Is Mormon really a good term to describe people who are LDS?

[Misshalfway]

I don't know how I feel about the label. I don't spose it bothers me that much. I use it cuz the real name is a mouthfull and it helps makes things easier when talking to outsiders.

It bugs when I see members (haven't seen this in a while prolly cause of Hinckley's talk on the subject) get offended when someone refers to us as "Mormons". It's just stupid. People don't know. Why they don't know sometimes bugs me but that's something else. I just tell people, if I get the chance, that I am LDS and perfer that to "mormon", but that "mormon" works too. I don't worry a lot about it and I don't like making it a bigger issue than it is. I mean we know who and what we are and if someone is open to learning more, I appreciate that.

[prisonchaplain]

I don't mind being called a Mormon, but it bugs me a little when I am talking to my non-member friends, when they refer to my religion as Mormonism and theirs Christianity.

On the flip side, I've asked people, "Are you a Christian?" and they'll respond, "Oh no! I'm Catholic."

To them being a Christian meant being an evangelical or a Protestant, and implied anti-Catholicism.

Irony of ironies.

[Guest mormonmusic]

On the flip side, I've asked people, "Are you a Christian?" and they'll respond, "Oh no! I'm Catholic."

To them being a Christian meant being an evangelical or a Protestant, and implied anti-Catholicism.

Irony of ironies.

I chuckled at this one - because the term "Mormon Christian" could mean I'm a Mormon Evangelical to some Catholics!!!! Now that's confusing!

[prisonchaplain]

Oh I don't know. I'm beginning to think Robert Millet is an evangelical Mormon! :-)

BTW, the acronym works well. "I'm LDS." You're what? "You know...a Latter Day Saint?" "Huh?" "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints--the Mormons." By that time the person is so flat-footed from not knowing, that the dawning revelation will likely result in, "Oh...I see."

[hordak]

I don't have any issue with being called a Mormon either. It's just the follow-up question that always bugs me and that's "oh, you're the church where the guys have a lot of wives". Living here in the east I hear this almost every time.

That's funny because i usually ask that question when i meet a member (outside of church obviously) .

Your not an Michigan state fan are you? We may have met.

[Carl62]

That's funny because i usually ask that question when i meet a member (outside of church obviously) .

Your not an Michigan state fan are you? We may have met.

Nah, Penn State actually.

[FlaviusHambonius]

How about just responding that 'I'm a member of The Church of Jesus Christ'?

[Guest mormonmusic]

Well, I've used this approach before, and people have expressed interest in learning about our Church. They express interest to the point I have them sitting in Sacrament meeting as an investigator, or in the lobby of the temple, or in front of the missionaries, and they say:

"You mean to tell me this is a MORMON church????"

I feel like I hoodwinked them. It's happened 3 times to me so far -- once at Church, once with missionaries, and once at the temple. So I want to be clear I'm a Latter-day saint or Mormon, but also emphasize we are Christian at the same time.

[Misshalfway]

Well, I've used this approach before, and people have expressed interest in learning about our Church. They express interest to the point I have them sitting in Sacrament meeting as an investigator, or in the lobby of the temple, or in front of the missionaries, and they say:

"You mean to tell me this is a MORMON church????"

I feel like I hoodwinked them. It's happened 3 times to me so far -- once at Church, once with missionaries, and once at the temple. So I want to be clear I'm a Latter-day saint or Mormon, but also emphasize we are Christian at the same time.

Gosh! Explaining who we are takes a lot of effort.

[Dravin]

Gosh! Explaining who we are takes a lot of effort.

Yep, tis always fun.

You: I'm LDS.

Them: Huh?

You: A Latter-Day Saint.

Them: Huh?

You: A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Them: Huh?

You: A Mormon.

Them: Why didn't you just say so!

[Traveler]

Traveler -- while I think this is an accurate term to describe a Mechlizedek Priesthood holder, I think it might confuse some people. Or it might encourage them to think it's something very unusual since most people probably haven't heard the term Melchizedek --which will then make the term Mormon seem even more distant from reality when they make the connection.

Not to discourage your desire for an alternate name, like myself -- I share your desire to get away from the term Mormon. And I mean this respectfully....

However, you've used the term before in conversation, and I haven't -- how have people reacted to it?

Like I said it was the religion of Jesus; it was the religion to which he most identified and by which he administered his clerical calling - see Hebrews 6:20. I would point to Hebrews then say in passing that the reason that few have heard of this religion is because following the death of the apostles this religion was lost and body of Christians fell into apostasy. The good news is that in these last days there has been a restitution of all things (including the order of Melchizedek) according to prophesy (Acts 3:21). It is the commission by which I serve.

One last thing if someone makes the connection to LDS; I would point out that it has always been (anciently as today) that there is opposition within the religious community to the order of Melchizedek. I like to point out the most common opposition is that teachers in false religions accuse the clergy of Melchizedek of making themselves G-d. (See John 10:33). And then I like to ask if they have ever heard this criticism directed towards any religion in our time?

The Traveler

Edited December 2, 2009 by Traveler
Add reference to restitutuon of all things