Mormons - Are You Directed to Call Yourselves LDS Instead of Mormons?

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Hi! I just got an email from one of my friends who is Mormon who told me that they are directed to refer themselves as LDS instead of Mormon (being that Mormon was a prophet in the BOM)…is this true?

He wanted me to refrain referring to him as Mormon.
 
The pc thing nowadays is to call them “LDS” instead of Mormon and the LDS church has directed the media that way. When I was a Mormon I thought the title LDS sounded rather sterile and opted for Mormon. People who get all up in arms about it are over the top in my opinion, but I doubt it’s worth a fight to you.
 
No, I’m not going to fight it…it was just a curiousity. Thanks for the viewpoint 🙂
 
The Mormon church called themselves the Mormon church. Remember those TV advertisements?

It isn’t so much about being PC, it is about public relations and the push to be viewed as a valid Christian church.
 
Rebecca,

I agree on the underlying motivation, but they are using the pc card to push it since they tell everyone it’s because the word Mormon is derogatory slang and therefore it’s mean to use the word Mormon (even though the LDS church has been doing it since the time of Joseph Smith, whatever).
 
nebula said:
Rebecca,

I agree on the underlying motivation, but they are using the pc card to push it since they tell everyone it’s because the word Mormon is derogatory slang and therefore it’s mean to use the word Mormon (even though the LDS church has been doing it since the time of Joseph Smith, whatever).
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Agreed.
 
And I generally use the word “Brighamite” when I refer to those LDS of whom I am critical. Except when I’m angry.
 
Tonks40 said:
Hi! I just got an email from one of my friends who is Mormon who told me that they are directed to refer themselves as LDS instead of Mormon (being that Mormon was a prophet in the BOM)…is this true?

He wanted me to refrain referring to him as Mormon.
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The First Presidency has asked the news media to refer to them, space permitting, as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints upon first mention of them in any article. In subsequent references, the media are asked to refer to them as Saints, Latter-Day Saints, or LDS, rather than as “Mormons”. Point being to stress the fact that Mormons consider themselves Christians and want to make the name of Jesus more prominent in the minds of outsiders. Referring to them as “Saints” also reinforces that perception, since the word ‘Saint’ is a Christian word. The Book of Mormon also has a subtitle, added in the 1990’s, specifying that the BoM is “Another Testament of Jesus Christ”.

It is not rude, per se, to refer to LDS as “Mormons”, and as has been pointed out, even the LDS have used the word to refer to themselves as such. The problem was one of perception: just as Catholics have been wrongly perceived for many generations as worshipping Mary or the saints, so the LDS have been wrongly (in their view) presumed to worship Mormon, Joseph Smith, or other well-known figures. It has been widely expounded that Mormonism is “not Christian”: by a strict, narrow definition this is at least within the pale of honest debate. However, in the broader understanding of the word, Mormons are certainly within the “Christian” tradition and properly understood as a Christian sect.

Hope that helps!
 
flameburns623 said:
The First Presidency has asked the news media to refer to them, space permitting, as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints upon first mention of them in any article. In subsequent references, the media are asked to refer to them as Saints, Latter-Day Saints, or LDS, rather than as “Mormons”. Point being to stress the fact that Mormons consider themselves Christians and want to make the name of Jesus more prominent in the minds of outsiders.
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It also distances themselves away from the fundalmentalist LDS who may still use the mormon title.
 
I cannot and will not put Jesus Christ in the name, given the fruits that I have seen. It is a violation of my conscience.

I can call them Saints, but only in a sarcastic context.

I emphasize Latter-Day, because I believe that thay have a choice today. They are in their latter days, unless they reform. And as you know, reform can be risky.

So maybe the LDS would be better off preferring being called Mormons, because their book does have some worth.
 
Mormons prefer to be called Latter-Dat Saints, for a couple reasons. For one, “mormons” is a nickname, specifically one given to them by their enemies in the early days of the church. And secondly, because they prefer to have a name that clerifies that they are followers of Christ, and what they believe in.
 
The term “Mormon” , when applied to the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, originated as a nickname applied by non-members. Similarly, the members of the Society of Friends, who believed that one should quake before God, came to be called “Quakers”.

The Church’s Style Guide, for journalists, states that: “When referring to Church members, the term ‘Latter-day Saints’ is preferred, though ‘Mormons’ is acceptable.” I think that most Church members concur in that.

Thus, there is no “political correctness” requirement. However, it is not too much to ask that a people be referred to as they prefer.
 
The person with whom you were speaking is likely just a tad sensitive.

Most Mormons don’t mind being called Mormons (I certainly didn’t, and I can’t think of a single member of my family that is so anal retentive).

The only point they do stress is that you do not refer to their church as “the Mormon Church”.

Peoples can be ‘Mormon’ (eg. the Prophet Mormon, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, etc)
Places can be ‘Mormon’ (eg. Mormon River, Mormon Island, etc)
‘Mormon’ can be used as an adjective, however their church is not ‘Mormon’.
 
OK, so I just read the official “LDS Style Guide” concerning how one should refer to their church and I feel compelled to point out a bit of arrogance I found:
LDS Style Guide:
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.
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Does the LDS Church really expect non-Mormons to refer to the LDS Church as Jesus’?
LDS Style Guide:
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.”
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How ironic! The LDS constantly whine about other Christians not affording them with the term “Christian” yet they see nothing wrong with usurping the term “Mormon” as if no other Latter-Day Sect has any historical right to it.
 
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