Sunday Thoughts

Prophet Thomas S. Monson, First Counselor Henry B. Eyring, Second Counselor Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Sharing the Gospel Using the Internet

By Elder M. Russell Ballard
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

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Reliable Sites on Official Information About The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from the source:

• LDS.org--Church Doctrine Material
• Mormons.org--Q&A About The "Mormon" Church
• DeseretBook.com--A Reliable Place to Get Books About The Church
• Background Information On The Church of Jesus Christ
• The Churchs' Position on Polygamy
• "Mormons" 10%
• What We Believe In (The Articles of Faith)
• The Restoration of Truth (Basic information about the history of the Church)
• Order Your Own FREE Copy of The Book of Mormon

The word "Mormon" is an inaccurate nickname for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (or The Church of Jesus Christ). If you are referring to someone from the Church, that person may appropriately be called a Latter-day Saint or LDS. The term “Saint” means “member.”

It was given to the "Mormons" in the early years of the Church because of The Book of Mormon. Calling a Latter-day Saint a "Mormon" is tantamount to calling a Jew a "Moses". It's the name of a man, and it doesn't make any sense. It's like calling any other Christian a "Peter". Mormon was a prophet, not a book, and not a religion. Just as Moses was a prophet and not a religion. It was easy for non-"Mormons" to remember the name "Mormon" and unfortunately is the dominant nickname/abbreviation for the Church today.

The prophet Mormon abridged the books of several other ancient American Christian prophets, and because it was his abridgment, or his book, it is called The Book of Mormon.

One final note: it should be remembered that the nickname was originally applied to Latter-day Saints as a derogatory term of disrespect and prejudice. In my humble opinion when you call me "Mormon" you join the ranks of those who first persecuted and killed those of my faith in the past. You join the ranks of those who today display their ignorance in calling their black brothers "niggers".

If you would please, as often as you can remember - please refer to the "Mormon" Church as either The Church of Jesus Christ or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. If you are referring to someone from the Church, that person may appropriately be called a Latter-day Saint or LDS.

*The official Church Styleguide for the Press concerning the use of the word "Mormon"

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THE: The one and only

CHURCH: The kingdom of God on earth set up to help all people attain exaltation

OF: The Church belongs to

JESUS: The Savior

CHRIST: The Anointed One, or the Messiah

OF LATTER-DAY: This dispensation is the latter days, the dispensation of the fullness of times. These are the days just prior to the time when the Savior will come the second time to the earth.

SAINTS: Saints are faithful members of the Church who sanctify themselves by the way they strive to live the teachings of the gospel. The word Saint is related in meaning to the word Sanctify.