Bernard Gui Posted June 19, 2011 Posted June 19, 2011 (edited) In the early days of the Church, the members called one another by their first names: Brother Joseph, Brother Parley, Brother Heber. Today it's Brother Gui, BrotherLesellers, Brother Bowman. I kinda like the old way...Brother Bernardo has a certain collegial ring to it...not so formal. I've been around since the early '50s, and I don't remember ever hearing first names. Anyone know when we changed over?Brother Bernard Edited June 20, 2011 by Bernard Gui
KevinG Posted June 19, 2011 Posted June 19, 2011 I hear it a lot more here in the South as a term of endearment. Of course we call each other Brother and Sister firstname too. Just guessing I'd say we probably speak of the brethren using last names as a matter of respect in contrast to those who would call them by their first name as a sign of disrespect.
thesometimesaint Posted June 20, 2011 Posted June 20, 2011 Bernard Gui:All the male Missionaries have the same first name. Elder.
Bernard Gui Posted June 20, 2011 Author Posted June 20, 2011 I hear it a lot more here in the South as a term of endearment. Of course we call each other Brother and Sister firstname too. Just guessing I'd say we probably speak of the brethren using last names as a matter of respect in contrast to those who would call them by their first name as a sign of disrespect."Millions shall know +++Brother Joseph+++again..."We have no problem with that or Brother Brigham, butJoe Smith really rubs me the wrong way. I wouldn't think it disrespectful to say Brother Thomas, but itdoes sound a bit strange since we don't do it any more. Brother Bernardo
Bernard Gui Posted June 20, 2011 Author Posted June 20, 2011 Bernard Gui:All the male Missionaries have the same first name. Elder. Haha! Indeed. We all have known a Bishop Bishopor an Elder Elder.Brother Bernardo
thesometimesaint Posted June 20, 2011 Posted June 20, 2011 Bernard Gui:Or how about Elder Bishop, or Bishop Elder.
Bernard Gui Posted June 20, 2011 Author Posted June 20, 2011 Bernard Gui:Or how about Elder Bishop, or Bishop Elder. President Bishop..."Doctor, Doctor, Doctor...". "Bishop, Bishop, Bishop...""Elder, Elder, Elder...""Brother Sometimes?"Brother Bernardo
KevinG Posted June 20, 2011 Posted June 20, 2011 I wouldn't think it disrespectful to say Brother Thomas, but itdoes sound a bit strange since we don't do it any more. Unless of course you are a 98 year old woman in a nursing home that used to teach his primary class. Then he's little Tommy.
Fig-bearing Thistle Posted June 20, 2011 Posted June 20, 2011 In the early days of the Church, the members called one another by their first names: Brother Joseph, Brother Parley, Brother Heber. Today it's Brother Gui, BrotherLesellers, Brother Bowman. I kinda like the old way...Brother Bernardo has a certain collegial ring to it...not so formal. I've been around since the early '50s, and I don't remember ever hearing first names. Anyone know when we changed over?Brother BernardI'm in Utah, and with people I'm really close to, I call them Brother 'insert first name'. But with sisters, I always use the last name.
Scott Lloyd Posted June 20, 2011 Posted June 20, 2011 I'm in Utah, and with people I'm really close to, I call them Brother 'insert first name'. But with sisters, I always use the last name.In the ward where I grew up, a bishop's counselor on one occasion, beset with a brief mental lapse, referred to the Primary president as "Brother Patty Ann."
Scott Lloyd Posted June 20, 2011 Posted June 20, 2011 Church members will occasionally refer to me as "Brother Scott," but I think it's because they confuse my first name with my last.
Scott Lloyd Posted June 20, 2011 Posted June 20, 2011 (edited) In the early days of the Church, the members called one another by their first names: Brother Joseph, Brother Parley, Brother Heber. Today it's Brother Gui, BrotherLesellers, Brother Bowman. I kinda like the old way...Brother Bernardo has a certain collegial ring to it...not so formal. I've been around since the early '50s, and I don't remember ever hearing first names. Anyone know when we changed over?Brother BernardI'm not ready to fully accept your premise. I'm presently reading William Clayton's journal, written during the 1846-47 westward trek from Nauvoo. Therein, he uses the Brother + surname construction, as in "Brother Miller," "Brother Tanner," "Brother Kimball," etc. When he addresses close acquaintances by first name, it is generally without the "Brother" on the front, to wit: "President Young, Heber and others are gone to the river to ascertain where we can best ford it." Edited June 20, 2011 by Scott Lloyd
Bernard Gui Posted June 20, 2011 Author Posted June 20, 2011 Brother Scott:"Brother [First Name]" was common practice in the Journal of Discourses. I wonder if Brother William wrote that way in his journal to clarify references to individuals. Perhaps using the first name with Brother was more common in oral discourse and conversation. I'm getting more and more attached to the sound and feel of it. We could start a trend here!Brother BernardoI'm not ready to fully accept your premise. I'm presently reading William Clayton's journal, written during the 1846-47 westward trek from Nauvoo. Therein, he uses the Brother + surname construction, as in "Brother Miller," "Brother Tanner," "Brother Kimball," etc. When he addresses close acquaintances by first name, it is generally without the "Brother" on the front, to wit: "President Young, Heber and others are gone to the river to ascertain where we can best ford it."
etana Posted June 20, 2011 Posted June 20, 2011 I nearly always use brother (or sister) <firstname>. I certainly don't call my immediate family by their last names. To do so with my Church family would defeat the purpose of using "brother".
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