War in Heaven:

Also see Agency. The conflict among the spirit children of God that took place in the premortal realms over agency and the path to salvation (Revelation 12:7–9; Doctrine and Covenants 29:36–37).

Wycliffe, John:

(mid-1320s–1384) Translator of the Bible from the Latin Vulgate to English in the late fourteenth century.

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ta horata kai ta aorata (τά ὁρατά καὶ τά ἀόρατα):

Greek phrase meaning “the seen and the unseen.”

Talmage, James E.:

(1862–1933) An Apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who wrote about the life and ministry of Jesus Christ and the doctrine of the Church.

Tel Megiddo:

A site in southern Galilee commonly known by its Greek name, Armageddon, “mount of Megiddo.” Scriptures talk of major events that will take place there in the latter-days.

Temple of Herod:

The rebuilt temple of Zerubbabel in Jerusalem that was begun about 19 BC and was the temple Jesus attended. Work on the Temple and its grounds continued until its completion in AD 62.

Temple Square, Salt Lake City:

The city block in Salt Lake City, Utah, on which the Latter-day Saints dedicated the Salt Lake Temple in 1893. In addition to the finished temple, the square also contains other buildings and beautiful gardens.

The Holy Ghost:

The third member of the Godhead, a personage of spirit.

Thomas:

One of the original twelve Apostles.

Tiberias:

A large town located on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. It was built by Herod Antipas in honor of Emperor Tiberius (Luke 3:1).

Tomb of Lazarus:

The traditional site in Bethany where Lazarus was first buried and then came forth at Christ’s command.

Tyndale, William:

(ca. 1494–1536) Translated the Bible into English from Greek and Hebrew. Though he finished the New Testament, he was executed before he could finish the Old Testament.

Sacrament:

The Latter-day Saint word for the Eucharist, or the Lord’s Supper.

Sadducees:

Members of a Jewish religious and political movement at the time of Christ who taught a more liberal interpretation of the law of Moses. Jewish aristocracy in general belonged to this movement.

Samaritans:

A biblical people in the hill country north of Jerusalem whom the Jews considered to be only partially of Israelite descent.

Sanhedrin:

The highest Jewish court in Jerusalem that governed both civil and ecclesiastical matters.

Sea of Galilee:

The freshwater lake in Galilee. It is also known as Gennesaret and the Lake of Tiberias. The Jordan River flows into it from the north and then out of it, south, toward the Dead Sea (Matthew 4:18; Mark 1:16).

Sermon on the Mount:

Recorded in Matthew 5–7, it sets forth the higher law of Christ’s gospel.

Shalmaneser III:

(ca. 859–824 BC) King of Assyria.

Shepherd of Hermas:

The title of one of the earliest Christian writings outside the New Testament. It was accepted by some as standard but was eventually rejected as scripture.

Shepherds Field:

Traditional site outside the village of Bethlehem where the angels appeared to the shepherds and announced the birth of Jesus Christ.

Smith, Joseph:

(1805–1844) The prophet who was commissioned by God the Father and Jesus Christ to restore the gospel of Jesus Christ and to organize the Church of Jesus Christ in these latter days. He also translated the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, and brought forth the book of Abraham, the book of Moses, and the Doctrine and Covenants.

Sozomen:

(early fifth century) A lawyer and church historian in Constantinople. He is credited with continuing the work of Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History.

Strabo:

A Greek historian and geographer who wrote Geographica, a detailed geographical analysis of the ancient world during the reign of Augustus.

Strauss, David Friedrich:

An early nineteenth-century German theologian who published books denying the divinity of Christ. He coined the term the historical Jesus to represent Jesus as a historical but not divine figure.

Synagogue:

At the time of Christ, a place in Jewish communities for conducting religious worship and some secular matters.

Syoptic Gospels:

The first three Gospels of the New Testament—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—so called because they give a similar overview of the life and ministry of the Lord.

Q:

The hypothetical source from which some scholars claim parts of the Gospels of Matthew and Luke were derived.

Palmyra and Manchester, Ontario County, New York:

Joseph Smith’s home at the time of the First Vision.

Passover:

A Jewish holiday that commemorates the passing over of the angel of death during the Israelite captivity in Egypt.

Patristic Literature:

The writings of the post-apostolic early Christians, collectively known as the Church Fathers.

Paul:

An Apostle of Jesus Christ who before his conversion on the road to Damascus was involved in the persecution of the Christians. His letters and extensive missionary labors for the cause of Christ are documented in the New Testament (Acts 9:3–7).

Pearl of Great Price:

One of four volumes of canonized scripture called the “standard works” of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This book features many modern-day revelations.

Perdition:

Meaning “lost or destroyed.” It is both a title and the condition of Satan and his followers.

Peter:

Sometimes called Simon or Cephas, the chief Apostle of Jesus Christ during New Testament times. Jesus conferred on him the keys of the kingdom of heaven.

Pharisees:

Members of a Jewish religious movement at the time of Christ who focused on a traditional observance of the law of Moses.

Philip:

One of the twelve Apostles called by Jesus during His earthly ministry.

Philo of Alexandria:

A Jewish philosopher/theologian who lived in Alexandria, Egypt, about the same time as Christ. He is known for his allegorizing of the Old Testament.

Philology:

Literally the “love of words,” thus, the study of languages.

Pisteuō (πιστεύω):

The lexical form of the Greek verb that is used in the New Testament when people say “I believe,” “we believe.”

Plato:

(ca. 429–347 BC) A Greek philosopher and a student of Socrates whose ideas influenced postapostolic Christianity.

Premortal Existence:

The life in heaven before earth life. All God’s spirit children lived with Him before coming to earth as mortal beings.

Ordinance:

A sacred, formal act performed by priesthood authority. Some ordinances such as baptism are essential to our salvation and exaltation.

Orson Hyde Garden, Jerusalem:

A garden on the western slope of the Mount of Olives that looks down on the Dome of the Rock. The garden commemorates the dedicatory prayer for the Holy Land by this member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on October 24, 1841.

Ov (אוֹב):

Hebrew word for a necromancer or spirit speaking from the dead.

Nag Hammadi Library:

A collection of early Christian texts discovered near Nag Hammadi, in Upper Egypt. Scholars connect the Nag Hammadi texts with Christian Gnosticism.

Nazareth:

A village in the hills of Galilee and the home of Jesus in his early years (Luke 2:4; Mark 1:9).

Nephi, the son of Lehi:

A prophet and leader of the people in the Book of Mormon.

Nicodemus:

A Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin. The Savior taught him about being born again.

Magdala:

The birthplace of Mary Magdalene. A village situated just north of Tiberias on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 15:39).

Magi:

A name for the wise men who came to see the young Jesus in Bethlehem. According to tradition there were three magi who came from the east.

Maleficium:

Latin word for evil doing that may carry different meanings, depending on the context.

Mamre:

A place south of Jerusalem associated with Hebron (Genesis 17:1–6; 23:19).

Mark:

The writer of the Gospel bearing his name. He accompanied Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. Thought to be the cousin or nephew of Barnabas.

Martha:

The sister of Lazarus and Mary.

Mary:

The sister of Lazarus and Martha.

Mary (mother of Jesus):

The virgin who was chosen by God to be the mother of His son, Jesus Christ, in the flesh.

Mary of Magdala:

Also known as Mary Magdalene, she was present at the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.

Mashiakh (מָשִׁ֫יחַ):

Hebrew word meaning “anointed,” translated into English as Messiah.

Matthew:

The writer of the Gospel bearing his name. He is probably the same tax collector known in the Gospel of Luke as Levi, son of Alphaeus.

Messiah:

A title in English for the Lord and Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. It is the English translation of the Hebrew word meaning “anointed.”

Michael:

The premortal name of Adam, who as Michael helped create this world (D&C 27:11).

Miracle at Cana:

Christ’s first miracle, so called because Jesus changed water into wine at a wedding feast in Cana.

Mishnah:

The first major written collection of the Jewish oral tradition, ca. AD 200.

Moses:

The Old Testament prophet who led the Israelites out of Egypt. Through him Jehovah gave the Israelites the Law of Moses.

Mount Arbel:

A tall hill on the western side of the Sea of Galilee that rises above Magdala.

Mount of Olives:

The ridge running north and south that lies immediately to the east of Jerusalem, where Jesus frequently went for rest and prayer.

Lambing:

The early time of the year when the shepherds tend the ewes giving birth to the lambs.

Lazarus:

The brother of Mary and Martha. Jesus raised him from the dead.

Lēstēs (λῃστής):

Greek word meaning “robber, pirate, or insurrectionist.”

Light of Christ:

The divine energy, power, or influence that proceeds from God through Christ and gives life and light to all things.

Logos (λόγος):

Greek word often translated as “word.” In the writings of John, Christ is identified as the logos (word) of God.

Logos Hymn:

The prologue to the Gospel of John comprising John 1:1–18, so named because it identifies Jesus Christ as the logos (word) of God.

Lord’s Prayer:

The common name given to the prayer that Christ uttered when He was teaching His disciples to pray.

Lucifer:

A name meaning “light bearer.” In general the name Lucifer has been applied to Satan. According to modern revelation, he was a spirit son of God who rebelled in God’s presence and thereby became Satan, the devil (Moses 4:3–4; D&C 76:25–27).

Luke:

The writer of the Gospel bearing his name and also the author of the book of Acts. He was with Paul on several occasions as the “we” sections of the book of Acts show (see also 2 Timothy 4:11).

Luther, Martin:

(1483–1546) German reformer and translator of the Bible into German whose work led to the Protestant movement.

Kakopoios (κακοποιός):

Greek word for someone who is an evil doer; it may take on various shades of meaning, depending on context.

Kidron Valley:

The valley east of Jerusalem between the city and the Mount of Olives. Jesus and His Apostles crossed the Kidron Valley on their approach to the Garden of Gethsemane.

Kimball, Spencer W.:

The twelfth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Krateō (κρατέω):

Greek verb meaning “to seize or grasp.”