Elder Ballard On The Proper Name Of The Church

[Scott Lloyd]

Elder Ballard in his conference sermon has just reiterated what I have tried to get across on multiple occasions on fora such as this, but some people seem to persist in misunderstanding it:

 

The Church has asked us to use the proper name of the Church instead of calling it "the Mormon Church" or "the LDS Church."

 

With that said, it is acceptable to use the term "Mormon" as a noun or a descriptor to refer to the members of the Church or to things relating to the Church, as in "the Mormon people," "the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, "the Mormon Pioneers," "the Mormon Trail," or, simply "the Mormons."

 

I would add that if it is necessary to use a shortened form of the name of the Church, an acceptable option is the Church of Jesus Christ. It doesn't take much more effort or many more keystrokes to write it that way than it does to write "Mormon Church" or "LDS Church."

 

[JLHPROF]

Elder Ballard in his conference sermon has just reiterated what I have tried to get across on multiple occasions on fora such as this, but some people seem to persist in misunderstanding it:

 

The Church has asked us to use the proper name of the Church instead of calling it "the Mormon Church" or "the LDS Church."

 

With that said, it is acceptable to use the term "Mormon" as a noun or a descriptor to refer to the members of the Church or to things relating to the Church, as in "the Mormon people," "the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, "the Mormon Pioneers," "the Mormon Trail," or, simply "the Mormons."

 

I would add that if it is necessary to use a shortened form of the name of the Church, an acceptable option is the Church of Jesus Christ. It doesn't take much more effort or many more keystrokes to write it that way than it does to write "Mormon Church" or "LDS Church."

 

The irony of such a statement is that when ANY other group claims the word "Mormon" the Church (or at least its members) really doesn't like it.

For example "there are NO fundamentalist Mormons, they aren't Mormons".

Had a long debate with someone over whether "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints" was just one of hundreds of groups in the theological branch called Mormonism, or whether only the Church can be called Mormon....

[The Nehor]

Other General Authorities have suggested it does not matter that much. Not sure now. I stick with LDS or Church of Jesus Christ.

[Teancum]

Elder Ballard in his conference sermon has just reiterated what I have tried to get across on multiple occasions on fora such as this, but some people seem to persist in misunderstanding it:

 

The Church has asked us to use the proper name of the Church instead of calling it "the Mormon Church" or "the LDS Church."

 

With that said, it is acceptable to use the term "Mormon" as a noun or a descriptor to refer to the members of the Church or to things relating to the Church, as in "the Mormon people," "the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, "the Mormon Pioneers," "the Mormon Trail," or, simply "the Mormons."

 

I would add that if it is necessary to use a shortened form of the name of the Church, an acceptable option is the Church of Jesus Christ. It doesn't take much more effort or many more keystrokes to write it that way than it does to write "Mormon Church" or "LDS Church."

If we use and abbreviations will that satisfy?

[Scott Lloyd]

Other General Authorities have suggested it does not matter that much. Not sure now. I stick with LDS or Church of Jesus Christ.

CFR that other General Authorities "have suggested it does not matter that much."

[Scott Lloyd]

The irony of such a statement is that when ANY other group claims the word "Mormon" the Church (or at least its members) really doesn't like it.

Properly understood, the statement is not ironic at all.

 

The Church does not eschew the word Mormon. The Church leaders just don't like it used in place of the formal and proper name of the Church.

 

Did you miss the part where I said, "It is acceptable to use the term "Mormon" as a noun or a descriptor to refer to the members of the Church or to things relating to the Church, as in "the Mormon people," "the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, "the Mormon Pioneers," "the Mormon Trail," or, simply "the Mormons"?

 

Had a long debate with someone over whether "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints" was just one of hundreds of groups in the theological branch called Mormonism, or whether only the Church can be called Mormon....

From the standpoint of the Church, such schismatic groups cannot claim authority or validity as stemming from the Church that Joseph Smith was commanded by Jesus Christ to organize in this latter-day dispensation.

[The Nehor]

CFR that other General Authorities "have suggested it does not matter that much."

Hard to give. Both times I heard this counsel in the last 3 years it was in an unrecorded meeting (one at the area and one at the stake level). Sorry.

[Scott Lloyd]

If we use and abbreviations will that satisfy?

Again, what's so difficult about writing or saying, "the Church of Jesus Christ"?

[Scott Lloyd]

Hard to give. Both times I heard this counsel in the last 3 years it was in an unrecorded meeting (one at the area and one at the stake level). Sorry.

I'm guessing you misunderstood them.

 

Officially, the Brethren have reiterated the above preference many times.

[The Nehor]

I'm guessing you misunderstood them.

 

Officially, the Brethren have reiterated the above preference many times.

I really doubt it. Admittedly it came from 70s so they were outranked.

[Teancum]

LDS Church is just easier to type. 

 

The Church of Jesus Christ IMO is rather presumptious.  And it is not the name if the Church anymore than Mormon Church or LDS Church is.

[JLHPROF]

From the standpoint of the Church, such schismatic groups cannot claim authority or validity as stemming from the Church that Joseph Smith was commanded by Jesus Christ to organize in this latter-day dispensation.

 

And I hold that when a religion has reached worldwide distribution and has over 100 schism groups that it may have an originating Church but "MORMONISM" is become like Islam, Judaism, and Christianity with numerous branches.

 

For example, I am fine with referring to the Community of Christ as a Mormon Church.  I am fine with referring to all religions that hold the Book of Mormon to be divinely restored and as scripture as Mormon.  I don't think the Church can rightly claim to be the sole owner of "Mormonism".

[Scott Lloyd]

LDS Church is just easier to type. 

 

As reiterated by Elder Ballard, the Church leaders have asked us not to use that in place of the proper name of the Church. Did you read my opening post?

 

The Church of Jesus Christ IMO is rather presumptious.

 

That is what the Church professes to be, whether you declare it presumptuous or not. And it is so identified by Jesus Christ Himself.

 

And it is not the name if the Church anymore than Mormon Church or LDS Church is.

 

The Church leaders have said it is acceptable as a shortened form for the formal name of the Church. It is their province to do so.

[Scott Lloyd]

And I hold that when a religion has reached worldwide distribution and has over 100 schism groups that it may have an originating Church but "MORMONISM" is become like Islam, Judaism, and Christianity with numerous branches.

 

For example, I am fine with referring to the Community of Christ as a Mormon Church. 

Funny, the Community of Christ itself does not accept the name "Mormon" as an identifier.

 

I am fine with referring to all religions that hold the Book of Mormon to be divinely restored and as scripture as Mormon.  I don't think the Church can rightly claim to be the sole owner of "Mormonism".

 

I  join the Church leaders in disagreeing with you.

Edited April 6, 2014 by Scott Lloyd

[Scott Lloyd]

I really doubt it. Admittedly it came from 70s so they were outranked.

Without something more solid to go on in terms of documentation, I'm afraid i can't accept this account.

 

At any rate, the official policy was reiterated less than an hour ago -- by an apostle in a general conference session. I think that trumps any offhand comment you may have heard.

Edited April 6, 2014 by Scott Lloyd

[JLHPROF]

Funny, the Community of Christ itself does not accept the name "Mormon" as an identifier.

 

I  join the Church leaders in disagreeing with you.

 

Doesn't matter whether a schism group self-identifies as Mormon, but if you prefer "Restorationist" I suppose that could work.

I just think if you were drawing a tree chart (or a pedigree chart) of religions, that the "Mormon" branch would contain more than just the Church.

 

As far as the Church leaders, well, we don't agree on many things.

[omni]

Someone should alert the editors of the Deseret News, as they seem to have no problem using it.  Now if we could just find someone who has a good "in" with them...

[rodheadlee]

LDS Church is just easier to type. 

 

The Church of Jesus Christ IMO is rather presumptious.  And it is not the name if the Church anymore than Mormon Church or LDS Church is.

DNile is a river in Egypt too.

[Tacenda]

As reiterated by Elder Ballard, the Church leaders have asked us not to use that in place of the proper name of the Church. Did you read my opening post?

That is what the Church professes to be, whether you declare it presumptuous or not. And it is so identified by Jesus Christ Himself.

The Church leaders have said it is acceptable as a shortened form for the formal name of the Church. It is their province to do so.

I'm sorry, but I hate when people in the media or elsewhere have to say it all out, if the members are living the way they should and teaching what they should, LDS or Mormon should suffice. Look at Protestants or Catholic...everyone knows they're Christian. Of course on second thought, media does need to identify the correct name, but to me in regular conversation, it is too much, but I'm a terrible voice to be heard in this situation, so this is just personally speaking. Edited April 6, 2014 by Tacenda

[AndyDnom]

I agree with Elder Ballard. I am so grateful to have  apostles that can clarify such issues. And direct them on church policy issues, such as creating the marketing series "I'm a Latter Day Saint" and using the domain name Latterdaysaints.org

[The Nehor]

The Church of Jesus Christ IMO is rather presumptious.

I honestly don't care; I see it as simply accurate. The ending bit of our name is just to give us a dispensational limitation and to make sure the Prophet does not try to give instructions to John the Beloved or he Three Nephites.

But then I am okay with presuming things I know are accurate.

[The Nehor]

Without something more solid to go on in terms of documentation, I'm afraid i can't accept this account.

Oh no....please....no.....stop.....think of the children.

[Scott Lloyd]

Oh no....please....no.....stop.....think of the children.

 

Rep point for that one!

[pogi]

The Church of Jesus Christ IMO is rather presumptious. 

 

Yes, that is the presumption, isn't it?  I don't think we try to hide that fact. 

[Scott Lloyd]

Someone should alert the editors of the Deseret News, as they seem to have no problem using it.  Now if we could just find someone who has a good "in" with them...

Well, that should put to rest fanciful notions about heavy-handed control of the newspaper by the Church, right?