The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

The name is: 

 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 

 

Our prophet, Russell M. Nelson, has asked us to use the correct name of the church because that name was selected by the Lord himself. The name by which the church has been most often known is The Mormon Church, a name that was given us in derision by opponents who did so as a form of mockery. But as is so often the case in situations like that the name was taken and used by early members in a defiant manner of pride. Such was the case when the early Minutemen of the Revolutionary War were called Yankees and mocked with the song Yankee Doodle Dandy. It became a matter of pride known with great admiration throughout the world. Like so many of us who are given 

nicknames, often shortened versions of our given names, the name came to be accepted. Other versions of the name of the church came about because of their brevity such as LDS for Latter-Day Saint. Other leaders of the church such as Ezra Taft Benson have counseled us regarding the proper usage of the name of the church. But it was President Russel M. Nelson in his own inimitable way who made it official. You may go to this link and read the Deseret News version of President Nelson’s October 7, 2019 General Conference talk in which he explains in detail the rationale for his request. Central to his reasoning is the following excerpt from Third Nephi in the Book of Mormon.

 

Third Nephi: The Book of Nephi, the Son of Nephi, Who Was the Son of Helaman

Chapter 27

Jesus commands them to call the Church in His name—His mission and atoning sacrifice constitute His gospel—Men are commanded to repent and be baptized that they may be sanctified by the Holy Ghost—They are to be even as Jesus is. About A.D. 34–35.

1 And it came to pass that as the disciples of Jesus were journeying and were preaching the things which they had both heard and seen, and were baptizing in the name of Jesus, it came to pass that the disciples were gathered together and were united in mighty prayer and fasting.
2 And Jesus again showed himself unto them, for they were praying unto the Father in his name; and Jesus came and stood in the midst of them, and said unto them: What will ye that I shall give unto you?
3 And they said unto him: Lord, we will that thou wouldst tell us the name whereby we shall call this church; for there are disputations among the people concerning this matter.
4 And the Lord said unto them: Verily, verily, I say unto you, why is it that the people should murmur and dispute because of this thing?
5 Have they not read the scriptures, which say ye must take upon you the name of Christ, which is my name? For by this name shall ye be called at the last day;
6 And whoso taketh upon him my name, and endureth to the end, the same shall be saved at the last day.
7 Therefore, whatsoever ye shall do, ye shall do it in my name; therefore ye shall call the church in my name; and ye shall call upon the Father in my name that he will bless the church for my sake.
8 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, if it so be that they are built upon my gospel.
9 Verily I say unto you, that ye are built upon my gospel; therefore ye shall call whatsoever things ye do call, in my name; therefore if ye call upon the Father, for the church, if it be in my name the Father will hear you;
10 And if it so be that the church is built upon my gospel then will the Father show forth his own works in it.

 

President Nelson closed his request for attention to the correct name for the church in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ and I humbly do so as well.