do you think is ok for people to call us mormons instead of LDS?

[glow_inthe_dark_girl]

I asked this because the missionaries are teaching my b/f , and he asked me why people calls us mormons, he thinks that sound as if we worshiped Mormon, I already explain him what I know, and to my understanding the First Presidency encourage us to call the Church "the church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints",

it doesn't bother me to be called mormon, cause I know what it means. but It would be really helpful if you could tell me about a church article on the subject :)

thanks

[ChristopherMills]

According to lds.org, it is ok.

source: Style Guide - LDS Newsroom

The official name of the Church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This full name was given by revelation from God to Joseph Smith in 1838.—

While the term "Mormon Church" has long been publicly applied to the Church as a nickname, it is not an authorized title, and the Church discourages its use.

When writing about the Church, please follow these guidelines:

In the first reference, the full name of the Church is preferred: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Please avoid the use of “Mormon Church,” “LDS Church” or “the Church of the Latter-day Saints.”

When a shortened reference is needed, the terms “the Church” or “the Church of Jesus Christ” are encouraged.

When referring to Church members, the term “Latter-day Saints” is preferred, though “Mormons” is acceptable.

"Mormon” is correctly used in proper names such as the Book of Mormon, Mormon Tabernacle Choir or Mormon Trail, or when used as an adjective in such expressions as “Mormon pioneers.”

The term “Mormonism” is acceptable in describing the combination of doctrine, culture and lifestyle unique to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

When referring to people or organizations that practice polygamy, the terms “Mormons,” “Mormon fundamentalist,” “Mormon dissidents,” etc. are incorrect. The Associated Press Stylebook notes: “The term Mormon is not properly applied to the other ... churches that resulted from the split after [Joseph] Smith’s death.”

[prisonchaplain]

Whenever I see a string on this topic I'm double-minded. Yes, absolutely, people should be called what they want to be called. Anti-abortionists should be called pro-life, and those who favor it's legalization in most or all situations pro-choice. "Mormons" should be called members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I'm thankful that at most sites the adjective "LDS" seems okay.

On the other hand...issuing style guidelines to the press is one thing. Correcting well-intentioned friends or acquaintances is another. It's hard not to come across as touchy, thin-skinned, or at least picky.

And I've walked in these moccasins. My church is not Assembly of God, but Assemblies of God. And, much worse yet, it's chaplain, not chaplin!!!

Just my humble opinion, of course.

[skippy740]

Guide to the Scriptures: Mormon, Nephite Prophet

A Nephite prophet, military general, and record keeper in the Book of Mormon. Mormon lived about A.D. 311-385 (Morm. 1: 2, 6; 6: 5-6; 8: 2-3). He was a military leader for most of his life, beginning at age fifteen (Morm. 2: 1-2; 3: 8-12; 5: 1; 8: 2-3). Ammaron instructed Mormon to prepare himself to take charge of the records and record keeping (Morm. 1: 2-5; 2: 17-18). After recording the history of his own lifetime, Mormon abridged the large plates of Nephi on the plates of Mormon. He later turned this sacred record over to his son Moroni. These plates were part of the record from which Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon.

I am not Mormon because he died many years ago.

However, I am not offended by being called a "mormon". It's the label that most people know the Church and its members by.

[Honor]

I'm not sure I really have a personal opinion one way or another. In most of my experience, people know what I mean regardless of my choice between saying LDS or Mormon and I'm not entirely sure that it has a huge impact in general (but then again, I currently live in Utah). One thought I had though was that it's good to be aware of who generally uses which terms and in what context. If you tack on the word "Mormon" to any google search, it will probably turn up more anti links than if you put "LDS".

[astral]

I see absolutely nothing wrong with people calling us Mormons. However, when asked what church I belong to, my response is always "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints." If i get a blank stare, I then say "The Mormons".

[the Ogre]

The church does not take issue with the word, but I think the use of the word is bigoted. I understand what PC is saying (but why does he hate Charlie Chaplin?) and respect that. I do not respect the courts or the press who refuse to move-on and shrug off the mere appearance of bigotry.

I respect the church's opinion, but those who insist on the word, who are not LDS, I feel are bigots. It's just my opinion.

[ChristopherMills]

The church does not take issue with the word, but I think the use of the word is bigoted. I understand what PC is saying (but why does he hate Charlie Chaplin?) and respect that. I do not respect the courts or the press who refuse to move-on and shrug off the mere appearance of bigotry.

I respect the church's opinion, but those who insist on the word, who are not LDS, I feel are bigots. It's just my opinion.

The "M" word. lol. I think that the majority of people who use it are not motivated by bigotry. I think that most don't even know. In some areas "LDS" is not a known term and Mormon is just easier to say.

[Islander]

Maybe because I am a convert, I refer to myself as a Latter day Saint and I call the Church by its proper name. The name "Mormon" applied to myself or the Church does not synch with me. It creates dissonance in my ears, sort of.

[Dravin]

I think its okay, generally speaking people aren't always aware that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints = Mormon. This is most amusing when its a news agency who fails to catch that (i.e. the two biggest contributers were 1. Mormons 2. The CoJCoLDS, though that could be urban legend). I think for the most part it's not meant to be derogatory so I don't take it that way.

Now as far as members of the Church go we could probably do a better job of using the correct name when out an about. So for instance if somebody asked, "You're Mormon, aren't you?" instead of just saying yes you could say, "Yes, I'm LDS." There are countless such exchanges where the opportunity can be taken to use LDS or the full name of the church. Considering how often we use the word though (i.e. Mormon Standard Time, Molly Mormon, Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Mormon Trail, Mormon Pioneers and of course the classic, "I'm Mormon.", I'm sure there are others) I'm not sure you can blame others for using it as well.

Edited May 22, 2009 by Dravin

[Guest missingsomething]

I think they wanted to get away from the negative feelings about polygamony and such by not using "Mormons".

It doesnt matter to me what someone calls me - as long as their intentions and tone is in the right place. But for someone starting off.. why make a lazy habit? Why not just learn to say LDS? Even LDS is kinda lazy.

I normally say the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day saints... and because I live on the east coast I get dumb looks, so then I say.. you know... LDS... mormon..? And then they go... Ohhhh yea. :)

[Wingnut]

There was an article written a few months ago by Heather, the fine big cheese of this particular website. Her position was in favor of "Mormon." You can read the thread (with link to the article) here: http://www.lds.net/forums/lds-net-admin-alerts/16317-we-mormon-my-article-published-mormontimes-com.html

There's also a talk by Elder Russell M. Nelson about the respect involved in using the full name of the Church. In the same thread as above, this post (by me) can be found with a fitting quote from the talk and a link to the full talk: http://www.lds.net/forums/lds-net-admin-alerts/16317-we-mormon-my-article-published-mormontimes-com.html#post296780

[Moksha]

The world knows us as Mormons. We even refer to ourselves as Mormons. The word Mormon has more versatility in its grammatical usage. COJCOLDS is much too burdensome to type.

[talisyn]

I grew up in the 70s and 80s, so I saw all the church ads that ended with some chipper person saying 'The Mormons!'

That has colored my view a bit.

I also think of who I'm talking to. I use LDS when talking to fellow LDS, and Mormons more when talking to non-members. I would prefer, however, to be called 'Christian'

Did anyone ever read Robert Kirby's Mo dictionary? I think it's required reading for any non-mo thinking of dating a mo.

Edited May 24, 2009 by talisyn

[prisonchaplain]

I grew up in the 70s and 80s, so I saw all the church ads that ended with some chipper person saying 'The Mormons!'

That has colored my view a bit.

I remember those too...and believe the Church actually promoted the monicker at one point. That's why I find it prickly when members correct their Gentile friends, acquaintances, colleagues and neighbors. Purely from a marketing perspective, I would think it better to reclaim the name, than to try to create distant and promote the long official name as the new "politically correct" terminology. Nevertheless, of course, a church may be called whatever it deems God wants it called.

[Mahone]

Well we have the mormon.org website, an official website owned by the church. People will probably argue it's for marketing purposes however it's quite clearly referred to as the "mormon church" several times. It may not be the official name, however the church are not doing an awful lot to prevent it's usage, they just regularly clarify LDS and mormon are referring to the same thing.

[the Ogre]

Well we have the mormon.org website, an official website owned by the church. People will probably argue it's for marketing purposes however it's quite clearly referred to as the "mormon church" several times. It may not be the official name, however the church are not doing an awful lot to prevent it's usage, they just regularly clarify LDS and mormon are referring to the same thing.

Yeah, I think the church bought that URL and Mormon.com because the "previous" owners were posting porn to the sites. A kind of url-kidnapping as it were.

[the Ogre]

I remember those too...and believe the Church actually promoted the monicker at one point. That's why I find it prickly when members correct their Gentile friends, acquaintances, colleagues and neighbors. Purely from a marketing perspective, I would think it better to reclaim the name, than to try to create distant and promote the long official name as the new "politically correct" terminology. Nevertheless, of course, a church may be called whatever it deems God wants it called.

PC, you bring up a good point. We had this fight on another thread a couple of years ago. I posted on it extensively. That thread caused me to review my beliefs on the matter. I have not corrected anyone on it in a long time. I just hate it and that is my problem.

News organizations, however, get e-mails every time I see it. In the last month I have emailed Wolf Blitzer and the Guardian's ombuds-person. I think the news needs to discontinue focusing on the religions of criminals and focus on their crime. Activism like this works. No one ever mentioned that Bernie Maddoff was a Jew except to say most of his victims were Jews. If it worked for the Jews, then why not Latter-day Saints. I do not think anyone's religion is a matter for public debate unless the person in particular makes it so (Mitt and his mormon-speech qualifies). What happened to Obama was wrong as well and did much to further drive me and many others away from the GOP. Religion is a personal, private affair and should be treated as such unless the person in question make religion important.

[Moksha]

Does anybody besides me feel more than a little sheepish when we use the term LDS and someone asks what it stands for? The sheepishness usually occurs right after I say the word Saints. That's right folks, we call ourselves Saints! I am certain my Gentile friends do not see me as a Saint.

Heck, I don't even get lit up at New Years.

:)

A special shout out to those Gentiles at the Rose Wagner Jewish Center...

[Jim108]

I would rather just call you friend. Because thats what you are.

[Wingnut]

I grew up in the 70s and 80s, so I saw all the church ads that ended with some chipper person saying 'The Mormons!'

That has colored my view a bit.

I also think of who I'm talking to. I use LDS when talking to fellow LDS, and Mormons more when talking to non-members. I would prefer, however, to be called 'Christian'

Did anyone ever read Robert Kirby's Mo dictionary? I think it's required reading for any non-mo thinking of dating a mo.

I hate "mo" -- "mo" or "non-mo" or "ex-mo." We are the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and we bear the Savior's name. When we use the term "Mormon," we still pay homage to a great man and a great prophet and it is his name by which we are known to the world. To dumb that down to "mo" is highly disrespectful, in my not-at-all humble opinion.

[john doe]

I agree, Wingnut.

[Elena_Villanueva]

I think it's easier for people to call us Mormons because it makes it easier to consider us not Christians or even a real religion. That's why lot's of times people call the lds religion Mormonism because it's easy to say it's related to a cult.

[ChristopherMills]

I think it's easier for people to call us Mormons because it makes it easier to consider us not Christians or even a real religion. That's why lot's of times people call the lds religion Mormonism because it's easy to say it's related to a cult.

That may be the case with some but I think that there are a lot of others that do consider us to be Christians and use the term "Mormon" simply to distinguish us from the other sects like Baptists, Methodists, or Catholics who are also Christian. Mormon is not a bad word and neither is Mormonism. lds.org actually states that both of these terms are acceptable when referring to the people or the religion as a whole. Style Guide - LDS Newsroom

Additionally, let us not forget the talk from our late President Gordon B. Hinckley who said (actually quoting Joseph Smith who first said this):

“if there is any name that is totally honorable in its derivation, it is the name Mormon. And so, when someone asks me about it and what it means, I quietly say—‘Mormon means more good."

adding to this President Hinckley also said:

"While I’m thankful for the privilege of being a follower of Jesus Christ and a member of the Church which bears His name, I am not ashamed of the nickname Mormon.”

and

"We may not be able to change the nickname, but we can make it shine with added luster."

source: LDS.org - Ensign Article - <i>Mormon</i> Should Mean “More Goodâ€

[pam]

Therefore the reason the foundation that owns this website is named TheMoreGoodFoundation. Hoping to bring out "more good" through a variety of websites and services.