Category: A-Z Glossary
Click here for the full A-Z glossary.
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Genealogy (Defined)
Genealogy. Research of one’s family history. Names are gathered so that those already deceased can have temple rituals performed on their behalf. According to Joseph Smith, “The greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us is to seek after our dead. Those saints who neglect it in behalf of their deceased relatives,…
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Garments of the Holy Priesthood (Defined)
Garments of the Holy Priesthood. Sacred underwear worn by faithful temple Mormons which, they are told in the temple, “will be a shield and protection to you against the power of the destroyer until you have finished your work here on earth.” Sewn into the garments are markings that resemble the compass, square, and level of Freemasonry.…
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Friend (Defined)
Friend. A monthly magazine produced for the LDS children.
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Forgiveness (Defined)
Forgiveness. Received only after a member repents of all sins and keeps all the commandments. D&C 1:32 says, “Nevertheless, he that repents and does the commandments of the Lord shall be forgiven.” D&C 82:7 adds, “And now, verily I say unto you, I, the Lord, will not lay any sin to your charge; go your…
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Food Storage (Defined)
Food Stroage. The belief that Latter-day Saints should have sufficient storage of food and water along with other supplies to survive disasters. According to the Encyclopedia of Mormonism, “In their homes, members are encouraged to have food storage sufficient for a year and other essentials of emergency preparedness: clothing, bedding, fuel (where possible), and the…
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First Vision (Defined)
First Vision. Occurred in 1820 (officially) when Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, was 14 years old. Confused about religion and reflecting on James 1:5, Smith retired to the woods to pray and ask God which church to join. God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him. According to Joseph Smith-History 1:19, “I was…
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Fire and Brimstone (Defined)
Fire and Brimstone. A sympbolic description of where the wicked will spend eternity. Joseph Smith said, “A man is his own tormenter an his own condemner. Hence the saying, They shall go into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. The torment of disappointment in the mind of man is as exquisite as a lake…
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Family (Defined)
Family. Meant to be a unit into eternity. One church manual said, “Only in and through the family unit can we obtain eternal life” (Doctrines of the Gospel Student Manual Religion 231 and 232, 1986, p. 78). First Presidency member James Faust explained to a general conference audience, “The Savior’s supernal gift to mankind gave us the…
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First Estate (Defined)
First Estate. The premortal life.Return to dictionary here.
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Fast and Testimony (Defined)
Fast and Testimony. Practice of members sharing their personal testimonies at church services on the first Sunday of each month. They are encouraged to refrain from two consecutive meals, donating the savings to the church.
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Family Home Evening (Defined)
Family home evening. A recommended gathering for families on Monday nights, with the primary activity to study the Mormon gospel. Church activities do not happen during this time, as church buildings are closed. Families often use this time to strengthen relationships and have fun together. Return to dictionary here.
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Fast Offering (Defined)
Fast Offering. An offering designated to be given to the poor, contributed during a fast and testimony meeting. “These contributions come from members of the Church, who abstain from two meals per month and pay the equivalent amount of these meals in cash to the bishop. The bishop uses these funds to provide for the cash…
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Fall of Adam and Eve (Defined)
Fall of Adam. According to the Book of Mormon, “Adam fell that men might be” (2 Nephi 2:25). According to Apostle Mark E. Petersen, “The fall of Adam and Eve was no tragedy. It was a blessing in disguise, for without it none of us would have been born, since Adam and Eve, in their original state,…
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Damnation (Defined)
Damnation. Two possible definitions:
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Excommunication (Defined)
Excommunication. The severing of a member’s membership record. According to twelfth President Spencer Kimball, “Excommunication is a complete severing of all ties. One loses membership, the Holy Ghost, priesthood, sealings, and all church privileges. If the transgression is generally and widely known and is a public scandal, the individual is sometimes permitted to make a…
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Exaltation (Defined)
Exaltation. Godhood achieved by complete obedience to all the commandments and complete repentance of sins. Those who are exalted earn the right to etenral life in the celestial kingdom with their families. Those who are exalted will create worlds and populations, receive the worship of those people, and rule as Gods and Goddesses over their creations.
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Eternal Progression (Defined)
Eternal Progression. Composed of three stages of development, which are the first estate (premortality or preexistence), the second estate (mortality), and the third estate (immortality or eternal life). Eternal progression had no beginning and has no end; all Gods that ever were or ever will be must achieve their exalted state in this way.
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Eternal Life (Defined)
Eternal Life. Gaining exaltation in the highest level of the celestial kingdome and living forever in the family unit. Apostle Bruce R. McConkie explained, “Only those who obey the fulness of the gospel law will inherit eternal life … Thus those who gain eternal life receive exaltation; they are sons of God, joint heirs with Christ, members…
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Eternal Increase (Defined)
Eternal Increase. The ability to procreate throughout eternity. This is reserved for Mormon couples who have complied with all the requirements for exaltation. This will give them access to unlimited spirit children. According to Joseph Smith, “Those who are married by the power and authority of the priesthood in this life, and continue without committing the…