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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued the following statement from President Russell M. Nelson on August 16 [2018] regarding the name of the Church:
“The Lord has impressed upon my mind the importance of the name He has revealed for His Church, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We have work before us to bring ourselves in harmony with His will. In recent weeks, various Church leaders and departments have initiated the necessary steps to do so. Additional information about this important matter will be made available in the coming months.”
The Church has released an updated style guide, which provides direction on how to properly refer to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In the coming months, Church websites and materials will be updated to reflect this direction from President Nelson.
Following is the text from updated style guide:
The official name of the Church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The full name was given by revelation from God to Joseph Smith in 1838.
In the first reference, the full name of the Church is preferred: “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”
When a shortened reference is needed, the terms “the Church” or the “Church of Jesus Christ” are encouraged. The “restored Church of Jesus Christ” is also accurate and encouraged.
While the term “Mormon Church” has long been publicly applied to the Church as a nickname, it is not an authorized title, and the Church discourages its use. Thus, please avoid using the abbreviation “LDS” or the nickname “Mormon” as substitutes for the name of the Church, as in “Mormon Church,” “LDS Church,” or “Church of the Latter-day Saints.”
When referring to Church members, the terms “members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” or “Latter-day Saints” are preferred. We ask that the term “Mormons” not be used.
“Mormon” is correctly used in proper names such as the Book of Mormon or when used as an adjective in such historical expressions as “Mormon Trail.”
The term “Mormonism” is inaccurate and should not be used. When describing the combination of doctrine, culture, and lifestyle unique to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the term “the restored gospel of Jesus Christ” is accurate and preferred.
When referring to people or organizations that practice polygamy, it should be stated that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not affiliated with polygamous groups.
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Not that this will change what non-Latter-day Saints people call Latter-day Sainters. I expect "Mormon" will be used to describe Mormons for at least the next century-plus.
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As a Latter-day Saint, I feel I have a pretty good handle on the reasons for the emphasis on the correct name of the church. Some people try to find an agenda which does not exist. The reasons given by my church are indeed the reasons for the change of emphasis. We believe that Jesus Christ himself spoke the following words to Joseph Smith on April 26, 1838: “Thus shall my church be called in the last days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” (Doctrine & Covenants
115:4.) So the name of our church is in our scriptures and we believe was specifically assigned by God himself. Of course those not of my faith may challenge the validity of this revelation. But how could a believing member of my church possibly think that any other name should be used when God himself provided the exact words back in 1838?
Also in the Book of Mormon, Jesus is recorded to have said the following after his resurrection and during his appearance to Book of Mormon people about 2,000 years ago: "And how be it my church save it be called in my name? For if a church be called in Moses’ name then it be Moses’ church; or if it be called in the name of a man then it be the church of a man; but if it be called in my name then it is my church, if it so be that they are built upon my gospel." (3 Nephi 27:8)
Note that Moses was a great prophet, but we do not belong to the Church of Moses. Mormon was also a great prophet but we do not belong to the Church of Mormon. Jesus Christ is central to our beliefs. It is his name who we take upon ourselves, it is Jesus whom we worship as Savior, it is his church to which we belong, and the Lord himself has said we should call the church after the name of Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon, is just that, a book compiled and partially authored by a human being named Mormon, who was a prophet of Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon is a testament of Jesus Christ. But that is no reason to change the name of my church from the Church of Jesus Christ to the Church of Mormon. In fact, a revelation cited above from the Book of Mormon says we should not call it the Church of Mormon (since Mormon is a man).
Yes "Mormon" was first given as a nickname in the early days of the church. It was first derogatory and later accepted as not derogatory. We Latter-day Saints have called ourselves Mormons at times. We have also called ourselves LDS (Latter-day Saint). My church called it's choir the "Mormon Tabernacle Choir". But while this is true we have always known that the correct name of our church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You find that name on every chapel and temple throughout the world. You will not see "Mormon Church" on any church building anywhere (as far as I know).
So why did prior church leaders not go so far as President Nelson to empahsize the correct name? I don't know. But I support President Nelson and as a believing church member I believe that God is inspiring him to take this action now. I believe the Lord wants everyone on earth to know that this church professes to indeed be "The Church of Jesus Christ" the same church established by Jesus in the New Testament. The Lord also wants everyone to know that we are in the Latter-days. Finally, "Saint" is a New Testament term that means one who has been baptized unto Christ and does not necessarily imply that one has achieved some high level of "sainthood" if you will. Hence, the name The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a perfect construct with deep meaning and purpose and was articulated by God in my view.
I'm certainly not offended if someone calls me Mormon or LDS. I know the change takes time and only time will tell. But as for me, I am trying to break the habit and to use the correct name from now on. I believe if church members use the correct name consistently, never taking offense from others who do not, over the next 50 years, who knows, maybe everyone will know us as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.