A Latter-day Saint by any Other Name

It is always good to know old friends are still on form and issuing thoughtful challenges to the ministry of Reachout Trust. One such is a good man who is a faithful Mormon and has been for many years. The challenge was to our use of the word ‘Mormon’ when we know ‘the name is the CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day saints.’

The question is, which church name would he have us use given the name has changed so much over the years. Instead of Mormonism should we call it, ‘The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints-ism?’

I would point out the current Mormon prophet, M Russell Nelson, has point-blank contradicted the policy of his immediate predecessor, Thomas S Monson. Perhaps Mormons should look closer to home and have the Mormon Church do some housekeeping. The various names of the church have been:

The Church of Christ - 1830
The Church of the Latter Day Saints - 1834
The Church of Jesus Christ - Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 3:24, footnote

The Church of God - ibid

The Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints - Encyclopedia of Mormonism, p.979
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Book of Mormon, frontispiece, 1966 ed.

The Mormon Church - Thomas S Monson: see the article here.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - M Russell Ballard

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Latter-day Saints for short - website

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on first reference, ‘the Church,’ or ‘the Church of Jesus Christ’ for short, then a complicated list of rules – website

You can read a fuller account here.

It was so much easier in the first century.

‘The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch’ Acts 11:26

The problem the Mormon Church has is it wants to be identified squarely with those first called Christians in Antioch, while at the same time seeking to identify and highlight distinctives. ‘Mormonism’ is a great distinctive, but doesn’t identify ‘Christians,’ while ‘Christians’ identifies ‘followers of the Way’ Acts 24:14 but certainly doesn’t highlight distinctives.

The most honest thing I ever heard a Mormon leader say came from Gordon B Hinckley, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1995-2008’

“The traditional Christ of whom they (the Christian churches) speak is not the Christ of whom I speak,” (baptistpress.com)

Of course, the church back-pedalled furiously on this, doing its usual firefighting after another public pronouncement by G B Hinckley.

Clearly, distinctives are important. I suggest ‘Mormon’ is not such a bad distinctive. After all, it all started with that book and it still stands as the book of the ‘Restoration,’ while the Bible is notably the book of the apostasy.

As for our ministry we, like so many in the ministry, will continue to use nouns and pronouns that make the distinction. Who knows but that a future Mormon president will change back to ‘My name is [fill the blank] and I am a Mormon.’ That would put us ahead of the game it seems to me.

And, after all, neither we nor members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would want people to make the mistake of identifying Mormons as just another denomination standing in the long line of denominational Christianity in the past two-thousand years.

Heaven forfend!

Mormon Christians? Whats in a Name?

The Mormon Church, disturbed by the continuing identifying of polygamus sects in the news with the name Mormon, recently issued a press statement aimed at "clarifying" issues. It is interesting to note that if you substitute the name "Christian" where they use the name "Mormon" it makes a very good argument for us against the claims of the Mormon Church. The full press release is reproduced below in italics with each paragraph rewritten in ordinary text to present it from a Christian perspective. SALT LAKE CITY 10 July 2008 On 26 June, Newsroom published a package of information featuring profiles of ordinary Latter-day Saints in Texas. With no other intention but to define themselves, these members provided a tangible depiction of what their faith is all about. They serve as the best distinction between the lifestyles and values of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Texas-based polygamous group that has recently attracted media attent...

Cheers!

In their latest update #4, the Jehovah’s Witnesses' Governing Body has announced that toasting and ‘ clinking glasses’ is now allowed at the individual Jehovah’s Witness’s ‘ bible trained conscience’ . This, Governing Body member Stephen Lett tells us, is due to ‘ prayerful consideration’ by the Governing Body. This doesn’t sound unreasonable; who could possibly object to toasting, it’s such an innocuous custom? The answer to that is the Governing Body itself, until now. Ever since 1952, and possibly earlier, the Watchtower has roundly condemned this practice due to its ‘ pagan roots’ in ‘ false religion’ . The 15 May 1952 Watchtower (page 319), has this to say on the matter Jehovah God and Christ Jesus are not honored by having pagan customs of toasting switched to them, or to human s In 1968, in an answer to Questions from Readers, the 1 Jan Watchtower states If a Christian is going to make a request f...

Is atheism an intolerant belief?

The Big Questions , Sunday 2 August 2009, third question. A growing number of Britons say they are certain there is no God - but how do they know? Professor John Adams of the North Yorkshire Humanist Association begins by asking theists what evidence they have for their beliefs. Paul Woolley of Theos continues by pointing out Richard Dawkins description of faith as a 'virus', and the appalling track record of atheism in the 20th Century, as spearheaded by Pol Pot and Stalin. Chloe Clifford-Frith of the Humanist and Secular Students Society contends that Stalin did not do the things he did because he was an atheist, but because he was evil. Paul Woolley rejoins that atheists are trying to have it both ways when they claim that religion is the cause of evil, but refuse to acknowledge the ideological impetus of atheism when it comes to many evil acts. Mao and Stalin both replaced God with the State - a 'religious' manoeuvre. Rev Alistair Rycroft of St Michael Le Belfrey Ch...

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