Mormonspeak (Mormon dictionary)
Learning to talk like (and understand) a Mormon
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Melchizedek Priesthood: The higher priesthood properly called the Holy Priesthood after the Order of the Son of God, though this is seldom used. This priesthood holds all the keys necessary to lead the Church. It contains the offices of Elder, High Priest, Seventy, Patriarch, Apostle, and President of the Church. This priesthood has the authority to preside over the Church and to conduct temple ordinances, sealings, and so forth.
Mia Maid: Girls ages 14 and 15 in the Young Women’s program.
Millennium: The period of a thousand years when Jesus Christ will reign personally upon the earth. This will be a time devoted to temple work.
Mission Field: A term referring to areas where Mormon missionaries proselyte. While this technically refers to the whole world, Mormons often use it to refer to places where Mormons are the minority, hence anywhere outside of Utah, Idaho, and parts of Nevada, Wyoming, and Arizona.
Missionary: 1) Full-time missionaries are set apart to serve for a set period of time. Proselyting missionaries are typically 19 to 23 year-old men and women who serve for 18 to 24 months. Senior couples also serve many missionaries including proselyting, humanitarian, genealogical, and leadership missions. 2) Part-time missionaries include tour guides and volunteers at Church historical sites, libraries and humanitarian facilities, though full-time missionaries also fulfill many of these same functions.
Mormon: 1) A prophet-historian in the Book of Mormon who compiled the records of his people into the Book of Mormon through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Book of Mormon is named after him. 2) A nickname for members of the Mormon Church. Members generally prefer to be called Latter-day Saints, LDS, members of the LDS Church, Saints, or so forth.
Mormon Pioneers: Persecution in the early days of the Mormon Church led to the murder of Joseph Smith and the expulsion of the Mormons from Missouri and Illinois. Tens of thousands crossed the Great Plains to Utah seeking freedom to practice their religion. Led by Brigham Young and the Twelve Apostles, these were known as the Mormon Pioneers.
Mormon Tabernacle Choir: The world-famous choir based at the Tabernacle found on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is comprised solely of volunteers and funds its trips through ticket sales and CDs, though most of its concerts are free. They sing frequently at General Conference and weekly on their radio program “Music and the Spoken Word,” which is the longest running radio program in history.
Moroni: The angel who delivered the Golden Plates to Joseph Smith in 1827. Mormons believe this fulfilled the prophecy of “another angel” sent to proclaim the everlasting gospel (see Revelation 14:6). The angels atop the spires of Mormon temples are generally referred to as Angel Moronis.
Mutual: Refers to the weeknight activities of the Young Men’s and Young Women’s program. Typically held on Tuesday or Wednesday nights, these include spiritual, cultural, service and recreational activities for Mormon teenagers. The name comes from Mutual Improvement Society, the original name for the Young Men and Young Women program.
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New Era, the: The English language magazine of the Mormon Church aimed at teenagers.
Nursery: During Sunday School and Priesthood/Relief Society meetings on Sunday, members provide nursery for children under 4. After 4, the children begin attending Primary.
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Offerings: Freewill donations in addition to tithing generally given to support a specific cause such a missionary work or humanitarian efforts.
Office: In Mormonism, offices of the priesthood are those positions of varying authority and responsibility within the two branches of the priesthood. See Aaronic Priesthood, and Melchizedek Priesthood.
Opening Exercises: Refers to those activities traditionally done at the beginning of meetings in the Mormon Church including opening prayer, the singing of a hymn, announcements, and sometimes a spiritual thought or quote.
Ordain: The act of appointing a man to a specific office of the priesthood such as priest, bishop, or apostle.
Ordinances: Rites and rituals performed by the authority of the priesthood. Some examples include baptism, confirmation, sealing, blessing of the sacrament, blessing the sick and so forth.
Outer Darkness: The place where only those who committed the unpardonable sin of blasphemy against the Holy Ghost will end up. It is also where Satan and the spirits who followed him will dwell. See also Hell
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