Author: Eric Johnson
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Sacrament (Defined)
Sacrament: Similar to the Protestant version of communion, or the Lord’s Supper. Performed weekly in LDS services, with bread and water serving as elements. According to the Church Handbook of Instructions, “Church members meet on the Sabbath to worship God and partake of the sacrament (see D&C 20:75; 59:9).
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Sabbath (Defined)
Sabbath: Sunday. This is a day Mormons are told to “Keep the Sabbath Day holy” by attending church while refraining from shopping, doing chores, and participating in recreational activities. Return to dictionary here.
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RM (Defined)
RM: Short for “returned missionary.” See missionary.
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Personal Revelation (Defined)
Personal Revelation. Ability given to individuals by the Holy Ghost, enabling them to see the truthfulness of all things, especially issues pertaining to Mormonism. According to Apostle Russell M. Nelson, “Every Latter-day Saint may merit personal revelation” (“Ask, Seek, Knock,” Ensign (Conference Edition), November 2009, p. 83).
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Continuing Revelation (Defined)
Continuing Revelation: God’s ongoing communication to humankind through the words of General Authorities and their ability to receive direct guidance from God in the latter days.Return to dictionary here.
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Restoration (Defined)
Restoration. Reestablishment of true Gospel principles when Joseph Smith founded the LDS Church in 1830. Besides the Gospel, Priesthood authority was returned after it had been taken from the earth during the great Apostasy. According to the Encyclopedia of Mormonism, “When Latter-day Saints speak of the ‘restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ’ they refer primarily…
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Repentance (Defined)
Repentance: The process by which a member receives forgiveness. True repentance involves six steps, including confession and a successful abandonment of sins. According to a number of church manuals:
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Reformed Egyptian (Defined)
Reformed Egyptian: Mormon 9:32 describes the characters written upon the gold plates (containing the Book of Mormon) to be in a language called Reformed Egyptian. There is no evidence to show that this language ever existed. Listen to a Viewpoint on Mormonism podcast with Rob Bowman on Reformed Egyptian that aired September 27, 2017. Return to…
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Relief Society (Defined)
Relief Society: Organization for female members who are eighteen or older. For more information, see here. Return to dictionary here.
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Does 1 Corinthians 15:29 Teach Baptism for the Dead?
In 1 Corinthians 15:29, the apostle Paul wrote, “Else what shall they dowhich are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?” President David O. McKay wrote,“Not a few commentators have tried to explain away [this passage’s] true significance; but its context proves plainly…
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Quorum (Defined)
Quorum. Group of men holding the same priesthood authority.Return to dictionary here.
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Quetzalcoatl (Defined)
Quetzalcoatl. An ancient Central American Aztec god believed by many Mormons to be Jesus Christ who visited the Americas after His resurrection. The name means plumed serpent and is derived from a colorful bird (quetzal) and a snake (coatl). “Quetzalcoatl, under a variety of names as presented in the traditions of the Indians of North,…
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Quad (Defined)
Quad. All four of the Mormon standard works — the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price — bound together in one volume. Return to dictionary here.
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Priesthood (Defined)
Priesthood.
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Preexistence/Premortality (Defined)
Preextistence/premortality: Also referred to as the First Estate or Pre-Mortal State. Mormonism teaches all humans lived near a planet called Kolob as God’s spirit children before coming to earth and taking on human form. Since God’s children could only progress so far in the pre-existence, it was necessary that they go through a probationary state…
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Perfection (Defined)
Perfection. The idea that a Mormon must keep all the commandments. Often Matthew 5:48 (“be ye perfect”) is quoted to show that this standard must be met by the faithful Latter-day Saint. According to twelfth President Spencer Kimball: “This progress toward eternal life is a matter of achieving perfection. Living all the commandments guarantees total…
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Paid Ministry (Defined)
Paid Ministry. The criticism Mormons have toward any local religious leader or pastor to receive a salary for their labors. According to Apostle Franklin Richards, “One of the important and distinguishing features of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that its affairs are administered by the lay members of the Church rather…
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Polygamy/Plural Marriage (Defined)
Polygamy/Plural Marriage. A doctrine practiced in the LDS Church from the 1830s until 1890 in which men were encouraged to have multiple wives in order to receive greater blessings in eternity. Polygamy is no longer a practice of Mormonism, but the revelation that teaches it is still found in Doctrine and Covenants, section 132. Joseph…
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Pearl of Great Price (Defined)
Pearl of Great Price. One of the four Standard Works. Contains books such as the Book of Abraham, Moses, Joseph Smith’s history, and Smith’s retranslation of a portion of the gospel of Matthew. For more information, see here. Return to dictionary here.