You've probably heard the term "Mormon" a thousand times. It’s everywhere—from Broadway musicals to history books and local news segments. But if you walk up to a member of that faith today and call them a Mormon, you might get a polite correction. They’ll likely tell you they belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Is it just a rebranding? Or is there something deeper going on?
Basically, the answer to is the church of the latter day saints mormon is both "yes" and "no," depending on who you ask and when you ask them. Historically, the world has used the word Mormon as a catch-all label. However, the organization itself has spent the last few years—specifically since 2018—trying to distance itself from that nickname entirely.
The Big Name Change (That Wasn't Really a Change)
In 2018, Russell M. Nelson, the President of the Church, made a massive announcement. He didn't say the church was changing its name. He said they were correcting it.
He argued that when people use the word "Mormon Church," they are essentially deleting Jesus Christ from the equation. To him, this wasn't just a matter of marketing. He called it a "major victory for Satan." That’s pretty heavy language for what some might see as a simple nickname.
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Why the sudden shift?
For decades, the church actually leaned into the Mormon label. You might remember the "I'm a Mormon" ad campaign that ran on billboards and YouTube just a few years ago. It was everywhere. They even had a website called Mormon.org.
But President Nelson had been thinking about this for a long time. Back in 1990, he gave a talk expressing these same concerns. It just took him becoming the top leader of the church to finally pull the trigger on the policy change.
- The Official Stance: Use the full name on first reference.
- The Shortcut: Use "the Church" or "the Church of Jesus Christ."
- The People: Refer to them as "Latter-day Saints."
- The Forbidden Words: "Mormonism" and "LDS Church" are officially out.
Is the Church of the Latter Day Saints Mormon? The Historical Roots
The word "Mormon" comes from the Book of Mormon, which the faith considers a companion to the Bible. The book is named after an ancient prophet named Mormon who supposedly compiled the records.
In the 1830s, when the church was young, critics started calling the followers "Mormonites" as a slur. It was meant to be insulting. Over time, the members just kinda shrugged and adopted it. They turned a jab into a badge of honor.
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The 1838 Revelation
Members believe that in 1838, Joseph Smith received a revelation from God stating the name of the church should be "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."
The hyphen and the lowercase "d" in "Latter-day" are actually quite specific. It’s part of the official trademark. If you see it written as "Latter Day Saints" (without the hyphen and with a capital D), that usually refers to the broader movement or different splinter groups that aren't part of the main Utah-based church.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Name
People often think "Mormon" is the name of a religion like "Islam" or "Judaism." Honestly, the church sees it more as a nickname that obscured their actual identity as Christians.
There's also a big confusion between the main church and "Mormon Fundamentalists." When news stories break about groups practicing polygamy, they often use the word Mormon. The main church hates this. They haven't practiced polygamy for over 130 years and want the name "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" to distinguish them from those fringe groups.
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Real-world impact of the name shift:
- Websites: Mormon.org was killed off. Now it’s ComeuntoChrist.org.
- Social Media: The handles changed. The "Mormon Newsroom" became "Church Newsroom."
- The Tabernacle Choir: The world-famous "Mormon Tabernacle Choir" changed its name to "The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square."
That last one was a tough pill for some people to swallow. That brand had over a century of recognition. But the leadership felt the "Mormon" part had to go.
Does it Actually Work?
If you look at Google Trends or news headlines, people still type "Mormon" way more than the full name. It's just easier. "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" is a mouthful. It’s eleven syllables. Most people don't have that kind of time when they're just chatting over coffee.
Within the church, the change has mostly stuck. Members are very careful to say "Latter-day Saint" now. Outside the church? It’s a work in progress. Most style guides, like the Associated Press (AP), still allow "Mormon" on second reference because that’s what the general public understands.
Moving Forward with the Right Terminology
If you want to be respectful when talking to someone in the faith, using "Latter-day Saint" is your best bet. It shows you’re paying attention. It shows you respect their desire to put the focus on Jesus Christ rather than an ancient prophet or a 19th-century nickname.
Actionable insights for your next conversation:
- Avoid "The Mormon Church": Use "the Church of Jesus Christ" if you need a shorter version.
- Differentiate the groups: Remember that not everyone who uses the Book of Mormon is part of the same organization. The "Latter-day" (hyphenated) version is the one based in Salt Lake City.
- Check the context: If you're researching history, you'll still see "Mormon" used everywhere. Don't let it confuse you; it's the same group, just a different branding era.
- Focus on the "Saint": In this context, "Saint" doesn't mean a perfect person. It’s used in the biblical sense to mean a member of the community of believers.
The terminology might feel like a game of semantics, but for the millions of people in the pews, it's about reclaiming their central identity. They aren't just followers of a book; they're followers of a person. And that person, they'll tell you, is Christ.