Mormons gonna Morm’ on the Church’s correct name

An official statement by President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (“the Church”) was published in 2018, regarding “the importance of the name He has revealed for His Church…” (D&C 115:4) President Nelson expounded on this statement in a General Conference address in which he stated,

“...the name of the Church is not negotiable…if we allow nicknames to be used and adopt or even sponsor those nicknames ourselves, He [Jesus Christ] is offended.”

Nelson’s assertion that Christ “is offended” by the use of shorthand terms like “Mormon” or “LDS” in reference to His Church, was surprising, especially in light of a 2006 Conference address, by David A. Bednar in which he said,

“To be offended is a choice we make; it is not a condition inflicted or imposed upon us by someone or something else.”

Nelson also “...encouraged members to ‘be courteous and patient’ in their efforts ‘to restore the correct name of the Lord’s Church…’” Suggesting, “If someone should ask, ‘Are you a Mormon?’ you could reply, ‘If you are asking if I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, yes, I am!’”

Church leaders understand that members are counseled to take the words of their living prophets seriously. Still, this particular counsel appears to have had some unintended consequences, creating problems that have nothing to do with whether or not the Church's full name is being used in public discourse.

The prophet said, “...if we allow nicknames to be used…He [Christ] is offended.” (emphasis added) This sentiment can be easily boiled down into assumed and oversimplified dictums in the minds of enculturated Mormons:

• Nicknames are not allowed!

• Nicknames offend the Savior.

• If Jesus is offended, I’m offended—which makes me more Christ-like.

• We can’t allow nicknames to be used.

• We have a responsibility to enforce this.

Prefacing such rationalizations with “The prophet said from the pulpit at General Conference…” only adds fuel to the fire, because of the persistent false notion that everything a prophet says can be taken as “God’s word”—official statements to the contrary notwithstanding.

As a result, instead of just following the prophet’s counsel—especially his point about being “courteous and patient”—they take it too far, remonstrating others for using the word “Mormon” in reference to the Church or its members.

Those who are overly eager to correct others for continuing to use the term, “Mormon”—or doing anything suggesting a failure to “abstain from [the] appearance of evil”—do themselves and their Church a disservice. Especially when they invade social media comment sections on non/former-member produced content with variations of “Actually, we’re ‘members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,’ not ‘Mormons.’”

Following Nelson’s remarks in 2018, the author recalls seeing a sidewalk interview with a random individual in Utah being asked if they were LDS. The person smiled, smugly, as if they had waited for this question their entire life, though it had only been since hearing the talk, and said, “I’m a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”

Of course, they didn’t just say it. They recited it with what the author would describe as an arrogant, self-righteous affect that might as well have been, “I’m an active and faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which I know, without a doubt, is God’s true Church, with a real live prophet and I don’t have to apologize for anything because I’m a good, Latter-day Saint who does as their told, pays a full tithing, attends all my meetings, goes to the temple, and only reads their scriptures or what’s available from Church owned publishers. I also don’t watch R-rated movies, and only socialize with other members of the Church, who think and act just like I do.”

It is possible to follow President Nelson’s counsel without the attitude. The author knows this because they’ve seen it.

As far as people like the interviewee described above—who revel in their performative displays of faithful obedience—they might say they are “a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” but they still come across as just another flippin’ Utah-Mormon.

The views and opinions expressed in this treatise are those of the author, Joseph L. Puente, and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any other individual or organization that may be named herein and is not intended to disregard, invalidate, or malign any community, ethnic group, religion, association, organization, company, or individual.