The Name of the Church

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

On 6/28/2019 at 2:17 PM, Thinking said:

I'm with my son in the ER (4th consecutive day of severe headaches). During the registration process, I was asked his religious preference. "LDS" I replied.

I was having trouble with Family Search yesterday, so I had my Home Teacher try to help. When we could not figure out the problem, I called Salt Lake, to get assistance. An Elder was helping me out, while I had him on speakerphone, I told him I was at my Home Teacher’s house. Then I started fumbling to remember the new “designation”, I finally said, “look, I am in my 60’s, so I still call them Home Teachers, and I am still a Mormon”. He thought it was funny, then he asked, “is there anything else I can do for you”? I then said, “if you like, you can come to Georgia and cut my grass”. My Home Teacher was just looking at me, as if I was crazy...he is a very serious guy. So to your point, I would have probably said, LDS or Mormon.

[Tacenda]

16 hours ago, Bill “Papa” Lee said:

I was having trouble with Family Search yesterday, so I had my Home Teacher try to help. When we could not figure out the problem, I called Salt Lake, to get assistance. An Elder was helping me out, while I had him on speakerphone, I told him I was at my Home Teacher’s house. Then I started fumbling to remember the new “designation”, I finally said, “look, I am in my 60’s, so I still call them Home Teachers, and I am still a Mormon”. He thought it was funny, then he asked, “is there anything else I can do for you”? I then said, “if you like, you can come to Georgia and cut my grass”. My Home Teacher was just looking at me, as if I was crazy...he is a very serious guy. So to your point, I would have probably said, LDS or Mormon.

I struggle to call my ministering couple, ministering couple! I like Home Teacher as well! 

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

3 hours ago, Tacenda said:

I struggle to call my ministering couple, ministering couple! I like Home Teacher as well! 

It is hard to change when for 40 years, I called them as Home Teachers. That coupled with age, as older people struggle with change. Also, to coin a long time saying, “A rose by any other name, smells just as sweet”, of course here’s hoping I remembered it correctly. I also spent 40 years saying I was “LDS”, and when they did not know what I was saying, I would say, “Mormon”, as I was proudly (not in the bad way, “puffed up”) to be called a Mormon. It is hard when asked what Faith you are, or what are you, to leave people confused by saying, “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints”. Which I have done very often, over those 40 years, only to have to say “Mormon” so they would catch on, and know what I was talking about. As we have have the longest Church name on the planet, because it is a mouthful. Changing the name to “ministering angel, servant, whatever, it is still members “teaching in our homes”. I have heard many seeking to act, or acting, very enthusiastic, saying things like, “finally a name or designation, that is leading us more toward Jesus Christ”, or how “calling us “Ministering Angels will have members more excited”. The sad reality is that, those who were not predisposed to do their home or visiting teaching, will approach the diffident designation any more than before. But the Church, our Church more than most, has always been leading us to Jesus Christ, so for those who have said, “finally a name is leading us more toward Jesus Christ”, I am left to ask, where did they think we were being led for the 187 years before. Don’t get me wrong, I support, and always will the Prophet and President of the Church, and any changes as he wishes, and inspired to make. This has been a theme he has addressed for decades, one of his first addresses as an Apostle was on this topic, and many after it, in fact many other Apostles and Prophets have done so. The term “Mormon” was first used by our enemies as a weapon, but like any good warrior, Spiritual or military, you learn to use their weapons, and make them your own. So Joseph, and many other Prophets all the way to President Hickley, used the term well. We named the official Church Choir, as the “Mormon Tabernacle Choir”, countless General Conference sermons used the name, songs were written using the name, in Primary, and Priesthood songs, etc. It is so ingrained in the minds of some many generations, it is difficult to jettison it almost overnight, but maybe these changes will one day become the new culture in our rising generations.. In fact, the term “Mormon”, is still used by the Church in other ways, it is, and will always remain in the title of our one of our beloved Scripture, on the cover, and elsewhere. It is part of a rich and wonderful, no wondrous culture, and will be until and after the second coming of Jesus Christ, and beyond. I will always support our Prophets, including of course President Nelson, but I like others we still and will struggle to make the new lexicon our first nature,  and not second nature, But maybe my kids, and certainly my grandchildren will get it right the first time. If such a slip on the tongue, when the heart is in the right place, has a “right or wrong” concerning it. Wow, I hate having to type so much due to the difficulty using and iPad, so please forgive any errors. 

Anyway, love you all...or ya’ll as we say in the sunny South. Well most say ya’ll, I do not, not ever sure how to spell it. I soeand so long in Germany, my family things I talk funny, and write funny.   

 

[Stargazer]

On 7/7/2019 at 4:36 PM, Tacenda said:

I struggle to call my ministering couple, ministering couple! I like Home Teacher as well! 

If you were much older than @Bill "Papa" Lee, you'd be calling them "Ward Teachers" LOL. That's the original name.

But... a rose by any other name is still a rose. 🙂