Saints

From The Encyclopedia of Mormonism

See this page in the original 1992 publication.

Author: Lyon, James K.

The revealed name of the Church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (D&C 115:4), wherein the term "saints" is synonymous with "members." The Church has no "patron saints" and does not canonize or venerate the dead. The usage of the term follows biblical precedents in which "saints" refers to Israelites as the chosen people of God-that is, as a community of believers set apart from nonbelievers (cf. "the congregation of the saints," Ps. 89:5). The Hebrew and Aramaic usage of the term in the Old Testament and in the writings of the Essene community is qadosh and qaddish respectively, meaning "separate, set apart, holy."

Paul used the term "saint" (Greek hagios also denotes "set apart, separate, holy") in referring to baptized members of the Church of his day (e.g., Phil. 1:1). The Book of Mormon also designates "saints of God" as all those who belong to the "church of the Lamb" (1 Ne. 14:12).

Used this way, the term today denotes all members of Christ's Church, who, through baptism, have expressed a desire to follow the Savior's counsel to become more Godlike, toward the ideal to be "even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" (Matt. 5:48), and who, though imperfect, strive to live in a manner that will lead them toward that goal.

[edit] Bibliography

Nelson, Russell M. "Thus Shall My Church Be Called." Ensign 20 (May 1990):16-18.

JAMES K. LYON

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