You've probably seen them. Those pairs of clean-cut young men in white shirts and ties, biking through suburban neighborhoods or walking city streets with black name tags. For decades, if you asked a random person on the street who they were, the answer was instant: "Those are the Mormons." But lately, if you use that word, you might get a polite correction. They’ll tell you they belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
It feels like a rebranding. Honestly, it kind of is.
People get confused because the difference between Mormon and Latter Day Saints isn't actually a difference in people or even really a difference in belief. It’s a shift in identity. One is a nickname that stuck for nearly two centuries, and the other is the formal name the organization is now fighting tooth and nail to reclaim.
The Nickname That Stuck Too Well
The term "Mormon" comes from the Book of Mormon. Since the church’s founding in 1830 by Joseph Smith, people outside the faith used it as a shorthand. Initially, it wasn't always a compliment. It was a way to mark them as "other." If you believed in this new book of scripture alongside the Bible, you were a "Mormon."
For a long time, the church leaned into it. Remember the "I'm a Mormon" ad campaign from about a decade ago? It was everywhere—billboards in Times Square, YouTube pre-roll ads, polished profiles of surfers and scientists who were also members of the faith. They spent millions of dollars embracing the label. They wanted to show the world that Mormons were just regular, successful people.
Then, in 2018, everything changed.
Russell M. Nelson, the current president of the church, announced that the Lord had "impressed upon [his] mind the importance of the name He has revealed for His Church." Essentially, the "Mormon" brand was retired overnight. The church’s style guide now explicitly asks media outlets and the public to avoid the terms "Mormon" or "LDS" and instead use the full name: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Breaking Down the Language
It’s a mouthful. No one denies that. But for members, the distinction is deeply theological.
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When you look at the phrase "Latter Day Saints," it’s built on two specific ideas. First, "Latter Day" implies they believe we are living in the period of time leading up to the second coming of Jesus. Second, "Saints" isn't used in the Catholic sense of a canonized person who performed miracles. It’s used in the New Testament sense—a "saint" is simply a follower of Christ, a member of the community.
The church’s argument is that by calling themselves "Mormons," they were inadvertently centering a prophet (Mormon) instead of the person they actually worship (Jesus Christ).
But here’s where it gets tricky for the average person. If you go to a library and look for "Mormon History," you’ll find thousands of books. If you search for "Latter Day Saint History," you might find different results. Why? Because "Mormonism" has become a broad cultural and academic umbrella that covers more than just the main church in Salt Lake City.
The "Other" Latter Day Saints
This is where the nuance really kicks in. While the main church is the most famous, there are dozens of smaller sects that also claim the "Latter Day Saint" heritage.
Take the Community of Christ, for example. Based in Independence, Missouri, they were formerly known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS). They have a different stance on priesthood, temple worship, and even the Book of Mormon itself. They are "Latter Day Saints" by history, but they definitely don't call themselves Mormons anymore.
Then you have the fundamentalist groups—the ones you see in true-crime documentaries or shows like Under the Banner of Heaven. These groups, like the FLDS, often still use the term "Mormon" or "Fundamentalist Mormon."
So, when someone asks about the difference between Mormon and Latter Day Saints, you have to realize that "Mormon" has become a cultural descriptor for a whole family of religions, while "Latter-day Saint" (with the specific hyphenation and lowercase "d") specifically identifies a member of the 17-million-member organization headquartered in Utah.
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Why the Rebrand is an Uphill Battle
Culture moves slowly. Google moves even slower.
If you look at search trends, people still search for "Mormon temples" far more than they search for "Latter-day Saint temples." The church has spent years trying to pivot their digital footprint. They changed the "Mormon Tabernacle Choir" to the "Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square." They shut down Mormon.org and redirected it to ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
It’s a massive logistical undertaking. Think about every sign, every pamphlet, every website, and every social media handle across the entire globe.
Some critics argue it’s a PR move to distance the church from the baggage associated with the word Mormon—polygamy, 19th-century controversies, and the "weirdness" factor. But for the leadership, it’s a matter of "correcting an error." They believe that if the name of the church doesn't have "Jesus Christ" in it, it’s a distraction from their core message.
Is the Word "Mormon" Dead?
Not even close.
Academics still use the term "Mormon Studies." The Book of Mormon musical is still a massive hit on Broadway. Most people in casual conversation will still use the M-word because, frankly, "Member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" is sixteen syllables long. It’s a linguistic marathon.
Even the church acknowledges that "Mormon" will still be used in certain historical contexts. You can't really talk about the "Mormon Trail" or the "Mormon Battalion" without using the word. It’s part of the American West’s DNA.
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However, if you’re talking to a member of the church today, using their preferred terminology is generally seen as a sign of respect. It’s like when a friend asks you to use a specific nickname or their full name instead of a shorthand you’ve used for years. It might feel clunky at first, but you do it because it matters to them.
The Core Beliefs Don’t Change With the Name
Whether you use one label or the other, the underlying theology remains the same. The difference between Mormon and Latter Day Saints is purely a matter of nomenclature, not a shift in the "Articles of Faith."
They still believe in:
- Modern-day prophets and revelation.
- The Book of Mormon as a companion to the Bible.
- Families being "sealed" for eternity in temples.
- A lay ministry (meaning your local bishop is probably a dentist or an accountant during the week).
- The "Word of Wisdom," which is the health code that keeps them off coffee, tea, and alcohol.
What to Keep in Mind Moving Forward
If you’re writing about them, talking to them, or just trying to understand the news, keep the "rebrand" in mind. The church is very serious about this. It’s not just a suggestion; it’s a directive from the top.
When you see "LDS" or "Mormon," think of it as a historical or cultural identifier. When you see "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," think of it as the formal, official identity.
Actionable Takeaways for Navigating the Terminology
- In Professional Writing: Use the full name of the church on the first reference. On subsequent references, "the Church" or "the Church of Jesus Christ" is the preferred style. Avoid "the Mormon Church."
- In Casual Conversation: If you say "Mormon," most people won't be offended, but they might gently correct you. If you want to be precise, use "Latter-day Saint."
- When Researching: Use both terms. If you only search for "Latter-day Saint," you’ll miss 150 years of historical documents, news articles, and academic papers that used the word "Mormon."
- Watch the Hyphen: Small detail, but the main Utah-based church hyphens "Latter-day" and uses a lowercase "d." Other splinter groups often use "Latter Day" (two words, no hyphen). It’s the ultimate "insider" way to tell who is who.
Ultimately, the labels we use for people matter because they reflect how those people see themselves. Right now, this community is looking to put the focus back on their namesake. It’s a transition that’s still in progress, and while the world might take another fifty years to stop saying "Mormon," the shift toward "Latter-day Saint" is the new reality of the faith’s public identity.