Mormon jargon can be confusing with specially defined words and acronyms. Here’s a list of 10 common words that have a different meaning to Mormons.
1. Beehive
What it means to everyone else: A habitation for bees.
What it means to a Mormon: A name given to the 12-13 year
old girls as they enter into the youth program.
The beehive was a symbol of harmony, cooperation, and work for the early
pioneers of the Church. Beehives today
learn to work together in cooperation and harmony as they strengthen their
faith in Jesus Christ and prepare to stand for truth and righteousness.
2. Fast
What it means to everyone else: An adjective meaning quick
or rapid.
What it means to a Mormon: A verb meaning to voluntarily go
without food and drink for a period of time in order to grow closer to
God. One Sunday each month Latter-day
Saints observe a fast day.
3. Fireside
What it means to everyone else: The space around a fire.
What it means to a Mormon: A special devotional or meeting in
the church building held separately from regular Sunday services - typically on
a Sunday evening.
4. Friend
What it means to everyone else: A person who has a bond of
mutual affection with another person.
What it means to a Mormon: The name of a monthly church magazine publication for children.
5. Institute
What it means to everyone else: A verb meaning to set up or
establish.
What it means to a Mormon: A noun meaning a place where
young adults and university students, ages 18-30, come for weekday
religious instruction and social interaction.
6. Mutual
What it means to everyone else: An adjective meaning shared or
held in common.
What it means to a Mormon: A noun meaning a regularly scheduled activity
night for the youth ages 12-18 - typically held once a week on a weekday
evening.
7. Primary
What it means to everyone else: The first in an order of a process or series.
What it means to a Mormon: An organized program for children of the church ages 18 months until their 12th birthday. Children attend primary classes on Sundays and participate in activities throughout the year.
8. Seventy
What it means to everyone else: The number after 69.
What it means to a Mormon: A person in the general
leadership of the church (General Authority) and belonging to a quorum of the
Seventy. Each quorum may have up to 70 members. Members of Quorums of the
Seventy are often referred to simply as “Seventies.” Seventies are called to
proclaim the gospel and build up the Church. They work under the direction of
the Quorum
of the Twelve Apostles and the Presidency
of the Seventy.
9. Stake
What it means to everyone else: A stick or post for driving
into the ground.
What it means to a Mormon: A geographical division of the
church comprised of smaller congregations called wards or branches. The
term stake was used by the prophet
Isaiah. He described the latter-day Church as a tent that would be secured by
stakes (see Isaiah
33:20; 54:2).
10. Sunbeam
What it means to everyone else: A ray of sunlight.
What it means to a Mormon: The name given to the class in the
children’s program for the 3-4 year olds and who are most notable for singing "Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam."
