seagan

Actually, the push is to use Jesus Christ not LDS. The idea is to emphasize the cornerstone and leader of this church not the person that edited and wrote part of one of our scriptures. Granted, the Book of Mormon is great scripture, that scripture as all of our scripture centers on Christ. The leadership is trying to get us as a people and the world to see that we are followers of Christ and to put Christ as the center of the church. We have always been known as a church of Christ in all our names; however, the world gave us the name Mormons. Christ gave us his name. Which would you prefer to be known by?

The RLDS no longer follow the rule that lineage and descent for president be through Joseph Smith. The last two presidents have been none relatives of Joseph Smith. The RLDS changed their name (public display, legal stayed the same) and are adjusting doctrine to fit better with the "conventional" Christian doctrine. Rumor has it that the Book of Mormon is disappearing from their church by just ignoring it more and more. I wonder if the Shi'a Muslims have drift in this same direction.