As humans it’s easy to get into the trap of saying things the wrong way. Sometimes we even do this in the Church. Here are a few examples.
It doesn’t make it easier
I’ll often hear people talk about trials of life and how the gospel can help navigate these difficulties.
At some point in the conversation, you’ll occasionally hear them say, “The gospel doesn’t make things easier…”
But here’s the thing, that’s exactly what the gospel DOES do.
The gospel makes things so much easier by giving us perspective, hope, and a way to overcome our sadness and struggle.
Think of the example of losing a family member. The knowledge that we will see them again absolutely does make it easier to endure, because those who don’t believe in life after death feel that they have lost their family member forever.
One alternative way to say what I think people are trying to get across is this, “The gospel doesn’t mean life will be easy, but it does make things easier and more manageable.”
“Patri-article” Blessing
Have you received your patri-article blessing? I bet not. How do I know? There is no such thing.
One of Latter-day Saints favorite mistakes is saying “patri-article” instead of “patriarchal.”
If you fit in this box, just remember: you receive your blessing from a patriarch.
Next time you hear someone say patri-article blessing, extend them some grace. If you have a good enough relationship with them, feel free to let them know how it really is pronounced. I’ve had a few youth thank me for helping them know the correct way to say it.
We all feel the Spirit differently
Often when we talk about how individuals feel the Holy Ghost, we say that everyone feels the Holy Ghost / Spirit differently.
If you think about it, that would mean there are 8 billion ways to feel the Holy Ghost. That’s not true, and it makes things more confusing if we think that there are that many ways to feel the Spirit.
In Galatians 5, the Bible teaches:
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
“To learn the Spirit of God, we must learn to listen with our hearts. President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said: “The Spirit is a still, small voice—a voice that is felt rather than heard. It is a spiritual voice that comes into the mind as a thought put into your heart.”4
President Packer also taught: “Inspiration comes more easily in peaceful settings. Such words as quiet, still, peaceable, Comforter abound in the scriptures: ‘Be still, and know that I am God.’ (Ps. 46:10; italics added.) And the promise, ‘You shall receive my Spirit, the Holy Ghost, even the Comforter, which shall teach you the peaceable things of the kingdom.’ (D&C 36:2; italics added).” – Learning to Hear and Understand the Spirit
One way we can communicate what people are trying to express is that not every person feels the Spirit exactly like everyone else. For example, spiritual music really speaks to my heart and inspires me, but doesn’t necessarily have the same impact on my wife. Similarly, the scriptures really motivate me and get me excited, but for others they struggle with understanding scriptures and it might not have the same effect.
A good practice is to talk with close family and friends and ask them how the Spirit speaks to them. You might see a lot of similarities to the way the Spirit speaks to you, and if there are some differences, it will be a learning experience for you to see how others feel connected to God.
President Nielsen / Neltson
This might be a regional thing, but where I live I don’t frequently hear our prophet referred to as President Nelson. It is usually pronounced President Neltson or President Nielsen.
How About You?
How about you? Are there things you have noticed that we say in the Church that aren’t exactly correct? I would love to hear you have noticed. Please leave a comment below. Here are a few of the comments from you are readers that we have received so far.
Mark said: I substituted as a teacher for the 15-16 year Sunday School class this last week. I asked them this question: who here is Christian. One boy would not raise his hand. He explained that we’ve been instructed by the prophet to not refer to ourselves as Christian. I instantly knew what his confusion was. He had switched the instruction of not calling ourselves Mormon with not calling ourselves Christian. So, I’m not as concerned about the mispronunciation of words as I am the misunderstanding of Christian doctrine by our members, especially the youth.
Kathy shared a few good ones: “Take out my endowments” instead of “receive my endowment” is an old incorrect phrase that doesn’t want to go away! Also, ending public prayers and talks with “inthnamjescrisamen.” What?? I am not sure how to spell that one, but it is my biggest pet peeve. Let’s use the name of the Savior with respect and reverence!
Rebecca shared: Book of Mormon vs Books of Mormon and Brotheren vs Brethren
Debby commented: From a talk given by President Nelson: “It is doctrinally incomplete to speak of the Lord’s atoning sacrifice by shortcut phrases, such as “the Atonement” or “the enabling power of the Atonement” or “applying the Atonement” or “being strengthened by the Atonement.” These expressions present a real risk of misdirecting faith by treating the event as if it had living existence and capabilities independent of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.” It is often better to use phrases such as “drawing on the power of Jesus Christ” or “the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.”
Jason said: Pre Existence vs pre-mortal existence… there is no “pre-existence!
Melchizedek … notice the spelling… there’s an “i” in there. Most pronounce it “Melchezedek.”
@Alvin, Perhaps I have misunderstood your comment, but it IS appropriate to end a prayer with “In the name of thy Son…..”when praying in public. The prayer is a supplication to the Father on behalf of the members of the congregation. Maybe you intended to refer to a personal priesthood blessing.
j’entends souvent l’expression ” je suis né dans l’église ” au lieu de dire ” je suis né(e) dans l’Alliance.
Les non-membres peuvent penser que nos sœurs accouchent dans l’église
@Alvin, I agree with you on both counts. Regarding some of the other pet peeves identified, I am a little hesitant to – is ‘judge’ the right word to use? eg the use of “you” “your”. Easy for some, but not so for many new converts and definitely not for many of my relatives where English is our second language. I just love hearing their deep-felt prayers, whatever words they use at the moment. One day they may use the words that are more culturally acceptable, but meantime I accept their beautiful offerings.
@Ben Arkell, I concur. 😊
@Ben Arkell, The latter perhaps a Utah thing?
@Kathy McFarland, I like that. Thanks.
@Pam Wilkinson,
Great comment. We actually use an app that helps us with our Sacrament meeting agendas. You can plug in names for prayers, talks, etc… and then it has a script.
One of the things it would say is that the “brethren of the priesthood would administer the Sacrament”
I contacted the app programmer and asked him to update the language and he did. :)
@Rycharn Freeman, this really bugs me! I have been asked to “chorister” many times. Not only is it changing it from a noun to a verb, my usual reply is something like “Oh no, I won’t sing a solo!”
We often hear the brother who is conducting a Sacrament meeting thank the Priesthood for passing the Sacrament so reverently…
President M. Russell Ballard taught: “In our Heavenly Father’s great priesthood-endowed plan, men have the unique responsibility to administer the priesthood, but they are not the priesthood.
I appreciate Debby’s comment about the use of “The Atonement” without reference to the Savior. That stood out to me when President Nelson said it but I haven’t heard it talked about since.
I’ve never heard Nielsen for Nelson — ouch! But “Neltson” just sounds to me like a regional pronunciation variant (like adding a glottal stop) rather than an actual error.
@John I agree 100%. I was also counseled years ago to say “copies of The Book of Mormon”. If we think of the book as having a title, it makes it easier. Think of it this way: suppose I was handing out copies of Romeo and Juliet. I wouldn’t say “I’m handing out Romeos and Juliet.” It’s the same with The Book of Mormon. When you consider that as “the title” of a book, you say it differently: “I’m handing out copies of The Book of Mormon.” (I also mentioned this in another reply below)
From a talk given by President Nelson: “It is doctrinally incomplete to speak of the Lord’s atoning sacrifice by shortcut phrases, such as “the Atonement” or “the enabling power of the Atonement” or “applying the Atonement” or “being strengthened by the Atonement.” These expressions present a real risk of misdirecting faith by treating the event as if it had living existence and capabilities independent of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.”
It is often better to use phrases such as “drawing on the power of Jesus Christ” or “the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.”
Also, the auxiliary of the church is called Young Women, not Young Women’s.
And Ensign is pronounced “en sign” , not “en sun”.
Pre Existence vs pre-mortal existence… there is no “pre-existence!
High Council Man vs. High Councilor – one is an elected official in local government, the other is the member of the High Council in the stake.
@Kristen, I think we should say: The Book of Mormon……..or in the plural….copies of The Book of Mormon
John
By definition, a “chorister” is a member of a choir. The person who conducts the music in Sacrament Meeting is a music director, not a chorister.
Many members will read scriptures and come across the word ‘shew’. It is pronounced ‘show’, not ‘shoe’.
My children once heard a seminary teacher referring to the condensation of Christ rather than condescension.
When corrected, he shrugged it off saying that they’re essentially the same.
Most people say Abendigo when referencing Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego from the Old Testament. You’re welcome for pointing this one out 😅
And I too am amazed at how many people pronounce President Nelson’s last name wrong!!!
@Ben Arkell, I was counseled years ago to say “copies of The Book of Mormon”. If you think of the book as having a title, it makes it easier. Think of it this way: suppose I was handing out copies of Romeo and Juliet. I wouldn’t say “I’m handing out Romeos and Juliet.” It’s the same with The Book of Mormon. When you consider that as “the title” of a book, you say it differently: “I’m handing out copies of The Book of Mormon.” Hope this helps.
Apologizing at the beginning of his/her sacrament talk for not being able to prepare due to life stories/circumstances. This makes the congregation feel not want to listen because of unpreparedness.
Saying “You, Your” instead of “Thee Thy, Thine” in a prayer to show respect and reverence to the Father in Heaven who we are talking to as a group, and the person saying the prayer is supposed to be the group’s representative to talk to Him for them.
This one from Kathy MaFarland Also, ending public prayers and talks with “inthnamjescrisamen.” , I might add when we end a talk or testimony this way, “In the name of Thy Son, Jesus Christ.” I don’t remember naming my son “Jesus Christ.”
I believe the Saviors explanation to Nicodemus in John 3:3-8 is very instructive concerning feeling the Spirit. My mission President, Hal Taylor, from CES taught this to me on my mission at one year out. It changed my life, I had felt the Spirit many times but did not know it. Every time thereafter I said a prayer of thanksgiving to my Father for the Holy Ghost teaching me and giving me a conviction of what truth I just learned. Verse 8 has been my teaching point ever since. Saying the wind blows by and you can feel it as it passes you, but you cannot see where it came from or where it goes, but you know you felt it and that it was there. The Holy Ghost, being a spirit being, can pass through us and communicate with our spirit inside of us, and it is a very distinct feeling, you know it has spoken to you. It has confirmed that what you just heard is truth, it confirms that Jesus is the Christ. If you want to try it out, bear your testimony of Jesus Christ and you will feel the Spirit bear testimony to you soul that it is true. That is why we are instructed to bear testimony of Jesus Christ at every opportunity we get. The Holy Ghost can then testify to other souls that he is the Christ. Of course, the Holy Ghost does many other things for us as taught in the scriptures. I have been comforted, prompted, inspired, instructed and blessed many other ways. I do humbly thank my God, my Father for His great and eternal plan to help us get through this life and back to Him.
How about when you are asked to give the benediction and you begin your prayer, We come before Thee.
One thing alot of people say is ” Book of Mormons.” In stead it is, ” Books of Mormon.
Wow, that’s an eye opener! Interesting. Thanks for sharing.
Ah yes! Those are very common.
Yeah, that is a very common one!
Kathy, two great ones! Yeah, I try and teach my kids to very slowly say, “In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.” Sometimes they do. ;) That is one of my pet peeves as well. :)
I substituted as a teacher for the 15-16 year Sunday School class this last week. I asked them this question: who here is Christian. One boy would not raise his hand. He explained that we’ve been instructed by the prophet to not refer to ourselves as Christian. I instantly knew what his confusion was. He had switched the instruction of not calling ourselves Mormon with not calling ourselves Christian. So, I’m not as concerned about the mispronunciation of words as I am the misunderstanding of Christian doctrine by our members, especially the youth.
“Take out my endowments” instead of “receive my endowment” is an old incorrect phrase that doesn’t want to go away! Also, ending public prayers and talks with “inthnamjescrisamen.” What?? I am not sure how to spell that one, but it is my biggest pet peeve. Let’s use the name of the Savior with respect and reverence!
Book of Mormon vs Books of Mormon
Brothern vs brethren
Saying the phrase “take out your endowment”
One goes to the temple to receive one’s endowment. It is a gift to be received, not something to be “taken out” (where on earth did that one even come from???)