Bump Day
The six-month marker of a two-year mission.

Hump Day
The one-year marker of a two-year mission.

Slump Day
The 18-month marker of a two-year mission.

Dump Day
The final day of a two-year mission.

BOM
An acronym for The Book of Mormon, the main scriptures of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Call; A Calling
A letter from the Church President stating when and where the missionary’s work will occur. Opening this letter is a ritual of sorts among missionary applicants and their families. It usually involves a gathering of friends and family, the actual opening of the letter and a modest celebration.

Celestial Kingdom
The highest of the three degrees or kingdoms of glory in heaven, where one is in the presence of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Companion
All Mormon missionaries, male or female, are required to have a constant companion of the same sex. The pairs are required to stay together 24-hours a day, and a missionary will rotate through several different companions during the course of his or her mission.

Contacting
The missionary act of approaching and engaging a potential convert in a discussion about Mormon faith. This may include knocking on doors or simply talking to someone on the street.

Elder
The title of a male missionary. The title implies a particular level of the Melchizedek Priesthood, a higher level of priesthood authority within the church.

Eternal Marriage
A marriage conducted in a temple. A temple marriage has more significance than a traditional marriage because it is thought to be eternal, lasting forever after death. Often referred to as a “sealing.”

Family Home Evening
A weekly family get-together where members do an activity and/or conduct spiritual study to help strengthen their familial relationships.

Investigator
A prospective convert, or someone expressing interest in the Church.

Missionary Training Center (MTC)
A campus-like facility where new missionaries live and train before departing to the location where they will serve their mission.

P-Day; Preparation Day
One day each week when missionaries are not required to proselytize. They are expected rise early and study as usual, but have between 9:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. for laundry, shopping, cleaning and other tasks.

Sister
The title of a female missionary. Female missionaries have no priesthood authority.

Telestial Kingdom
The lowest of the three degrees or kingdoms of glory in heaven.

Temples
Buildings of worship, though different from a congregational building, which are considered to be the most sacred structures on Earth. Members must be in good standing with the Church and must possess a documented recommendation from their congregation leader. Considered sacred, the ceremonies and work conducted within the temples are essentially unknown to non-members.

Terrestrial Kingdom
The middle degree or kingdom of the three degrees of glory in heaven.

A Testimony; Bearing a Testimony
Church followers are encouraged to frequently “bear witness” that they know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the one and only true church. Mormons validate this belief regularly among themselves, as well as to others in the form of missionary work.

Tithing
Church members are asked to contribute ten percent of their gross income to fund Church activities and expansion. While contributions are voluntary, tithing is required for a member to maintain good standing within the Church.

The Word of Wisdom
A strict health code to which Church members are expected to adhere. Claimed to have been revealed by God to Joseph Smith in 1833, it prohibits use of tobacco, alcohol, coffee and tea, and illegal drugs. It also encourages proper diet and physical fitness.