When Someone calls you Mormon and you're trying to correct it.
The Official Style Guide from news-gu.churchofjesuschrist.org uses a misunderstood statement that needs changes compared to other News Articles, "The Name of the Church." Click on the link, I'll post the actual text before this is changed or updated, and compare the latest on the link provided guide below -
Now here is the confusing article from - www.news-gu.churchofjesuschrist.org/style-guide
The official name of the Church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This full name was given by revelation from God to Joseph Smith in 1838.
While the term "Mormon Church" has long been publicly applied to the Church as a nickname, it is not an authorized title, and the Church discourages its use.
- 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.
- 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."
Compare this to the www.newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/style-guide
The official name of the Church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The full name was given by revelation from God to Joseph Smith in 1838.
- In the first reference, the full name of the Church is preferred: “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”
- When a shortened reference is needed, the terms “the Church” or the “Church of Jesus Christ” are encouraged. The “restored Church of Jesus Christ” is also accurate and encouraged.
- While the term “Mormon Church” has long been publicly applied to the Church as a nickname, it is not an authorized title, and the Church discourages its use. Thus, please avoid using the abbreviation “LDS” or the nickname “Mormon” as substitutes for the name of the Church, as in “Mormon Church,” “LDS Church,” or “Church of the Latter-day Saints.”
- When referring to Church members, the terms “members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” “Latter-day Saints,” “members of the Church of Jesus Christ” and “members of the restored Church of Jesus Christ” are preferred. We ask that the term “Mormons” and “LDS” not be used.
- “Mormon” is correctly used in proper names such as the Book of Mormon or when used as an adjective in such historical expressions as “Mormon Trail.”
- The term “Mormonism” is inaccurate and should not be used. When describing the combination of doctrine, culture and lifestyle unique to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the term “the restored gospel of Jesus Christ” is accurate and preferred.
- When referring to people or organizations that practice polygamy, it should be stated that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not affiliated with polygamous groups.
Connecting the dots, while the two might have differences in terms of language usage or might be translation, interpretations, or maybe cultural differences. The church's official statements, as directed by the Church President, remain the standard of teachings and doctrine. Either it may have clerical errors or overlooked changes, but this has nothing to do with the official declaration of the church prophet. Check out the Conference talk to see the rest of the topic.
- Using the Term "Mormon" 19 April 2010
- The Importance of a Name by M. Russell Ballard
- Mormon Should Mean “More Good” by Gordon B. Hinckley - One of the talk that has been use by some critics about the changes of the church name, but take a closer inspection of the message which simply says it's nickname as Mormon were inappropraite and had been the effort of correcting it long before his message - "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."
- The Correct Name of the Church by Russell M. Nelson - Here is a conference message regarding the corrections on the church name and its membership.
Many members immediately corrected the name of the Church on their blogs and social media pages. Others wondered why, with all that’s going on in the world, it was necessary to emphasize something so “inconsequential.” And some said it couldn’t be done, so why even try? Let me explain why we care so deeply about this issue. But first let me state what this effort is not:
- It is not a name change.
- It is not rebranding.
- It is not cosmetic.
- It is not a whim.
- And it is not inconsequential.
Instead, it is a correction. It is the command of the Lord. Joseph Smith did not name the Church restored through him; neither did Mormon. It was the Savior Himself who said, “For thus shall my church be called in the last days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”- Russell M. Nelson
Thank you and have a nice day...
Jerry N. Bustillo
