Thus Shall My Church Be Called
Thus Shall My Church Be Called
By Kathy Penrod
Many people may ask, “What is the difference between Mormon and Church of Latter-Day Saints? To understand the difference between the terms “Mormon Church” and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we have to start with a little backstory.
In the late 1820’s Joseph Smith was led to an ancient record. This record was a compilation of teachings by ancient prophets on the American continent. One of the prophets, Mormon, compiled all the writings into one book, written in Reformed Egyptian, on golden plates. Joseph Smith obtained these plates and began to translate them through divine assistance. Because the prophet Mormon was the one to compile all the records, the translation received the name of “The Book of Mormon.” Later in 1830, and through Jesus Christ’s direction, Joseph Smith restored the formal organization of Christ’s church called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
The term “Mormon” was assigned, as a bit of a derogatory nickname, to people who were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints because they professed to believe in the Book of Mormon. Over time, the name Mormon was adopted and eventually lost its derogatory meaning. Generations have used the term Mormon, to describe members of our Church.
However.
When Jesus Christ was restoring His church, He said,
“Thus shall my church be called in the last days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” (D&C 115:4.)”
The Savior was also recorded in the Book of Mormon as saying,
“Ye shall call the church in my name. …
“And how be it my church save it be called in my name? For if a church be called in Moses’ name then it be Moses’ church; or if it be called in the name of a man then it be the church of a man; but if it be called in my name then it is my church.” (3 Nephi 27:7-8)
We know from these scriptures that the Savior wants His church to be called by His name. Mormon did not die for our sins. Joseph Smith did not suffer in Gethsemane for us. Only the Savior, Jesus Christ did that. By using the full name of the church, we are remembering Him and what He has done for us. We are keeping Him in the forefront of our mind.
Our prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, said on this topic:
“What’s in a name or, in this case, a nickname? When it comes to nicknames of the Church, such as the “LDS Church,” the “Mormon Church,” or the “Church of the Latter-day Saints,” the most important thing in those names is the absence of the Savior’s name. To remove the Lord’s name from the Lord’s Church is a major victory for Satan. When we discard the Savior’s name, we are subtly disregarding all that Jesus Christ did for us—even His Atonement.”
As believers in Jesus Christ, we want to be known by HIS name. We are Christians and we want the world to know it. Using our correct name is one way we can do that.
