Question
Dear Gramps,
Why do most people on your site refer to things in terms of the “Mormon Church?” It seems like everyone keeps saying “I’ve been a member of the Mormon Church all my life…” etc.. That isn’t the way we talk! We use terms like “The Church” or “I’m LDS”. I think it highly suspect that people claiming to be members of the church, don’t know how we even refer to ourselves. I question the validity of questions when this occurs. Thoughts?
George
Answer
Dear George,
I agree with you that in our talks from the pulpit or at any time when talking with anyone that is related to or familiar with the “Mormon” culture we should use the correct terminology that we have been counseled to use by the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, when communicating with those that are unacquainted with the Church, we should also do as we have been counseled by the President of the Church and refer to ourselves as Mormons and to the church as the Mormon Church. Here is what President Hinckley has had to say on the subject:
The Mormon Church, of course, is a nickname. And nicknames have a way of becoming fixed–I suppose that regardless of our efforts, we may never convert the world to general use of the full and correct name of the Church. Because of the shortness of the word Mormon and the ease with which it is spoken and written, they will continue to call us the Mormons, the Mormon Church, and so forth–They could do worse.So what should we do? Should we spend all of our time and effort insisting that people call us with the proper name, or should we spend our time making sure that, irrespective of the name people use to refer to the Church, we follow the example of Jesus Christ (and Mormon, perhaps, since he was a great prophet) to such an extent that people will “see our works and glorify God?”….
We may not be able to change the nickname, but we can make it shine with added luster. After all, it is the name of a man who was a great prophet who struggled to save his nation, and also the name of a book which is a mighty testament of eternal truth, a veritable witness of the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ (Ensign, Nov. 1990).
Since askgramps.org is an internet site, and is intended to reach all parties with moral concerns regardless of their race, religion or culture, we have felt it appropriate to use the more generic name given to the church in order that it may be recognized by more people. If the above doesn’t quite satisfy you, you might click on www.mormon..org, which is a site officially sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, directed to those who are not familiar with the church , but who would have interest in “Mormon” concepts.
Gramps
