A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z 

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A

The Aaronic Priesthood deals with the temporal and outward ordinances of the law and the gospel. It holds the keys of the ministering of angels, of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism. The Aaronic Priesthood was restored to the earth in this dispensation on May 15, 1829. John the Baptist conferred it on Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery on the banks of the Susquehanna River, near Harmony, Pennsylvania (The Guide to the Scriptures, "Aaronic Priesthood," 7–8).

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B

Brigham Young was born June 1, 1801, in Whitingham, Vermont. In 1835 he was called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. As successor to Joseph Smith, he led the migration west in 1846–47 to the Rocky Mountains and founded Salt Lake City. He was sustained as President of the Church on December 27, 1847. As Church President and Territorial Governor of Utah, he established Latter-day Saint settlements in Utah and throughout the American West. He died August 29, 1877, in Salt Lake City after nearly 30 years as Church President...

Jesus Christ is symbolized in the scriptures as the Bridegroom. The Church is His symbolic bride (The Guide to the Scriptures, "Bridegroom," 35).

One of the standard works of the Church. An account of God's dealings with the people of the American continents from about 2,200 years before the birth of Jesus Christ to 421 years after the death of Jesus Christ. It was translated from gold plates by Joseph Smith and contains the fulness of the gospel (Gospel Principles, 377).

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C

Joseph and Hyrum Smith were murdered by a mob on June 27, 1844, at the jail in Carthage, Illinois, United States of America (see D&C 135; The Guide to the Scriptures, "Carthage Jail," 38).

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D

A collection of latter-day divine revelations and inspired declarations. The Lord gave these to Joseph Smith and several of his successors for the establishment and regulation of the kingdom of God on the earth in the last days. The Doctrine and Covenants is one of the standard works of scripture in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, along with the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and the Pearl of Great Price (The Guide to the Scriptures, "Doctrine and Covenants," 68).

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E

A prophet who led the people of the city of Zion. Zion was taken to heaven because of the righteousness of those who lived in it (The Guide to the Scriptures, "Enoch," 74).

Wife of the Prophet Joseph Smith. The Lord commanded Emma to make a selection of hymns for the Church. She also served as the first president of the Relief Society (The Guide to the Scriptures, "Smith, Emma Hale," 229–30).

An Old Testament prophet who returned in the latter days to confer the keys of the sealing power on Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. The power of Elijah is the sealing power of the priesthood by which things that are bound or loosed on earth are bound or loosed in heaven (see D&C 128: 8–18). Chosen servants of the Lord on earth today have this sealing power and perform the saving ordinances of the gospel for the living and the dead (see D&C 128:8; The Guide to the Scriptures, "Elijah," 72–73).

There are several uses for the name or title Elias, including (1) the New Testament (Greek) form of Elijah (see Matthew 17:3–4); (2) as a forerunner, such as John the Baptist (see Matthew 17:12–13); (3) as a restorer, such as John the Revelator (see D&C 77:14) or Gabriel (see Luke 1:11–20; D&C 27:7); as the name of a prophet who lived at the same time as Abraham (see D&C 84:11–13; 110:12; The Guide to the Scriptures, "Elias," 72).

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F

The President of the Church and his Counselors. They are a quorum of three high priests and preside over the whole Church. The First Presidency holds all the keys of the priesthood (Guide to the Scriptures, First Presidency).

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G

The meeting in heaven in which Heavenly Father announced the plan of salvation and chose Jesus Christ as our Redeemer ( Gospel Principles, 377).

The gospel of Jesus Christ in all its fulness is, quite simply, all the knowledge, ordinances, and authority necessary to secure the exaltation of God's children.

God's plan of salvation, made possible through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The gospel includes the eternal truths or laws, covenants, and ordinances needed for mankind to enter back into the presence of God. God restored the fulness of the gospel to the earth in the nineteenth century through the Prophet Joseph Smith (The Guide to the Scriptures, "Gospel," 96–97).

Born in Salt Lake City on June 23, 1910, Gordon B. Hinckley was called to be an Apostle in 1961. Since becoming Church President on March 12, 1995, he has directed the most intense temple building program in the history of the Church in an effort to extend temple blessings to more members. He has exhibited vitality and energy as he has traveled about the world meeting and speaking to members of the Church. Through television interviews and national press publications, he has increased media attention and improved the public image of the Church. He has counseled Church members to fellowship new converts, befriend members of other faiths, live exemplary lives, and avoid the evils of the world.

George Albert Smith was born on April 4, 1870, in Salt Lake City. His father, John Henry Smith, and grandfather, George A. Smith, had both been counselors to Church Presidents. He became President of the Church on May 21, 1945. After six years as President, George Albert Smith died in Salt Lake City on his 81st birthday, April 4, 1951.

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H

An older brother and faithful associate of Joseph Smith. Hyrum was born on February 9, 1800. He served as an assistant to Joseph in the Church presidency, as well as being the second Patriarch to the Church. On June 27, 1844, he became a fellow martyr with Joseph in Carthage Jail (The Guide to the Scriptures, "Smith, Hyrum," 230).

The third member of the Godhead (1 John 5: 7; D&C 20: 28). He is a personage of Spirit, not having a body of flesh and bones (D&C 130: 22). The Holy Ghost is often referred to as the Spirit, or the Spirit of God. The power of the Holy Ghost can come upon a person before baptism and witness that the gospel is true. But the right to have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, whenever one is worthy, is a gift that can be received only by the laying on of hands by a Melchizedek Priesthood holder after authorized baptism into the true Church of Jesus Christ (Guide to the Scriptures, Holy Ghost).

Born June 14, 1801, in Sheldon, Vermont, Heber C. Kimball became one of the first Apostles in this dispensation on February 14, 1835. He opened the preaching of the gospel in England in 1837 and later served as a counselor to Brigham Young. He died in Salt Lake City, Utah, on June 22, 1868.

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J

A revision or translation of the King James Version of the Bible in English, which the Prophet Joseph Smith began in June 1830. He was commanded by God to make the translation and regarded it as part of his calling as a prophet. The Joseph Smith Translation has restored some of the plain and precious things that have been lost from the Bible (see 1 Nephi 13). Although it is not the official Bible of the Church, this translation does offer many interesting insights and is very valuable in understanding the Bible. It is also a witness for the divine calling and ministry of the Prophet Joseph Smith (The Guide to the Scriptures, "Joseph Smith Translation [JST]," 136–37).

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L

The Clay County jail at Liberty, Missouri, in which the Prophet Joseph Smith and others were unjustly imprisoned from December 1838 to April 1839.

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M

An Old Testament prophet who led the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage. Moses appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery on April 3, 1836, in the temple in Kirtland, Ohio, and conferred on them the keys of the gathering of Israel (see D&C 110: 11; The Guide to the Scriptures, "Moses," 168–169).

The last Nephite prophet in the Book of Mormon (circa A.D. 421). In 1823 Moroni was sent as a resurrected being to reveal the Book of Mormon to Joseph Smith and finally delivered the plates to him in 1827 (The Guide to the Scriptures, "Moroni, Son of Mormon," 167–68).

The Melchizedek Priesthood is the higher or greater priesthood. It includes the keys of the spiritual blessings of the Church. Through the ordinances of the higher priesthood, the power of godliness is made manifest to men (see D&C 84:18–25; 107:18–21). The President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the president of the high or Melchizedek Priesthood, and he holds all the keys that pertain to the kingdom of God on the earth (The Guide to the Scriptures, "Melchizedek Priesthood," 161–62).

An Old Testament prophet who lived about 430 B.C., Malachi foretold the time when the Lord would restore His temple and visit His people there (see Malachi 3:1). He also prophesied that Elijah would come to restore the keys of turning the hearts of generations toward one another.

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O

The second elder of the restored Church and one of the Three Witnesses to the divine origin and truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. He acted as scribe while Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon from the gold plates (see Joseph Smith—History 1:66–68; The Guide to the Scriptures, "Cowdery, Oliver," 56).

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P

The Aaronic Priesthood deals with the temporal and outward ordinances of the law and the gospel. It holds the keys of the ministering of angels, of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism. The Aaronic Priesthood was restored to the earth in this dispensation on May 15, 1829. John the Baptist conferred it on Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery on the banks of the Susquehanna River, near Harmony, Pennsylvania (The Guide to the Scriptures, "Aaronic Priesthood," 7–8).

Today the President of the High Priesthood is the President of the Church and the presiding high priest upon the earth.

The Pearl of Great Price is the name given to one of four volumes of scripture called the "standard works" of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The first edition of the Pearl of Great Price was published in 1851 and contained some material that is now in the Doctrine and Covenants. Editions published since 1902 contain (1) excerpts from Joseph Smith's translation of Genesis, called the book of Moses, and of Matthew 24, called Joseph Smith—Matthew; (2) Joseph Smith's translation of some Egyptian papyrus that he obtained in 1835, called the book of Abraham; (3) an excerpt from Joseph Smith's history of the Church that he wrote in 1838, called Joseph Smith—History; and (4) the Articles of Faith, thirteen statements of belief and doctrine (The Guide to the Scriptures, "Pearl of Great Price," 189).

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R

An organization founded by the Prophet Joseph Smith on March 17, 1842, to provide relief for the poor and needy and to save souls ( True to the Faith, "Relief Society," 130).

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S

The third member of the Godhead (see 1 John 5:7; D&C 20:28). He is a personage of Spirit, not having a body of flesh and bones (see D&C 130:22). The Holy Ghost is often referred to as the Spirit, or the Spirit of God. The power of the Holy Ghost can come upon a person before baptism and witness that the gospel is true. But the right to have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, whenever one is worthy, is a gift that can be received only by the laying on of hands by a Melchizedek Priesthood holder after authorized baptism into the true Church of Jesus Christ (The Guide to the Scriptures, "Holy Ghost," 113–14).

A title that Jesus Christ used when speaking of Himself (see Luke 9:22; Luke 21:36). It meant the Son of the Man of Holiness. Man of Holiness is one of the names of God the Father. When Jesus called Himself the Son of Man, it was an open declaration of His divine relationship with the Father. This title is found frequently in the Gospels. Latter-day revelation confirms the special meaning and sacredness of this name of the Savior (D&C 45:39; 49:6, 22; 58:65; Moses 6:57; The Guide to the Scriptures, "Son of Man," 232).

A faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ (The Guide to the Scriptures, "Saint," 215–16).

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T

Literally the house of the Lord. The Lord has always commanded his people to build temples, holy buildings in which worthy Saints perform sacred ceremonies and ordinances of the gospel for themselves and for the dead. The Lord visits his temples, and they are the most holy of all places of worship. Building and using a temple properly are signs of the true Church in any dispensation, including the restored Church in our day. The Kirtland Temple was the first temple built and dedicated to the Lord in this dispensation. Since that time temples have been dedicated in many lands across the earth (Guide to the Scriptures, Temple/House of the Lord).

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W

An early member and leader in the Church after it was restored in 1830. The Lord called William Phelps to be a printer for the Church (The Guide to the Scriptures, "Phelps, William W.," 192).

An Apostle in the Church and a first counselor to Joseph Fielding, president of the British mission. He was ordained on April 14, 1840, being the first and only Apostle ordained outside the United States ( Church History in the Fulness of Times, 654).

Born March 1, 1807, and raised in Connecticut, Wilford Woodruff joined the Church in 1833 and served two missions before being ordained an Apostle in 1839. He was sustained as Church President on April 7, 1889. He died on September 2, 1898.

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Z

The pure in heart (D&C 97: 21). Zion also means a place where the pure in heart live. In the latter-days a city named Zion will be built near Jackson County, Missouri (United States of America), to which the tribes of Israel will gather (D&C 103: 11–22; 133: 18). The Saints are counseled to build up Zion wherever they are living in the world (Guide to the Scriptures, Zion).

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