1. Christianity -
In the early days Mormons separated themselves from
mainstream Christianity and strongly condemned it as wholly and utterly
apostasized from the "true Gospel." This idea is easily found in
Joseph Smith's testimony and his subsequent writings, the writings
of Brigham Young and also of other early leaders such as Orson Pratt
and Joseph Fielding Smith (e.g. Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, pp.
163, 198; vol. 8, pp. 167, 171, 199; vol. 13, p. 225; Teachings of
the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 322; History of the Church, vol. 1,
p. lxxxvi; The Seer, May 1854, vol. 2, No. 3, pp. 259-60; vol. 2,
No. 3, pp. 237, 239-40.) That this is still the true feeling of the
church in modern days is reflected in the writings of Mormon scholar
Bruce McConkie (cf. Mormon Doctrine, pp. 132, 137-38; Doctrinal New Testament
Commentary, vol. 2, pp. 274, 280; vol. 3, p. 85, 547, 550-51). They still
separate themselves but not as overtly as in earlier days. In fact, Mormons
seem eager these days to be identified as "Christian" and categorize
themselves as such. Yet they still do not see mainstream Christianity as
correct but rather as a perversion of true doctrine.
2. God -
Most of the time this word refers to "Elohim" the Father
(procreator) of all life on earth who progressed from being a man like
us to a place of exaltation and godhood.
3. Jesus
Christ -
The first spirit child of Elohim and his wife who was eventually born
as a man (like all of us) and progressed to the point of godhood. He
is "Jehovah" of the Old Testament and is a wholly different
being/man from Elohim.
4. Holy Ghost -
The third god to whom the people of earth must account.
He, too, was once a man but currently does not have a body of flesh
and blood (unlike Elohim and Jesus who do) because his role is spiritual
in nature (e.g., source of the "burning in the bosom"). Holy Ghost
is not the same as Holy Spirit, Spirit of God or Spirit of Christ
since those terms could refer to the spirit bodies of or the spiritual
energy from those entities.
5. Trinity - Simply
the idea of a close coordination/cooperation of the three entirely
separate gods of earth--Elohim (the Father), Jehovah (Jesus the Son)
and the Holy Ghost.
6. The Gospel -
The way of salvation/exaltation which is exclusively through the Mormon
doctrine of progression from one stage to another by perfect obedience
to the law in the Four Standard Works.
7. Born again -
Chiefly a reference to water baptism into the Mormon church.
8. Atonement -
Refers to Jesus' work in which he died on the cross to make all people
immortal (i.e., everyone will be physically resurrected no matter their
spiritual state--this is referred to as general salvation or salvation
by grace). This term also refers to his shedding of blood while praying
in Gethsemane to make it possible for people to repent (i.e., he atoned
for the original sin of Adam but not for every individual's personal
sin).
9. True salvation/eternal
life - this is also referred to by Mormons as individual salvation
or exaltation. The final state of being is closer to what Christians
think of when they use the term "salvation," namely, that
of dwelling with God Himself in heaven. However, this salvation is
not given by God's grace but rather must be earned by the individual.
To earn it, an individual must repent (that is, confess each sin and
never repeat it) and be perfectly obedient to the Mormon "law
of the gospel."
10. The Fall -
This is not viewed as a bad thing from Mormon perspective.
They teach that Adam was given contradictory commands by God to either
1) not eat fruit from the forbidden tree or 2) multiply and fill
the earth. Adam chose to disobey the first in order to fulfill the
second for childbirth only became possible after the fall. This made
it possible for all the spirit children with Elohim to have physical
bodies and continue in their progression toward godhood.
11. Death - Just
another step in the eternal progression--usually a step up.
12. Heaven -
The general term refers to three kingdoms with varying degrees of
glory. The Celestial is the highest where God dwells is reserved for
those Mormons who, through obedience, are deemed worthy of entering.
The Terrestrial is the second where lukewarm, non- practicing Mormons,
well intentioned Christians and people with good hearts and good
will are allowed to dwell. The Telestial is the lowest where the completely
unworthy (no faith in anything, criminals, etc.) are forced to abide.
However even this level is better than earth is right now.
13. Hell -
Can refer to two places: 1) Spirit prison is a temporary place of
confinement for the spirits of people who did not believe in Mormonism
while on earth. There they have a chance to listen to Mormon spirits
preach the "gospel" and convert. 2) Outer darkness is
a place of torment reserved for the devil, his angels and maybe those
who left Mormonism for Christianity and began to attack Mormon doctrine.
14. Virgin
birth - The birth of Christ which came about because
of a physical sex act between Mary and Elohim. In Mormon logic, a
woman only loses her virginity when she has sex with a mortal man.
Since Elohim is immortal (though still a man), Mary still qualifies
as a virgin.
15. Man - Begins
as an eternal spark of intelligence which progresses until it is born
a spirit child procreated by Elohim and one of his wives. Dwells with
God there until deemed worthy of a physical body on earth. On earth,
each individual progresses until death where he waits in paradise or
spirit prison until the day of judgment reveals his final destination
to one of the three kingdoms. Those who make it to the Celestial Kingdom
are eligible to continue their journey toward godhood.
16. Creation -
Matter is eternal. The current state (our earth) is here because Elohim
and some other gods reorganized matter to make it.
17. The Scriptures -
To Mormons the term refers to the Four Standard Works: King James Bible,
Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price plus
the words of the Living Prophets.
18. The Bible -
Though technically a book of authority, it is not considered as reliable
as the other three and can only be properly interpreted in light of
Mormon theology, not for what it says on its own merits.