Category: A-Z Glossary
Click here for the full A-Z glossary.
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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…
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Golgotha (Defined)
Golgotha. See the Garden of Gethesemane.Return to dictionary here.
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Gold Plates (Defined)
Gold Plates. An historical record of American peoples written on plates of gold. In A.D. 421, Moroni, a Nephite warrior and son of Mormon, buried the plates in the Hill Cumorah. In 1823, as a resurrected being, Moroni revealed the whereabouts of the plates to Joseph Smith who was permitted to retrieve them in 1827.…
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Golden Contact (Defined)
Golden Contact. A person who knows little or nothing about Mormonism but is eager to learn and may possibly join the LDS Church.
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Godhood (Defined)
Godhood. Becoming exalted like God the Father.
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Black (Priesthood Ban) (Defined)
Blacks. Before 1978, LDS leaders claimed that African Americans and others with dark skin could not hold the Mormon priesthood because they were cursed.
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Godhead (Defined)
Godhead. Three gods–God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost–who, while distinct in being, are one in purpose. Joseph Smith taught, “I have always declared God to be a distinct personage, Jesus Christ a separate and distinct personage from God the Father, and that the Holy Ghost was a distinct personage and a Spirit:…
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God the Father (Defined)
God the Father. Also known as Heavenly Father or Elohim. He was once a righteous human in another realm who died and then became God of this world. He has a tangible body of flesh and bones (D&C 130:22). According to Joseph Smith, “I will go back to the beginning before the world was, to…
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Gift of the Holy Ghost (Defined)
Gift of the Holy Ghost. Fullness of blessings available to LDS members after water baptism. The Holy Ghost remains with those who stay worthy, though he will withdraw when the commandments are not kept. Return to dictionary here.
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Gethsemane (Defined)
Gethsemane. Traditionally, according to LDS leaders, this the place where the heart of the atonement took place. Apostle Bruce R. McConkie explained, “Where and under what circumstances was the atoning sacrifice of the Son of God made? Was it on the Cross of Calvary or in the Garden of Gethsemane? It is to the Cross of…
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Gentile (Defined)
Gentile. Basically non-Mormons, but also understood to include non-Jews. “Like Israel of old, the Saints also referred to themselves as a ‘covenant people,’ and often concluded correspondence with phrases such as ‘yours in the everlasting covenant.’ In thinking of themselves as Israel, they began to refer to non-Mormons as ‘gentiles,’ not in derision but as…
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General Conference (Defined)
General Conference. An assembly of LDS membership held in Salt Lake City, Utah each April and October. These meetings are for official instruction, announcements and teaching given by General Authorities and other LDS leaders. What is said at conference is considered to be authoratative.