Author: Eric Johnson
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Jack Mormon (Defined)
Jack Mormon. More commonly a term that describes a lukewarm Mormon who does not fully practice his faith. However, it has also been used to describe non-Mormons who showed kindness and/or sympathy to the Mormons.
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Investigator (Defined)
Investigator. A person who is being visited by the Mormon missionaries and is considering the LDS religion. Typically potential converts are asked to read the Book of Mormon and pray according to the fashion of Mornoi 10:4.
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Intelligences (Defined)
Intelligences. Mentioned in the Standard Works only in Abraham 3:21-22. It can refer to either the pre-existent spirit offspring of God or individual eternal entities that existed before the pre-existence. At one time every person existed as an intelligence. Joseph Smith stated, “Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth,…
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Institute of Religion (Defined)
Institute of Religion. An LDS school offering college-level classes on various subjects of Mormonism, often found on or near major university campuses.
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Inspired Version (Joseph Smith Translation) (Defined)
Inspired Version. Also known as the Joseph Smith Translation (JST). According to Doctrine and Covenants 73, Smith was commanded by God to work on a new translation of the Bible. It is said this was accomplished by way of revelation. While Mormon leaders have argued that the translation was not finished, the History of the Church reports that Smith finished his…
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Immortality (Defined)
Immortality. Living forever in the resurrected state. According to tenth President Joseph Fielding Smith, “Now there is a difference between immortality and eternal life. Immortality is the gift to live forever. It comes to every creature” (Doctrines of Salvation 2:9). Apostle Russell M. Nelson told a general conference audience, “Resurrection, or immortality, comes to every man and…
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Hosanna Shout (Defined)
Hosanna Shout. Done at temple dedication ceremonies. Each member takes a white handkerchief and waves it while shouting “Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna to God and the Lamb” a total of three times, sealing it each time with “Amen, Amen and Amen.” If a person has no handkerchief, then a palm raised is sufficient. This was first…
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Humility (Defined)
Humility. Accordingto Alma 5:27-28, this means being “sufficiently humble” as well as “stripped of pride.” Joseph Smith boasted, “I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole…
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Homosexuality (Defined)
Homosexuality. Strongly prohibited in the LDS church. A person who is a practicing homosexual is not allowed to get a temple recommend. Twelfth President Spencer W. Kimball explained, “In this context, where stands the perversion of homosexuality? Clearly it is hostile to God’s purpose in that it negates his first and great commandment to ‘multiply…
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Home Teachers (Defined)
Home teachers. Members of the LDS Church who are given the responsibility of visiting the homes of assigned members once a month. Their job is to encourage members to grow spiritually through prayer, study, and performance of their church duties (D&C 20:42-54).
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Holy Spirit (Defined)
Holy Spirit. According to Apostle John Widtsoe, “The agent, means, or influence by which the will, power, and intelligence of God, and the Godhead … may be transmitted through space” (Evidences and Reconciliations, 76). Apostle Parley P. Pratt taught the Holy Spirit was a “divine substance or fluid,” which filled Jesus Christ (Key to the Science of Theology, 1855…
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Holy Ghost (Defined)
Holy Ghost. Third member of the godhead sometimes described as the Holy Spirit and sometimes described as distinct from the Holy Spirit. Mormon Apostle John Widtsoe stated, “The Holy Ghost, sometimes called the Comforter, is the third member of the Godhead, and is a personage, distinct from the Holy Spirit. As a personage, the Holy Ghost…
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High Priest (Defined)
High Priest. The Mormon bishop who is the head of a local Mormon ward. According to a conference message given by fifteenth President Gordon Hinckley, “We have more than 18,000 bishops in the Church. Every one is a man who has been called by the spirit of prophecy and revelation and set apart and ordained…
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Heaven (Defined)
Heaven. For more information, see entries for celestial kingdom, terrestrial kingdom, and telestial kingdom.Also see here.
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Hell (Defined)
Hell. Also called Spirit Prison. Mormonism rejects that people go to either heaven or hell. Hugh Brown, a member of the First Presidency, said, “We reject the unscriptural doctrine that there are two places or states of eternal existence -– heaven and hell –- and that all men will go to one or the other”…
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Heavenly Mother (Defined)
Heavenly Mother.
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Church of the Devil (Defined)
Church of the Devil. Depending on the person, generally means any organization opposing Mormonism. According to Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, “The titles church of the devil and great and abominable church are used to identify all churches or organizations of whatever name or nature – whether political, philosophical, educational, economic social, fraternal, civic, or religious…
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Grand Council (Defined)
Grand Council. Also referred to as “Council of the Gods” that took place in the pre-existence. According to Joseph Smith, this was the place where “in the beginning, the head of the Gods called a council of the Gods; and they came together and concocted a plan to create the world and people it” (Teachings…
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Grace (Defined)
Grace. Generally refers to the general salvation everyone receives by being born onto this earth, through the work of Jesus and His atonement. Exaltation, or individual salvation, requires many works. As twelfth President Spencer W. Kimball said, “One of the most fallacious doctrines originated by Satan and propounded by man is that man is saved alone by…
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Gospel (Defined)
Gospel. All doctriens, principles, laws, ordinances, and covenants necessary for a Mormon to receive exaltation. According to 10th LDS President Joseph Fielding Smith, “THE GOSPEL NEVER CHANGES. This work is based upon fundamental principles that do not change. They must not, they cannot change, because they are eternal…FULNESS OF THE GOSPEL. By fulness of the…