Mormons don't want you calling them Mormons anymore

[Jack Strop]

...so I said “Ya, we’re members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.” I remember their blank stares... so I just said, “people know us as Mormons.” And they were like “Oh! Okay!”

Personally, I’m fine with being called Mormon. I can’t imagine anyone getting offended by it. I think the reason they want to move away from the name is because polling has shown people don’t know what Mormons believe and aren’t even sure if we are Christian. This is a bigger deal in countries where there is a bigger missionary effort and less familiarity with the church. People not familiar with us might think we worship Mormon instead of Christ.

So it’s kind of a marketing move, but it’s to show our faith is centralized in Christ.

Whether or not I’ll do a good job of it... well, it’ll be tough.

Exactly what I think the Mormon leaders are after. And I wouldn't just say it's a bigger deal in other countries. It's an issue right here in 'Merica. I'll bet Donald himself doesn't know if Mormons are Christians.

 

[JimLes]

Most thought of Mormons as non-Christian. And whether you believe in "the Church" or not - and I won't disclose where I am at on that spectrum - Mormons definitely believe in Christ. The tenets may be slightly or greatly different from other Christian faiths, but it is definitely a religion founded upon a belief in the Holy Trinity. Unfortunately, so many people, whether through ignorance or the teachings of their religious leaders, have misconceptions about Mormons' belief in Christ.

I don't think people are ignorant of whether or not Mormons believe in Jesus, so much as they have a narrower view of what Christianity is. Many evangelicals don't consider Catholics to be Christian, and Eastern Orthodoxy is as foreign to some as Islam is.

And I mean, I can see the point, too. The tenets of LDS differ greatly from the tenets of mainstream Christianity. This isn't like how the Orthodox and the Catholics argue over whether the Pope is the boss of the Patriarch of Constantinople or whether the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father alone or from the Father and the Son. There's a whole extra book in play here and a whole host of other major theological differences. I mean, I would compare that to the difference between Judaism and mainstream Christianity or mainstream Islam and the Druze. There's no doubt the latter developed from the former, much like the Latter Day Saints developed out of mainstream Christianity, but I get upset when those Jews for Jesus people call themselves Jews. They're just Christians who don't like bacon for some reason. Sure, they still believe in the Jewish god, but I don't think that alone makes them Jews. I think same goes for the belief in Jesus.

 

[candrew]

"The Church" sounds creepy.

A little Kool-Aidish...

 

[Gameface]

"The Church" sounds creepy.

A little Kool-Aidish...

There are a few different places in the U.S. where you can say "the Church" and it's widely understood which church you're talking about.

 

[colton]

Referring to the organization as "the Church" seems odd.

In my opinion that would be for subsequent referrals in a news article where the church has already been identified by the long name. It would make sense to call it more simply "the Church" after that.

 

[colton]

Many people don't consider LDS people to be Christian. I think this is an attempt to more closely link the LDS church with Christianity outside the LDS community.

And as much as I say antagonistic things about the LDS church I have made a habit of referring to it and it's members as LDS because I felt that was more respectful, but this mouthful, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints"? Sorry, but no. And to say the "Church of Jesus Christ"? Again, sorry, but no. I want people to know what I'm talking about.

I mean I could shorten it to CJC, but I don't think that's going to catch on.

Speaking for myself, you're still welcome to refer to me as LDS.

And for what it's worth, I do prefer "LDS" to "Mormon" when talking about me personally, although I certainly wouldn't take offense at being called a Mormon. I guess I view Mormon more as an adjective than a noun, for whatever reason.

 

[JimLes]

In my opinion that would be for subsequent referrals in a news article where the church has already been identified by the long name. It would make sense to call it more simply "the Church" after that.

I would also think that if you say "the Church" in Utah, and especially rural Utah, there'd be no confusion as to which church you're talking about. Obviously different in other places.

 

[Deleted member 365]

Will they change the name of that movie that came out a few years ago, “Meet the Mormons”?

Will it now be, “Meet the Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints”?

Doesn’t have the same ring to it...

 

[Deleted member 365]

I don't think people are ignorant of whether or not Mormons believe in Jesus, so much as they have a narrower view of what Christianity is. Many evangelicals don't consider Catholics to be Christian, and Eastern Orthodoxy is as foreign to some as Islam is.

And I mean, I can see the point, too. The tenets of LDS differ greatly from the tenets of mainstream Christianity. This isn't like how the Orthodox and the Catholics argue over whether the Pope is the boss of the Patriarch of Constantinople or whether the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father alone or from the Father and the Son. There's a whole extra book in play here and a whole host of other major theological differences. I mean, I would compare that to the difference between Judaism and mainstream Christianity or mainstream Islam and the Druze. There's no doubt the latter developed from the former, much like the Latter Day Saints developed out of mainstream Christianity, but I get upset when those Jews for Jesus people call themselves Jews. They're just Christians who don't like bacon for some reason. Sure, they still believe in the Jewish god, but I don't think that alone makes them Jews. I think same goes for the belief in Jesus.

I agree.

Mormons seem to have an inferiority complex. We keep placating to evangelicals in hopes of gaining membership into their exclusive “American Christians” club.

**** them. Most evangelicals are toothless racist trump supporters living in the south. They don’t give a Duck Dynasty or Honey Boo Boo what Mormons are called. Their intolerance from their trailer parks towards immigrants, African Americans, gays, Catholics, and anyone not deemed worthy of their exclusive club is well known. Exclusion from their club and earning their ire should be worn as a badge of honor.

Mormons will never be accepted as Christians by evangelicals because of JS and his claims of restoring prophets and apostles and translating another bible, the BOM.

 

[bigb]

Y’all can call me whatever the hell you want. I’ll still likely refer to myself as a Mormon. When I was on my mission, no one knew what The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was. Everyone knew what the Mormon Church was. We simply explained it’s a nickname derived from the Nook of Mormon.
Nothing the First Presidency says or does will change what people say or think or call us in places like Honduras, Zimbabwe, Russia, or Iowa.

 

[Siro]

Y’all can call me whatever the hell you want. I’ll still likely refer to myself as a Mormon. When I was on my mission, no one knew what The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was. Everyone knew what the Mormon Church was. We simply explained it’s a nickname derived from the Nook of Mormon.
Nothing the First Presidency says or does will change what people say or think or call us in places like Honduras, Zimbabwe, Russia, or Iowa.

Nook of Mormon!

 

[Gameface]

Nook of Mormon!