For at least the fourth time since 1982, the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is trying to change how people refer to the church and its followers. Church President Russell Nelson said last weekend during the 188th Semiannual General Conference that people should stop referring to the church as Mormon and even stop using the initials LDS. Nelson said using the full church’s name “Is the command of the Lord” and “is not negotiable.” Using Mormon or LDS is “a major victory for Satan,” he said. “When the savior clearly states what the name of his church should be, and even precedes his declaration with, ‘Thus shall my church be called,’ he is serious. And if we allow nicknames to be used and adopt or even sponsor those nicknames ourselves, he is offended.”
The Church’s new style guide says that if people don’t want to say the full name, they can say “the Church” or “the Church of Jesus Christ.”
CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS RESTATES ITS NAME
