Mormon

The term Mormon is a colloquial name referring to Latter Day Saints, derived in the 1830s from the Book of Mormon, one of their books of scripture, whose compiler was called the prophet Mormon. It is also an adjective referring to various aspects of Mormonism. Most often, the term refers to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), the largest and most well-known denomination within the Latter Day Saint movement, who are also commonly called Latter-day Saints or LDS.

Use of the term Mormon by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with whom the term Mormon is most commonly identified, has changed its position on the term "Mormon" over time. For many years it was common for members to use quotes around the word "Mormon" ? to indicate that this is something non-Mormons called Latter-day Saints. By the 1970s, the term had become so common, the LDS church began to use the term "Mormon" in advertising, including well-known television commercials which ended: "A message from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: The Mormons." More recently the organization has asked the media to use the church's complete name and follow any second reference with the name "The Church of Jesus Christ", to recognize Jesus Christ's importance to the faith. This style suggestion is rarely followed because of the ambiguity of the abbreviation and most still use the previous abbreviation, "LDS Church".

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Although the LDS Church objects to the use of the referrent "Mormon Church", it stops short of rejecting the terms "Mormonism" and "Mormon" and occasionally claims these terms as exclusive references only to itself and its members. In a press release from 2001, the LDS Church stated that the word "Mormon" as an adjective in such expressions as "Mormon pioneers", "Mormons" as a noun in reference to church members, and "Mormonism" as a doctrine, culture, and lifestyle were all acceptable.

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Claims for exclusivity of usage are primarily to avoid confusion between the LDS Church and "Mormon Fundamentalist" groups. The LDS Church argues "Mormon", "Mormon fundamentalist" and "Mormon dissident" in reference to organizations or groups outside of the LDS Church (especially those that practice plural marriage) is a misunderstanding of Mormon theology, in particular the principle of continuous revelation and Priesthood authority.

Related Topics:
Mormon fundamentalist - Plural marriage - Continuous revelation - Priesthood authority

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Despite this perspective, the term "Mormon Fundamentalist" is widely used by Latter Day Saints in some areas (including members of the LDS church and the fundamentalists themselves) and by people outside the movement.

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Sometimes "Restorationist" or "Restoration Movement" are used as umbrella terms, for those derived from the Campbellites or Stone-Campbell churches, for example, the Church of Christ and the Disciples of Christ. Mormons, however, while sharing some general beliefs of the Campbellites are not a break off group of the Campbellites, but instead a group which believes that a restoration of the original church of Jesus Christ (known as the "primitive church" by historians) has taken place as God called Joseph Smith to be a prophet independent of any other church or movement. There are some general similarities to Campbellite teachings, and many of Mormonism's first adherents (including Sidney Rigdon) were previously Campbellites, but The Book of Mormon and the book of Doctrine and Covenants define the Mormons' doctrine in a unique way from any other restoration movement body.

Related Topics:
Restorationist - Restoration Movement - Church of Christ - Disciples of Christ

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