The "Member" formerly known as "Mormon".

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

When my mother passed away in March of 2014, we (my wife, my sister and myself) began the difficult, sometimes bittersweet process of going through 82 years of life. We went through the hundreds of medical books my mother began reading when my father was diagnosed with cancer, and by the time he had passed away, she was an expert on many medical issues. Then as each of us dug deeper and deeper into her "Prayer. Room", as she called it, we found countless Bibles (all of which I have now, no one else wanted then) and Book of Mormons she had acquired over the years. Each carefully marked, and cared for, as she quoted all so easily in daily conversations, until Alzheimer's finally robbed her fertile mind of all these treasured quotes. Then finally to the triple combination (Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price) that sat beside her bed on her nightstand, until the day that she passed away. 

You see my Mother was not a "Mormon", not a "Latter-day Saint", just a "dry Mormon", or whatever term one would wish to assign to her, I will use the term "believer".  My parents were no strangers to "our", "my" Faith, as they would attend often when I returned stateside, and home from the military. The term, "Stateside" and home from the "Military" are very important to this story, if you will. When I joined the Army in September 1976, on day one or two you are given many things, but most important is your "dog tags", something everyone in the military must get used to right away. These "dog tags" are required to have key pieces of information, namely, "Your Name", your "Social Security number" (at an earlier time,  you military I.D. number, but SSN took it's place), your "Blood Type", and your, "Religion". The reason for this information above all, is the need in the event you are killed or injured in battle, or training, "God forbid". This information is stamped into these metal tags (you must have two, always) because this information will never change throughout the tour of each member of the Armed Services. Except, in my case, it did. 

When I left for the Army, my Father reminded me that we were "Southren Baptist", as it was the Faith in which (the rich Faith) I was raised. Now, as with then, when someone lists their "Religion" on a dog tag, each letter is very limited. So my Faith became listed as "So Baptist", as listed by my the person doing mine, mumbling under his breath; "what is it with you Southern boys, a simple, Baptist, is never good enough"? But, unlike most in the military, many of whom take a three or four year holiday from almost any religious observance, not because they are not religious, but because the Military is very "A Religious", meaning overseas all Faith's meeting in a combination watered down version of "Church", for lack of a better therm. 

What each of my Mother's children found in the ensuing weeks and months, was they my Mother kept everything, every letter, every picture, every news clipping, as of course most Mothers do. What I found were the many letters back and forth discussing things of doctrine and scripture, things that I had been discovering since leaving home. Other letters after having found the, "Book of Mormon", and the many discussions that it created. Upon my conversion to the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints", my Father just had one question; "do you still believe that salvation comes through Jesus Christ"? My reply was that I believed it growing up in his mome, in the Church I was raised, as I believe it more even now. To this, in the way only my Father could do, he put my mind at rest with the reply, "then they will do". 

So, now to the "dog tags", and the name, "Mormon", when my Mother passed away, I found that she had kept my "dog tags" in a very special place, with other things she valued very much. She kept them as if they were fine jewelry, and upon finding them as a keepsake, I have worn them everyday I am out and about, around my home and even at Church. I have done so because it reminds me of my service, my Mother's love and my Faith. When I joined the Church there was no way to have the entire name of the Church on the "dog tags", so I did as all others who were serving in the Army and the "Fulda Branch" in Fulda, West Germany. I had this placed on my "dog tags", "LDS/Mormon", just as again, all did. Wearing these "dog tags", have reminded me of so much, of my service to my country, of my Mother's love and devotion, and of a new Faith that I found when far from home. "Mormon", is not a term that I gave myself, but it is a term that I have proudly identified with through 39+ years. A term that has been reinforced in thousands of hours of General Conference over almost 200 years.

I know this is a long post, but I wanted to get this out before so many threads are just merged into one. I guess you might say it is "therapy" for an old man, who finds change harder and harder, that is coming faster and faster. As most of you know, I usually avoid very long posts, due to the difficulty of only using an iPad, and the countless grammatical errors that expose, many of my weaknesses. 

So, who am I now? The member formally known as "Mormon"?   

[mfbukowski]

God bless you!

This getting old stuff is not for sissies.

Everyone wants to live a long life but not be old.

Go figure.

 

[RevTestament]

18 minutes ago, Bill "Papa" Lee said:

So, who am I now? The member formally known as "Mormon"?   

Like you did way back then, don't worry what others call you or think of you. I believe you to be a wonderful LDS Christian, but if you want to be called a Mormon, I can do that. Or if you want to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ, I can call you that too. Even if you want to be the member formerly known as Mormon, I can do that although it brings to mind allusions of Prince... I mean the dude formerly known as Prince. I think the main thing is not to refer to the Church as the Mormon Church, but you are not the Church, so you can be called what you want.

[Guest]

23 minutes ago, RevTestament said:

Like you did way back then, don't worry what others call you or think of you. I believe you to be a wonderful LDS Christian, but if you want to be called a Mormon, I can do that. Or if you want to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ, I can call you that too. Even if you want to be the member formerly known as Mormon, I can do that although it brings to mind allusions of Prince... I mean the dude formerly known as Prince. I think the main thing is not to refer to the Church as the Mormon Church, but you are not the Church, so you can be called what you want.

Yes, It why I dues that line, because of the "Prince" thing. The point is, I all those things, a Christian, a Mormon, a Latter-day Saint. But suddenly in the last few days, calling myself a Mormon, or answering to it, will conjure up in the minds of some, not following the Prophet. Which of course, wearing that name around my neck, as I do daily now, as I did in the Army, is it going to somehow be an act of defiance to some? 

[Robert F. Smith]

1 hour ago, Bill "Papa" Lee said:

................................

So, who am I now? The member formally known as "Mormon"?   

In my day, all Mormons had their dog tags stamped "Latter Day Saint."

[RevTestament]

3 minutes ago, Bill "Papa" Lee said:

Yes, It why I dues that line, because of the "Prince" thing. The point is, I all those things, a Christian, a Mormon, a Latter-day Saint. But suddenly in the last few days, calling myself a Mormon, or answering to it, will conjure up in the minds of some, not following the Prophet. Which of course, wearing that name around my neck, as I do daily now, as I did in the Army, is it going to somehow be an act of defiance to some? 

Maybe. I don't worry about it. I'm not going to be popular anyway. Let them think what they want. I try more to follow our Savior. I follow the prophet to the extent that I feel his words are inspired, and I basically agree with the president on this issue. I've been doing it for 20 years already, so it's not an issue for me. However, I don't follow all the Church presidents in everything they say - I frequently bring up BY in this regard. So, that is me. If that makes me somehow unworthy, so be it. I am more concerned with searching for truth, than following every little thing the Church Presidents have said.

I don't feel this issue is really a change though. Didn't Pres Hinckley say as much? Did you try to live it?

[Guest]

2 hours ago, Robert F. Smith said:

In my day, all Mormons had their dog tags stamped "Latter Day Saint."

I only followed the lead of those first men I served with in the Army and in my first Branch. We were a small military branch and by no means a large sample. 

[sheilauk]

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet".  The name describes but does not define who we are. 

[Glenn101]

3 hours ago, Robert F. Smith said:

In my day, all Mormons had their dog tags stamped "Latter Day Saint."

My first set were stamped "LSD." I was called in to explain that religion.

 

[Atheist Mormon]

4 hours ago, Bill "Papa" Lee said:

 "Mormon", is not a term that I gave myself, but it is a term that I have proudly identified with through 39+ years. A term that has been reinforced in thousands of hours of General Conference over almost 200 years.

So, who am I now? The member formally known as "Mormon"?   

Have to admit, I was extremely disappointed in Prophet's talk about rescinding the name of Mormon talk, I have former LDS friends who are ashamed of their past, I don't understand them, I like sharing the Culture and Land i spent most of my life.....I wear this belt almost everyday.....

[Guest]

16 minutes ago, sheilauk said:

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet".  The name describes but does not define who we are. 

All that we are, our rich history, cannot be summed up in just a few words. My family did walk across the plains of America to the west, but my people, "The Mormons" as defined by others and ourselves did. 

[Guest]

1 hour ago, Atheist Mormon said:

Have to admit, I was extremely disappointed in Prophet's talk about rescinding the name of Mormon talk, I have former LDS friends who are ashamed of their past, I don't understand them, I like sharing the Culture and Land i spent most of my life.....I wear this belt almost everyday.....

I understand, I wore those tags for 10 years in the military, and then it was such a habit, I still did for some time. Now for the last 4+ years since my Mother's death. They remind me of so much, so much that is and has been a part of my life. I am a "true believer", don't get me wrong, I am just stunned at the speed at which this change is being made. As a friend of my pointed out, changes that will cost a lot of money. We have a prominent long time poster here, who is (I believe still is) a decades long member of the "Mormon Tabernacle Choir", what will it be called. The recent movie, "Meet the Mormons", will it be re-released with a new name. The Church has invested billions in the past to give good, or great PR to the name, only to cast a shadow upon it in a few short days. To what end? The man "Mormon" is among one of the greatest of all Prophets and Leaders in out scripture and history, who is he today? We added once to the Book of Monrmon's name, will it change again, will primary pictures that depict him as the great Prophet Warrior, be downplayed? Mormon may have been a word that others in the early days of the Church sought to dishonor us as a people with, but it is also one we cliamed and made our own for almost 200 years. The sudden move, seems to suggest that those who wished to dishonor us were right, and every Prophet since Joseph Smith was wrong. 

I am no Prophet, but I can speak without any fear of being wrong. Countless Fast and Testimony meetings will be filled with most talking about how, "it is about time". Sacrament talks will only be allowed to address the necessity of getting on board. Priesthood lessons will be filled with this, as numerous General Conference talks will also address this as well. President Nelson, has only repeated past teachings of the last two Presidents, but now wanting the word to disappear of our centuries of lexicon. This is how quickly things move in our internet world, we no longer wait to hear what is new in General Conference, but if it is posted on Thursday (when the Apostles meet) it is policy by Sunday. BTW, this has happened before, when Bishop's have heard something and felt like they needed to make changes right away, only to tell their members a few weeks later, they jumped the gun. On this issue, I don't fear everyone is jumping the gun, but websites I am members of, many changed their names overnight. They have no Church affiliation, they just did not want be be left behind. So, I will no doubt call myself a Mormon in Church, as I would never offend someone intentionally, but if I asked how I feel about it, I will tell the truth. And the truth is, I am still a proud Mormon! 

[Guest]

2 hours ago, Glenn101 said:

My first set were stamped "LSD." I was called in to explain that religion.

 

Well, people have been know to have "visions" in that religion. 

[Robert F. Smith]

4 hours ago, Bill "Papa" Lee said:

......................... I am a "true believer", don't get me wrong, I am just stunned at the speed at which this change is being made. As a friend of my pointed out, changes that will cost a lot of money. We have a prominent long time poster here, who is (I believe still is) a decades long member of the "Mormon Tabernacle Choir",

Motab?

4 hours ago, Bill "Papa" Lee said:

what will it be called. The recent movie, "Meet the Mormons", will it be re-released with a new name. The Church has invested billions in the past to give good, or great PR to the name, only to cast a shadow upon it in a few short days. To what end? ...........................

"Meet the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints"

FairMormon > FairCJCLDS ??

the Mormon Channel > the CJCLDS Channel  ??

[BonhoefferFan]

 

21 hours ago, Bill "Papa" Lee said:

Yes, It why I dues that line, because of the "Prince" thing. The point is, I all those things, a Christian, a Mormon, a Latter-day Saint. But suddenly in the last few days, calling myself a Mormon, or answering to it, will conjure up in the minds of some, not following the Prophet. Which of course, wearing that name around my neck, as I do daily now, as I did in the Army, is it going to somehow be an act of defiance to some?  

I would not worry so much, I do not think many people really care in particular.  My dog tags say "Muslim" because the guy making them was making some fairly racist comments against Muslims, so when he asked I said "Muslim" and pointed out he should be careful what he was saying.  I was only getting them for an inspection (will never deploy again, it was a check in the box part of the gear inspection), and I was irritated.  But I cannot imagine many members really care what the Church is called.  I know I don't.  When people ask me what I am, I say Mormon, and I do not see any reason to change.