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Should we use the term 'Mormon'?

Since the Church leaders constantly ask us to NOT refer to ourselves as Mormons, then I don't think we have any right to criticise those who DO refer to themselves that way.

NightHawk

Mormon term use Should

[quote] Since the Church leaders constantly ask us to NOT refer to ourselves as Mormons, then I don't think we have any right to criticise those who DO refer to themselves that way.[/quote]

To think about .. ....President Hinckley, General Conference October 1990, extract :


" We meet in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of mankind.  We meet as members of the Church which carries His sacred name.

Many of our people are disturbed by the practice of the media, and of many others, to disregard totally the true name of the Church and to use the nickname "the Mormon Church."

Six months ago in our conference Elder Russell M. Nelson delivered an excellent address on the correct name of the Church.  He quoted the words of the Lord Himself:

"Thus shall my church be called in the last days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."   (D&C 115:4.)

He then went on to discourse on the various elements of that name.  I commend to you a rereading of his talk.

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 spokenand written, they will continue to call us the Mormons, the Mormon church, and so forth.

They could do worse.  More than fifty years ago, when I was a missionary in England, I said to one of my associates,  "How can we get people, including our own members, to speak of the Church by its proper name?"

He replied, "You can't.  The word Mormon is too deeply ingrained and too easy to say."  He went on,  "I've quit trying.  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."

"Look," he went on to say, "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.'"   (The Prophet Joseph Smith first said this in 1843; see Times and Seasons, 4:194; Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 299-300.)

His statement intrigued me--Mormon means "more good."  I knew, of course, that  "more good"  was not a derivative of the word Mormon.  I had studied both Latin and Greek, and I knew that English is derived in large measure from those two languages and that the words more good are not a cognate of the word Mormon.  But his was a positive attitude based on an interesting perception.  And, as we all know, our lives are guided in large measure by our perceptions. Ever since, when I have seen the word Mormon used in the media to describe us--in a newspaper or a magazine or book or whatever--there flashes into my mind his statement, which has become my motto:  Mormon means "more good."

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.

...And so, while I sometimes regret that people do not call this Church by its proper name, I am happy that the nickname they use is one of great honor made so by a remarkable man and a book which gives an unmatched testimony concerning the Redeemer of the world.

Anyone who comes to know the man Mormon, through the reading and pondering of his words, anyone who reads this precious trove of  history which was assembled and preserved in large measure by him, will come to know that Mormon is not a word of disrepute, but that it represents the greatest good--that good which is of God.

...All of this places upon us of this Church and this generation an incumbent and demanding responsibility to recognize that as we are spoken of as Mormons, we must so live that our example will enhance the perception that Mormon can mean in a very real way, "more good."

         ...And so I leave with you the simple but profound thought:  Mormon means  "more good."

Now based on this, in my opinion, there is not such a thing as Mormon Fundamentalists, in one of the General Conferences (I cannot recall the date) he said this too.

[edit]Hey LDS, this is going way too off topic - MOVED![/edit]

Should we use the term 'Mormon'? Studies Doctrine Mormon

Should we use the term "Mormon"?  I think so, in reference to the culture.  That is why I DO agree with the term "Mormon fundamentalist".  I know that a lot of people have a hard time with this term, but they do embrace the fundamentals of the Mormon culture and doctrine of the 19th Century.  Not all of them even place that much emphasis on polygamy.

I don't think they are right.  In fact, I think they are mostly wrong.  But, having seen the provincialism of Utah Mormons (not all of whom are Latter-day Saints), I don't blame the fundamentalists for much of their attitudes.

Again, I look at it more as a cultural thing than a religious thing.

NightHawk

Mormon term use Should

I am assuming that since this thread was moved to a new folder and given the name "Should we use the term 'Mormon'" that this is now open to discuss from that point of view.  I am a newbie so if I am wrong please be gentle with me when you correct me.  ;)

I think we should refrain from calling ourselves Mormon.  Our leaders have asked us to use the correct name of the Church so that it is clear to others that we are Christians.  I live in New England in the US and I have found in my area that the term "Mormon" is used mostly by those native to the area (not transplants from Utah) and really only by older (60+) natives.

I use the term LDS when referring to the Church with people who are also members (I believe we have been asked not even to refer to ourselves as LDS), but when speaking with a non-member I tell them I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints.  I ask them if they have ever heard of it.  If not, I then say you might be familiar with the term "Mormon."

If we as members continue to use the term Mormon to refer to ourselves, I wonder if we can reasonably expect others not to use it also.  I believe the Church wants others to know from the start of any discussion, that we are Christian, hence the focus on the correct name.

It is hard to break a habit of any kind though, even one as "simple" as what term we use when telling others what our religious affiliation is.

Mormon term use Should

These kinds of topics are so 'open' for comment. I say this because although I have heard so much the number of times about us not saying we are 'Mormons' yet after that I do hear the GAs use the term quite often in describing the Church or their membership. I guess in all things we have to learn the greater meaning.

Should we use the term 'Mormon'?

In my search for a better understanding of the gospel, I have prayed, read several books (some borrowed), spoken to -so called- knowledgable people, etc. So let me begin by stating that my comments are strictly in my opinion, due to the fact that I would have a very hard time providing some references. I do think that my comments go along with the topic, but in case I'm wrong; please bare with me.

This is what I understand about the meaning of the word "Mormon":
To me, MORMON means: "COVENANT". I think the earliest reference we have on the word "Mormon" goes back to "The Waters of Mormon". Which was named by King Noah (Mosiah 18:4). I think that the Jaredites made a COVENANT with God at this place (which I am not yet aware of the specifics of this covenant, all I know is that it was a "great covenant" most likely, baptism. But I have not found specifically, neither do I have any reference to this, other than verbal comments) , so because of this, the place was named "The waters of Mormon" meaning: "The waters of the COVENANT". NOTE: Alma used it for the same purpose (baptism), I don't think he baptized there just because it was convenient for him. ( Mosiah 18:16 )

I think that the "person" Mormon was named after this great covenant, not by the actual place; and the Book of Mormon is really "THE BOOK OF THE COVENANTS", which makes sense to me because thru it we come to the knowledge and performance of great covenants with Heavenly Father. -- Great covenants --

Personally, I don't think that the Book of Mormon was named after the Prophet who gathered all these plates ( not trying to take any credit away from him). But, I think that if Heavenly Father would name this work after a prophet, Lehi or Joseph Smith would be more appropriate; since they ,in my opinion, "started" or "finished" it.

Before, I really didn't have a problem when we were refered to as "Mormons". Much less now, after it was put to me this way, because it simply means that we are "THE PEOPLE OF THE COVENANT". As LDS_forever explained, Mormon is "MORE GOOD". Absolutely! yes, because being in the covenant with Heavenly Father IS "more good" Now, when I say: "I was born in the covenant"; I associate the meaning of the word Mormon, with baptism, with temple work, with the fullness of the gospel, with the teachings of the Book of Mormon and with all the blessings that Heavenly Father has in store for all His worthy children.

"Fundamentalists" and "Restored" faiths referred to also as Mormons; to me, is just an "easy" and/or "lazy" way of the world to refer to them; because they associate them with Joseph Smith.