given to Joseph Smith and his successors in the presidency of the Church, for the establishment and regulation of the kingdom of God on the earth in the last days. Although most of the sections are directed to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the messages, warnings, and exhortations are for the benefit of all mankind and contain an invitation to all people everywhere to hear the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ, speaking to them for their temporal well-being and their everlasting salvation.
E
Ensign
Since 1971, the official monthly periodical published by the Church.
F
Fast Offerings
Donations of at least the value of meals not eaten on fast Sunday, given to the bishop for the relief of the needy.
G
General Authorities
Members of the presiding lay leadership of the Church: the First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Quorums of the Seventy, and Presiding Bishopric.
General Conference
Is a semiannual gathering of members of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), held every April and October at the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. During each conference members of the church gather to hear sermons from aposltes, prophets and general authorities of the church.
H
Holy Ghost
The third member of the Godhead, a personage of Spirit.
I
Israel
(1) Members of the Church; (2) the Old Testament patriarch Jacob and his descendants.
J
Journal of Discourses
A collection of sermons by LDS leaders, 1854-1886 (26 volumes); it is not an official source for Church doctrine.
K
Keys of the Priesthood
The right to exercise or direct authority, perform ordinances, or to preside over a priesthood function, quorum, or Church organization.
L
Latter-Day Saint
A member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Light of Christ
Enlightenment given to all, both men and women, which enables them to know good from evil and to experience the guidance of what is often called our conscience.
M
Moroni
(1) A Nephite military leader, c. 60 Be; (2) a Book of Mormon prophet, c. AD 420 who in 1827, as a resurrected being, gave Joseph Smith the gold plates from which Joseph translated the Book of Mormon. A statue of Moroni is placed atop some mormon temples and on the hill Cumorah.
N
New Era
Since 1971, the Church periodical for young people.
O
Ordinances
A performance or prescribed ceremony related to the reception of a blessing, covenant, or ordination, such as baptism, confirmation, endowment, marriage, etc., performed by one who has been ordained to the priesthood and authorized to perform the ordinance.
P
Pearl of Great Price
One of the standard works of the Church, containing the book of Moses, the book of Abraham, Joseph Smith—Matthew (a translation of Matthew 24), the Joseph Smith-History, and the Articles of Faith.
Principle, Gospel
Truth packaged for application. "A true principle makes decisions clear even under the most confusing and compelling circumstances. It is worth great effort to organize the truth we gather into simple statements of principle" (Richard G. Scott, Ensign, November 1993, p. 86).
"A principle is an enduring truth, a law, a rule you can adopt to guide you in making decisions" (Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, May 1996, p. 17).
Faith in Jesus Christ and repentance are the first two principles of the gospel. "Simply stated, a gospel truth (doctrine, law, concept) +application = gospel principle." - Dee Woodward
Q
Quorum of the Twelve
The body of twelve men who, under the direction of the First Presidency, constitute the second-highest presiding quorum of the Church.
R
Relief Society
The adult women's auxiliary organization of the Church.
Restoration of the Church
When Jesus was on the earth he established His church which included; apostles, prophets, priesthood authority and saving ordinances. In the years following the death of Jesus Christ, and the deaths of His original apostles, the priesthood authority of God was no longer found on the earth. The restoration of the Lords church began with the visit of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ to Joseph Smith. The restoration continued over several years as priesthood authority and the divinely granted permission to use the priesthood were returned to the earth.
REstore
To bring back to a former, original or normal condition. To return something that was lost or taken away.
REVELATION
Revelation is communication from God to His children on the earth and one of the great blessings associated with the gift and constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught, “The Holy Ghost is a revelator,” and “no man can receive the Holy Ghost without receiving revelations” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 132).
S
Sacrament
The water and bread blessed and distributed as emblems of the body and blood of Jesus Christ to Church members in ward or branch meetings.
Sustain
When Latter-Day Saints raise their right hand to the square to sustain their leaders, it is not a vote. But instead it is a personal commitment, even a covenant, to sustain and to uphold the laws, ordinances, commandments, and the prophet of God.
T
Temple
A sacred building, the "House of the Lord," in which Latter-day Saints perform sacred ceremonies and ordinances of the gospel for themselves and for the dead.
U
Urimmand ThumMim
Two stones set in "silver bows," and often associated with a breastplate, given to Joseph Smith to aid in the translation of the Book of Mormon and in receiving other revelations. The Urim and Thummim mentioned in the Bible are probably not the same as those possessed by Joseph Smith.
V
Visiting Teaching
A Church program in which members of the Relief Society are assigned to visit regularly other sisters to give brief instruction and support.
W
Ward
A geographic ecclesiastical unit in the Church, consisting of several hundred members presided over by a bishop.
X
Y
Z
Zion
A word meaning the "pure in heart"; also a geographic location where the righteous are gathered by obedience to the gospel.